Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Post date: 19-Apr-2012 07:55:34

I Recently went to the USA for a walk about ....I reckon since the world is ending 21st Dec 2012 (According to Mayan Calender and Movies)I better go take a look why these Americans got such a big mouth about them .....Well let me just say up front ....hulle kan maar ! they do because they can ! New York and Washington really is impressive and massive !

Was first there , when queues form I'm right at the back , American kids ! NO manners !

American Kids got no manners ! this morning I was first at the museum , by the time the doors opened I was about number 200 ....NO MANNERS ... well lets blame the teachers and parents ...but hey, we will excuse them , they American after all....

Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum , Wright Military Flier 1909

This is The 1909 Wright Military Flyer is the world's first military airplane.the Army purchased the airplane for $30,000. Flight trials with the Wrights' entry began at Fort Myer, Virginia, on September 3, 1908. After several days of successful flights, tragedy occurred on September 17, when Orville Wright crashed with Lt. Thomas 0. Selfridge, the Army's observer, as his passenger. Orville survived with severe injuries, but Selfridge was killed, becoming the first fatality in a powered airplane.Read More HereTalking of fatalities ! Yall can thank me (Notice American yall and not you all) some of these American kids bumped me against one of these exhibits , I was about to let the South African temper rise when I realise !!! Hey the Americans can bomb South Africa , I better keep quit. Yall can Say " Our Hero ! you saved us ! " yall welcome !

Blériot achieved immortality in the Type XI on July 25, 1909, when he made the first airplane crossing of the English Channel, covering the 40 km (25 mi) between Calais and Dover in 36 minutes, 30 seconds.Read More Here And to put his achievement in perspective , The ferry from Dover to Calais take just 90 minutes and run around the clock. JUST ? Really ! in 2012 ! ooohhh wow ! ( Check Here )Of course there is always the EuroTunnel ...Travel with Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais in just 35 minutes. Up to 4 shuttles per hour, and direct motorway access. Book now from just £39 per vehicle....ahh That's more like it !

RQ-7A Shadow 200

The RQ-7A provides ground commanders the ability to “see first, understand first, and act first—decisively.” The twin-boom pusher aircraft performs day or night reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and bomb damage assessment. It has nonretractable landing gear for conventional takeoff and landing, but it can also be launched by catapult and use a tail hook and arresting cables for a shorter landing.

Messerschmitt Bf. 109G-6 ...The world became aware of the Messerschmitt Bf. 109 during the Battle of Britain, and it is to this day Germany's best known aircraft. Its success lay in its maneuverability and its accurate and stable handling. Throughout World War II, new models were developed; the Bf. 109G-6 "Gustav" was among the best. The first G-6s were delivered to fighter units in 1942 and saw extensive service on the Eastern Front.

Macchi C.202 FolgoreDesigned in 1940, the Macchi C.202 Folgore (Lightning) was the most effective Italian fighter used in quantity during World War II. About 1,200 Folgores were operational from late 1941 through the end of the war. After the Italian Armistice, Folgores were flown against Germany by the Italian Cobelligerant Air Force. The Folgore's performance and maneuverability were excellent; however, its armament was inferior to other contemporary fighters.

North American P-51D Mustang ...Many people consider the P-51 Mustang the best fighter of World War II. Its combination of speed, range, maneuverability, and firepower gave it great versatility. Its use in all major theaters of the war included long-range high-altitude escort, strafing, and photo reconnaissance.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk. VIIThe Supermarine Spitfire is a legend in British air history. With the Hawker Hurricane, it successfully defended England against the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, and throughout the war it saw service on every major front. Performance and handling were superb. The Mk.VII, the second high-altitude version developed, was used in England and the Middle East. Several Mk 2EXVIs, the last production version to use the Merlin engine, remained in service through 1950. In all, 20,351 Spitfires were built.

Check out the massive mural in the back ! Awesome ...

Well now , you should know what this is ? !! YES you right ! MORE KIDS !!! Everywhere (See underneath Zero) , all joking aside , the amount of kids on a weekday ( Monday ) was amazing ! and it does subtract a bit from the feel of the museum ... at times I really did not enjoy being there ...maybe you can handle screaming pushy kids better than me ....good luck with that !

Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero....The Mitsubishi Zero was the primary Japanese Naval fighter in World War II. It was used in the attack on Pearl Harbor and in Kamikaze attacks near the end of the war. Allied pilots were astounded by its maneuverability, and it was very successful in combat until the Allies devised tactics to utilize their advantage in firepower and diving speed.

Spirit Of St Louis , Lindenburg used this plane to fly solo across the Atlantic ...years later his kid was actually kidnapped.

Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis"..On May 21, 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in history, flying his Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis" 5,810 kilometers (3,610 miles) between Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, and Paris, France, in 33 hours, 30 minutes. With this flight, Lindbergh won the $25,000 prize offered by New York hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first aviator to fly an aircraft directly across the Atlantic between New York and Paris. When he landed at Le Bourget Field in Paris, Lindbergh became a world hero who would remain in the public eye for decades.

First built in 1938, the Piper J-3 earned fame as a trainer and sport plane. Its success made the name "Cub" a generic term for light airplanes. The little yellow tail dragger remains one of the most recognized designs in aviation. J-3 Cubs and subsequent models are still found at fields around the world. Thousands of pilots, including three-fourths of those in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, trained in Cubs.

Curtis V8 Motorcycle ... YES thats right V8 !

As a manufacturer and racer of motorcycles, it was only natural for Curtiss to wonder how fast he could move on a motorcycle with his V-8. He instructed his workers to construct a frame that could support the weight of the engine. The Curtiss V-8 was air-cooled, producing approximately 30 to 40 horsepower at 1,800 rpm. The motorcycle used direct drive because a conventional chain-and-belt transmission could not withstand the power of the massive engine. Curtiss took the motorcycle to the Florida Speed Carnival at Ormond Beach in January 1907. He recorded a record-setting speed of 218 kph (136 mph) during his run. He was dubbed "the fastest man on Earth."