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.

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.

The National Air and Space Museum doesn't appear to have any immediate plans to restore this aircraft. It has been stored at Dulles Airport for a number of years.

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.