EVERY BOY'S DREAM??

Spirit of St Louis

 

 

Charles A. Lindbergh flew the Spirit of St Louis on May 21, 2927 ~ the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight from Long Island, New York to Paris, France, in 33 hours, 30 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't it every boy's dream to fly? 

or at least check out planes ~ UP CLOSE!!!

JPE & I visited the Air & Space Museum (part of the Smithsonian Museums)... Monday was busy, busy with families on Spring Break, Boy Scout troops, high school, middle school and after-school programs...

but it's nice to see so many people enjoying Washington DC.

WWII exhibit

JPE's dad served during WWII - so this exhibit was especially interesting! Amazing murals set the tone & gave viewers a "realistic visual" for understanding what the pilot may have seen from the cockpit.

another WWII airplane

WWII display case memorabilia

THIS CAUGHT MY EYE!!!

A Public Affairs Committee pamphlet ~ wondering what men going off to war needed to know about women / girls? umm... any ideas? I'd like to know if any bloggers have the answer!

Of course, we checked out the Apollo Lunar Module. This is the second stage that ferried the astronauts from the orbit capsule to the lunar surface.

On the second level was one of my favorite exhibits... "Pioneers of Flight"... which included Amelia Earhart's plane, a Lockheed Vega! and this unusual plane...

an enterprising aircraft...

...a WRIGHT EX airplane!

...which was the first aircraft which advertised a product, a grape-flavored soft drink, VIN FIZ. Rodgers, owner of the plane, painted the drink logo on the bottom of the wings, and was paid $4-5 for each mile he flew... you'll want to click THIS LINK to learn about the outcome of his advertising venture.

Water Exploration was not left out of the picture...

a National Geographic diving cage!

A full day of exhibits - the crowds followed us to the METRO - our last experience with negotiating a crowd while using the wheelchair. URGGHH... difficult!