Photoclubalpha

Every once in a while, something happens that renders the familiar unfamiliar. I've been going to the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum for decades. First, as a boy appreciative of the science of it all. And later, as the family member with relatives visiting from all over the world eager to see what is in Washington D.C. Although I love the National Gallery of Art, the Air and Space is the most visited museum in the Mall complex. Imagine my surprise when we came into these:

1. Friendship 7 capsule (John Glenn's Mercury capsule)



2. Tail sections of The Spirit of St. Louis (Charles Lindberg) and Space Ship One



3. The Bell X-1, the first plane to break the sound barrier (Chuck Yeager, pilot)




Apparently, every museum dusts up its displays every once in a while. When the Smithsonian does it, well, it may not be pretty in the conventional sense, but after decades of looking at the objects locked in one place, change is interesting. Thanks for looking.

Nice set. I watched a show on that epic first supersonic flight. Chuck Yeager almost did not make it.
He broke/bruised his ribs on the eve or couple of days before the flight. His friend sneaked in a stick
to use as a lever to close the door. CY could not do on his own due to his injury. Amazing event.

Sury

Cool! I have only visited there once in 2000. I don't recall seeing those things then.

sury wrote:Nice set. I watched a show on that epic first supersonic flight. Chuck Yeager almost did not make it.
He broke/bruised his ribs on the eve or couple of days before the flight. His friend sneaked in a stick
to use as a lever to close the door. CY could not do on his own due to his injury. Amazing event.

You would probably really enjoy the 1983 movie The Right Stuff with Chuck Yeager portrayed as one of the main characters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Right ... %28film%29

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086197/

Based on the book of the same name. A movie so no doubt not 100% accurate, but still very good!

I haven't seen it in years, but now would like to see it again.

i did see the movie The right stuff and enjoyable it was, good to see the items being looked after, i would love to see a flying De Haviland Mosquito the "wooden wonder" in flight some day. i think one of the institutions in the US has a non flying one.

mike hawthorne

That's my kind of museum. I love the whole aviation/space thing.
The aviation museum at Pima is excellent.

Mike

Last year we visited the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Lots of great stuff there, too!

Dusty