The National Air and Space
Museum "Milestones of Flight" gallery exhibits some
of the major "firsts" in aviation and space history. These are
the machines that made the dream of flight possible. From the
Wright Brother's 1903 Wright Flyer, to the Ryan NYP "Spirit
of St. Louis", to the Apollo 11 Command Module "Columbia" that
carried the first men to walk on the Moon.
Use the timeline at left or the list
below to navigate this exhibition.
Sputnik and Explorer displayed in the center of the Milestones of Flight gallery. This display and a new informational exhibit celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sputnik and the beginning of the Space Age.