"Milestones of Flight" (Gallery 100). See the Spirit of St. Louis, the aircraft Charles Lindbergh used to complete the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight; the Apollo 11 command module Columbia that carried home the astronauts from the first landing on the moon; and Space-ShipOne, the first privately built, piloted vehicle to reach space.
"America by Air" (102), located near the museum store, outlines the fascinating history of America's airline industry and its profound effect on the nation and the world. You'll see an heirloom globe that Pan Am's Juan Trippe consulted as he conjured up air routes for his world airline. The exhibition includes seven complete airplanes from the formative years of air travel. Dominating the gallery is the nose section of a Boeing 747. For a view of the cockpit, enter from the second floor.
Climb inside a flight simulator (103) and experience what it would be like to fly your own aircraft. Fees are $7 for a simulated flight and $8 for an interactive flight.
In "Golden Age of Flight" (105), explore the history of aviation spanning the period between the world wars. See Howard Hughes' record-setting Hughes H-1, which was developed to be the fastest landplane in the world. In the Golden Age Theater, don't miss archival footage of famed pilot Jimmy Doolittle as he reminisces about the era.
In the "Jet Aviation Gallery" (106), see a German WWII fighter, the Messerschmitt Me 262.
At "Early Flight" (107), don't miss the world's first military airplane, the 1909 Wright Military Flyer, and the 1894 Lilienthal glider.
"How Things Fly" (109), located near the Welcome Center, offers more than 50 interactive gadgets demonstrating the four principles of flight— weight, lift, thrust and drag. Science demos are offered daily; check schedule at gallery entrance.
In "Looking at Earth" (110), located near the IMAX® theater, see views of our planet from above (don't miss the pigeon cam!).
"Explore the Universe" (111) showcases observational tools devised throughout the centuries.
"Rocketry and Space Flight" (113) traces the development of spaceflight from fantasy to reality, and features a space capsule based on the imaginings of 19th-century science fiction writer Jules Verne.
A giant black-and-white V-2 rocket signals your arrival in the "Space Race" gallery (114), where there is a spectacular collection of rare items from the earliest days of human space exploration, including Yuri Gagarin's and John Glenn's space suits.
Familiarize yourself with the history of ship-based flight in "Sea-Air Operations" (203) as you step aboard the simulated aircraft carrier USS Smithsonian. From the bridge you will be able to observe a variety of aircraft swooping in over the fantail to an arrested landing below.
The people and air machines of World War II are memorialized in Gallery 205. It contains airplanes flown by the British, Japanese, Germans, Italians and Americans.
"Legend, Memory and the Great War in the Air" (206) examines the contradictions between the myths and realities of World War I combat. Here you can see the Pfalz D.XII used in the movie "Hell's Angels."
In "Exploring the Planets" (207), learn about the tools used to explore the universe, such as spacecraft, telescopes and lunar rovers. A special display highlights new and recent planetary missions and discoveries. Don't miss the full-scale replica of Voyager.
"Pioneers of Flight" (208) showcases the individuals who have claimed their place in aviation history. A highlight here is Amelia Earhart's bright red Lockheed Vega.
"The Wright Brothers & the Invention of the Aerial Age" (209) provides an engrossing look at the lives of Wilbur and Orville Wright, including an up-close, eye-level view of the famous first airplane.
"Apollo to the Moon" (210) is filled with artifacts from the history of American spaceflight, such as personal astronaut items, food and survival equipment, not to mention the actual spacesuits of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Gene Cernan, complete with moon dust! Outside Gallery 210, you can enter a mock-up of Sky Lab and see how people performed everyday activities on the space station.
Gallery 211 hosts "Treasures of American History"—150 of the most famous objects from the National Museum of American History (p. 29), including Abraham Lincoln's top hat and Thomas Edison's light bulb. The exhibition displays some of the American History museum's favorite artifacts while the building undergoes renovation.
"Beyond the Limits" (213) defines the importance of digital computers to flight. Here you can see a full-size space shuttle cockpit simulator and see how computers are used to train pilots and astronauts.
At the east end of the museum, behind the lunar module, NASM offers a selection of dining options including McDonald's, Donato's Pizza and Boston Market, and a McCafé featuring coffees, wraps and pastries.
Air and Space Museum Stores offer a variety of merchandise including souvenirs, books, DVDs, models, posters, clothing and more.
Air and Space Museum cafés:
Smithsonian Theaters are out of this world!
Strap in to the cockpit of an F15-E, or journey to the International Space Station in the Lockheed Martin IMAX® Theater.
Tour the universe in the Einstein Planetarium with "Cosmic Collisions" and "Infinity Express," or learn more about what's happening in our own night sky in the live presentation, "The Stars Tonight."
Click here to view the full film schedule!
