Aviation History

Here we have two historical airplanes, from different parts of the aviation story, facing off while hanging in the lobby of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

You are looking through the wing struts of the "Spirit of St. Louis," the plane that flew the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight from Long Island, New York, to Paris, France, in 1927, flown by Charles Lindbergh.

Seen through those wing struts is the sharp nose of "Glamorous Glennis," the Bell X-1 research plane, that first broke the sound barrier in 1947, with the intrepid Chuck Yeager at the controls.

They painted it orange, so they could see it rocketing across the desert sky. In order to get it up to speed, they dropped it out of an already flying airplane and lit the candle.

No, thanks.

I really enjoyed the fact that they were facing each other, these two bookends of aviation history.

Thanks for taking time to visit. Still a day behind, but, oh, well.

[Taffy]

This is such a cool sight! It makes me wish I'd flown to STL instead of taking the train!

[Pam Knowler]

What a great pov! I love that you have captured these two famous planes in the same shot! So interesting! Sounds like somewhere I would like to visit! Fav!

[Kas]

Great contrast of old and new. Brilliant pov.

[gloria jones]

Neat shot

[Rosie Kind]

Great perspective and probably one that I wouldn't have thought of Fav

[Bill Fenske]

Such a creative and excellent pov

[Marnie]

Having been a certifiable aircraft nut in my younger days I know about both of these lovely machines. Fantastic to be able to get them in such a juxtaposition.