This Goose was manufactured in December 1938 and flew in Venezuela and Ecuador until 1951. Then returned to the US and operated by Chalk's Flying Service in the Caribbean from 1954 to 1977. Donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1983 after restoration

Many years ago while "Enola Gay" was still dismantled and in store at the Silver Hill facility, I once had the eerie experience of being able to go on board and sit in the bombadier's seat. Of course this is the Superfortress which dropped the world's first atomic bomb used in warfare on Hiroshima on 6.8.45

Designed with folding wings and tail surfaces to be catapulted from submarines and used to attack the USA mainland, the first mission with Seirans on board was at sea when Japan surrendered. To shorten the launching process, they were to be catapulted from a cold start by heating the engine oil to 60°C in a separate chamber and pumping it through the engine just before launch, along with hot water. This is the only survivor of 28 built

Acquired in 2001 from Orca Air of Egypt, this was originally a Tyrolean aircraft. Seen here leaving on PDT4110 to Charlotte, not to be confused with departure city!

Built as a private venture by Boeing and operated from 1954 to 1969, the legendary Dash 80 was forerunner of a huge success story which saw some 1,800 707s and KC-135s being produced

First flown in 10.43, the push-pull "Arrow" was the fastest production piston fighter of WWII, capable of 472mph at 21,000ft. This sole remaining example of 37 built was taken to the USA for evaluation after the war. Ferried from Oberwiesenfeld to Cherbourg escorted by two P-51s, the Do 335 was easily able to out-pace the escorts and arrived 45 minutes ahead. When returned to Dornier for restoration in 1974, explosive charges to blow off the tail and rear propeller in emergency were found still intact

Magnificent machine respledent to her former West Virginia ANG glory. First delivered to the MATS Division at Charleston AFB as "City of Prestwick" in March 1956, she later served Mississippi ANG, WV ANG and lastly Pennsylvania ANG. Flown to Van Nuys as N1104W in 8.81, Classic Air intended to use her to fly Japanese tourists to the Grand Canyon but the aircraft remained inactive till taken by NASM in 1988, restoration not being completed till 2007

This exceptional exhibit is the only remaining example of the world's first operational jet-powered bomber. Although some 210 were built in the late stages of WWII, few entered service; those that did proved almost impossible to intercept. Behind is the similarly extraordinary Dornier 335

After wins in the Bendix Trophy air races of 1946 and 1947 for Paul Mantz in this Mustang while named "Stormy Petrel", Charles F Blair flew 3,478 miles non-stop from New York to London on 31.1.51 in the renamed "Excalibur III" at an average speed of 446mph in 7hr 48m, a record for a piston-engined aircraft. Four months later he flew 3,260 miles across the North Pole from Bardufoss, Norway to Fairbanks, AK. For many years a large scale model of the aircraft was displayed at Heathrow Airport

The only surviving example of the eight Sparrowhawks built and designed to be launched and recovered from the USN Airships 'Akron' and 'Macon' by trapeze mechanism, this is actually XF9C-2 Bu.Aer A9264

The first XV-15 made its initial flight in 5.77. N703NA was the second, used for tests to support the V-22 Osprey military and Bell/Agusta BA609 civilian tiltrotor programmes until retirement in 2003

This P-61 was donated to the National Air Museum (as it was then known) as early as 1950, after five years of test work. However, NACA soon asked to borrow it for high-altitude experimental work. After about 50 flights as a mothership, dropping recoverable swept-wing test bodies, it was returned in 1954 to museum storage. Some 52 years later, it was unveiled for display in original test markings

Accepted by the USN as an F-4J in 12.70, first assigned to VF-31 and whilst with that squadron, on 21.6.72 shot down a MiG-21 off the Vietnamese coast. Later served VF-33, VF-74, VF-103 and VF-171 before upgarde to F-4S at North Island in 1983. Assigned to VMFAT-101 then VMFA-232 at Kaneohe Bay, HI. Wfu and flown to Dulles on 29.11.88 for the NASM