S M I T H S O N I A N   I N S T I T U T I O N
N A T I O N A L   A I R   &   S P A C E   M U S E U M

Washington D.C.

The dreamers and the jumpers. Leonardo Da Vinci wasn't only an accomplished artist, he was also the most influential figure in aeronautics prior to the 19th Century. Rather than mimicing birds, his designs were all together different; parachutes, screw helicopters, and other bizarre craft.

On my way out of the gallery I notice this propeller display.

Out in the corridor I run across Voyager, the first airplane to fly around the world non-stop in a little more than 9 days.

Hmmm, the Museum has an IMAX Theater.

My next stop is the World War II Aviation Gallery. This exhibit memorializes both the men and the flying machines of the World War II era.

Upon entry I see an enormous mural across the back of the gallery. Depicting a B29 bombing raid across Germany, it gives the viewer the feeling that they're on task as a tail gunner, looking back into the formation, searching to pick off any German planes who are hunting for American quarry.