Originally USAF 55-2961 and designated YF-104A.

Piloted rocket-powered "lifting body" test vehicle. Flew from 06.70 to 12.72 reaching supersonic speeds and over 70,000 feet altitude.

The first of three X-15 research aircraft is pictured on display in the Air and Space Museum's Milestones of Flight foyer. This aircraft conducted 82 of the 199 powered flights in the X-15 program. The second aircraft is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, OH and the third was lost during testing.

1927-built single seat mail plane flown by Eastern Air Transport with large fireproof mail container installed ahead of the pilot.

Delivered to US Navy as R5D-1 Bu50841 in August 1944. Converted to DC-4 standard by Douglas in September 1946. Served Pennsylvania Central Airlines until April 1948 when name changed to Capital Airlines. Named "Capitaliner Youngstown". Seen with downtown Washington in background. Capital merged into United on 1 June 1961 and this DC-4 was sold in August that year. Obtained from Capital 60 years ago.

The nose of "Flagship Vermont" survives in the NASM. This DC-7 was broken up in 1965 when it was only nine years old. It had only been in service for six years, from 1956 until 1962.

Whilst there are several replicas of this important aircraft, this is the real thing! This sole Ryan NYP was manufactured in April 1927. It is widely quoted as c/n 1, 29 or 30, but it was in fact never issued a manufacturer serial number by Ryan, nor a type certificate by the Civil Aeronautics Authority.

Lockheed YF-104A 55-2961 was redesignated as an F-104A and delivered via the US Air Force to NACA High Speed Station at Edwards AFB on August 21, 1956. Later registered N818NA, the jet's last flight for NASA was Aug 26, 1975 when it was flown to Andrews AFB and transferred to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC later that year.

Built in 1927 this aircraft was powered by a 1918 Curtiss OX-5 engine. The aircraft was flown until 1966 and was donated to the Smithsonian Museum in 1972. It has been in storage since about 1990

This is the aircraft that started it all, the first powered aircraft. When I visited the Smithsonian in 1978 it was suspended from the roof of the museum as seen here but on a more recent visit (2004) it has a hall to itself.

Amelia Earhart flew solo across the Atlantic in this aircraft, and also solo coast-to-coast from Los Angeles, Ca to Newark, NJ. Both flights took place in 1932.

The 'Winnie Mae', a special Lockheed Model 5C Vega was flown by Wiley Post who completed two around-the-world record flights and a series of high-altitude research flights. In 1978 it was in the Smithsonian collection in Washington DC but has now been moved to the Udvar-Hazy Centre

Spirit of St Louis, the original, not one of the many replicas, seen at the Smithsonian Collection. This sole Ryan NYP was manufactured in April 1927. It is widely quoted as c/n 1, 29 or 30, but it was in fact never issued a manufacturer serial number by Ryan, nor a type certificate by the Civil Aeronautics Authority.

Delivered to Eastern Airlines in December 1937. Retired by Eastern in early 1953 and donated to the NASM, who put it on display in July 1976.

On display in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum.

This original Albatros fighter is believed to have served with Jasta 46 on the Western Front in 1918, the yellow and green tail designating this unit. The personal marking on the fuselage reads 'Stropp'.

Formerly YR-PAX, this aircraft was flown initially by Alexandru Papana in the 1936 Olympics where he gained 12th place. The aircraft was shipped to the USA on board the airship Hindenburg. It was later sold to Mike Murphy who won the American Aerobatic Championships in it in 1940. After an accident in 1940 it was rebuilt with a 185hp Warner Super Scarab SS-185 engine, a metal propeller and a reinforced landing gear. Acquired by Bevo Howard in 1946 he won the championships that and the following year. Bevo was killed in this aircraft in 1971 but it was rebuilt and was seen here in the Smithsonian Museum.