A Museum Tour Through Aviation History

Looking at Earth (Gallery 110)

Although the emphasis of the Looking at Earth gallery is on aircraft that were used extensively for aerial observation or reconnaisance purposes, it also highlights the development of aviation technology to new heights of sophistication.

deHavilland DH-4
(1917)

Orignally designed and built in England, the deHavilland DH-4 was a prominent British bomber during World War I. By 1917, the United States was licensed to build DH-4s, subsituting the 400-hp Liberty engine for the original British powerplant. By the time of the Armistice in November 1918, a total of more than 4,300 DH-4s had been built in the U.S. By then, they were the mainstay of the U.S. Army Air Corps and were beginning to replace the Curtiss JN-1 trainers and Curtis R-4 mail planes. The DH-4 in the Museum's collection was the first DH-4 built in the United States. On display, it is equipped with a full compliment of armament, including six bombs, two aerial recon cameras, a wireless radio transmitter, and flare holders.

Lockheed U-2C
(1955)

Another product of Kelly Johnson's "Skunk Works" facility at Lockheed Aircraft was the epitome of the Cold War spy plane. The Lockheed U-2 made its first flight in August 1955 and became operational by 1956. Carrying sophisticated cameras and electronic listening equipment, the U-2 could remain aloft for 6 hours at an altitude of over 60,000 feet. They were routinely used to spy on the Soviet Union and other Easten Block countries. U-2 flights also were used to confirm the existence of Russian missle bases in Cuba, which led to the October 1962 "Cuban Missile Crisis." U-2s were also used over Vietnam and the Middle East. Modified U-2s, redesignated TR-1s, have been used by NASA for various Earth observation and space science projects.

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
(1962)

[Museum photo not available]

Despite the success of the U-2, the ultimate in spy plane technology is the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Another Johnson "Skunk Works" product, the SR-71 actually began life as the YF-12, a high altitude, supersonic "fighter." The SR-71 first flew in 1962 and was soon carrying out recon missions at altitudes of over 90,000 feet and speeds exceeding Mach 3.3. An SR-71 also holds the cross-country speed record of 64 minutes from Los Angeles to Washington, DC! The Museum's SR-71 Blackbird is in storage until completion of the Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport, Virginia, where the plane will be among the Museum's newest exhibits.

Continuing the theme of aviation technology development, our next stop highlights the use of computers in aviation. This is the Flight Enters the Computer Age gallery.

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Last Updated: January 1, 2003