Out and About

A view of Air Force One as it makes it's final approach into Indianapolis about a year ago. Taken near my wife's work. Can't claim credit for the image - wife's co-worker took it, and did a great job including the flag.

Douglas World Cruiser diorama

Lovely diorama at the Smithsonian to further interpret the Douglas World Cruiser Chicago on display at the Air & Space Museum. Every aspect of this model is built to such an unbelievably high standard.

Fokker T-2 and the First Non-Stop Transcontinental Flight

In May of 1923 to 1LTs of the Army Air Service completed the first non-stop transcontinental flight of the US, completing the flight from Long Island, NY to San Diego, CA in under 27 hours. This was Lieutenants Oakley Kelly and John Macready's third attempt. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that their second attempt included a forced landing at the Indy 500, providing a local angle for me. The plane was ultimately donated to the Smithsonian and is currently on display.

Early Aviation at the Smithsonian

More aircraft from the Samuel Langley Gallery at the Air & Space Museum. Below is the Curtiss Model D. Still hard to believe that someone trusted their life to the flyability of this.

Bell X-14

It's been awhile since this was a temporary display - the Children's Museum had the Bell X-14 in the lobby. It was on loan from the Ropkey Armor Museum and it is now back there undergoing renovation.

Air & Space - Blériot XI

Part of the Samuel Langley Gallery on the first floor of the museum, here is the Blériot XI.

Air & Space Museum - fanciful balloon "La Minerva"

As part of the Langley Gallery of Flight the Smithsonian has a model of a fanciful model of the balloon "La Minerva".

Entry to the Samuel Langley Gallery

Air & Space - Boeing 247D

Boeing 247, DC-3, PA-5 Mailwing, and Fairchild FC-2

Taking a vacation with the family as the kids are on their Spring Break. Flew into National Airport and have spent an enjoyable few days walking around Washington, D.C. My family indulges me when I get my geek on, and patiently waits while I leisurely tour a museum. I've spent most of my time at the National Air and Space Museum. In my opinion, the Smithsonian is one of the best museums in the world. Accessible for all ages and levels of interest, I learn something new everytime I go. The only down side is the problem inherent in showing such a large collection of items - it's hard for a novice photographer like me to get a good shot. It's almost impossible to get a complete walk-around as the items are often hung from the ceiling; it is full of others viewers that will invariably walk in front of you at just the wrong moment (which I'm sure I'm guilty of, too), and it's hard to isolate one item from another when composing the shot.

Above is the Boeing 247D. This model entered service in 1934, and is painted in the livery of United Airlines. I didn't realize it until I was researching for this, but "it is displayed today with two sets of markings, the left side is marked as NR257Y, in Colonel Turner's 1934 MacRobertson Race colors, while the right side is painted in United Airlines livery, as NC13369."