Flight deck of AA "Flagship Vermont" on display at NASM. Last of the piston engine Douglas airliners, the DC-7 came about due to the need by American Airlines to match TWA's L-049 Constellation that outpaced AA's DC-6. The newly designed DC-7 had R-3350 engines similar to the L-049 but with four-bladed propellers. Its fuselage was like the DC-6B but stretched by 40 in. Capable of cruising at 360 mph, the DC-7 had excellent range, covering LA to NYC in 8 hr and the westbound leg in 8 hr 45 min. AA placed an order for 25 DC-7s that met the development cost, later adding nine more aircraft.

Suspended in the Golden Age of Flight Hall at NASM. This homebuilt racer with a Continental C-85 engine was designed by Steve Wittman. Originally named "Chief Oshkosh," it was heavily modified and renamed "Buster." It had a long racing career from 1931-54 in the National Air Races and other events, usually finishing in the top five in its class. The aircraft was displayed in Building 24 at Silver Hill before moving to the Mall. Wittman designed several aircraft during his career, being inducted posthumously in the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Oshkosh Airport was renamed in his honor.

On display at the Sea-Air Gallery at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Delivered to the USN in 1944, this is the sixth SBD-6 of 450 built, which was the last production model. It was identical to the SBD-5 but fitted with the more powerful 1,350 hp Wright R-1820-66 engine, making it slightly faster with a better service ceiling and range. The armored shield for the twin .30-cal machine guns is visible, as is the Yagi radar antenna under the wing. The carburetor intake scoop on top of the cowl has been deleted on this variant which is painted in the standard three-color camouflage.

Quite a unique moment, unexpectedly this formation appeared, old and new in formation near the Thomas-Jefferson memorial. Strikingly, the green colour of the Sea King is slight different compared of the colour of its successor, the Patriot. The VH-3D Sea King (BuNo 159359) is together with 159357 (which was seen earlier this day) is one of the last operational Sea Kings of HMX-1.

"Glamorous Glennis" suspended at Smithsonian NASM. This was the first aircraft to go supersonic on 14 Oct 1947, flown by Capt C. Yeager. The X-1 was dropped around 23,000 ft. by a modified B-29 flown by Maj R. Cardenas. After climb the flight plan was to reach Mach 0.97 but the sound barrier was crossed that day to attain a speed of Mach 1.06 after levelling off at 43,000 ft. The X-1 was powered by a 26.5 kN Reaction Motors XLR11-RM3 rocket engine with four combustion chambers burning LOX and ethyl alcohol. The combustion chambers could be turned on and off individually but not throttled.

A few minutes after take-off from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (DC), this Huey (former BuNo 158562) was in a north-bound hurry over the Potomac into the direction of the Thomas-Jefferson memorial. After its career with the US Marine Corps, the Huey arrived at AMARG on 26 Jan'11 with inventory code 7H0057. After some 7 months of storage, the USAF selected the Bell for conversion. It was taken from AMARG on 18 Aug'11 and was moved to Fleet Readiness Center East Cherry Point (NC) for depot-level maintenance overhaul. During '14 it was taken on strength of the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Andrews.

168280 from FY2011 is the first presidential Osprey (LRIP Lot 15). It flew first on 23 Jan'13 and was delivered to Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) ONE 'the Nighthawks' on 3 May'13. The Marine One Osprey's replaced a small number of CH-46 and CH-53s within HMX-1 and are used as support aircraft. They lack the white paint at the top of the fuselage (thus the nickname "white tops") that the VIP transport helicopters have. On 11 Aug'13 two MV-22Bs made their presidential debut ferrying Secret Service agents, White House staff, and members of the media from CGAS Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard (MA).

Wow, this Black Hawk could be just a US Army one, but when going into detail, the word Army on the tail section is removed, the marking on the engine housing is not US Army, and the crew clearly show a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) patch. And indeed, this UH-60M belongs to the FBI. The fiscal year of the serial is not 100% confirmed

The construction number of this Osprey is unconfirmed. The tilt-rotor is coming from the Lor Rate Initial Production Lot 115 series and was part of the US Navy FY2011 budget. As they are support aircraft, the are named "Green Tops", the other assetts of HMX-1 are named "White Tops" and these transport the VIPs. HMX-1 operates a dozen MV-22Bs.

The construction number of this Osprey is not known. The Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) ONE MV-22Bs are identical to those used by the USMC in the fleet, they only differ from their paint job.

This is VH-92A System Demonstration Test Article 2, the fourth Patriot built. It is former Sikorsky test registration N313SX and was first noted in mid-2019. 169180 is one of 23 VH-92As that the US Navy budget procured, of which 21 will be operational aircraft and two will remain test aircraft. The 21 aircraft are operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) OBNE, based at Quantico (VA). The squadron runs a detachment at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (MD). The VH-92As replace the venerable VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N of HMX-1.

This FY2019 Patriot carries a plate with a six on the "clip", I don't know what that means. Normally such clips are used for plates with two, three or four star marks. This 169187 is former Sikorsky test registration N335SX.

Passing The Washington Monument, how classic can it be?

Possibly one of the last operational Sea Kings of Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) ONE. The type will see its sundown in 2025.

The red plate on the nose section reveals that this Patriot is carrying a four star general. The helicopter took-off from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (DC), just on the other side of Ronald Reagan International Airport, both adjacent to the Potomac river, just south of the capital. This fiscal year 2021 VH-92A is former Sikorsky N344MW.

On display in a tight space at NASM, Washington, D.C. 'Yellow 7' with a blue-red Reichsverteidigung band was flown by 49-victory ace Obfw Heinz Arnold who was wingman to Maj Rudolf Sinner of III./JG7. The wing was named "Nowotny" in honor of 258-victory ace Maj Walter Nowotny who headed Kdo Nowotny, the first jet fighter unit till he was shot down. JG 7 was equipped with the Me-262 from Dec 1944 till its surrender in May 1945, scoring victories till the end. After its capture at Lechfeld in 1945, this Me-262 was shipped under Op Lusty to the USA where it was numbered FE-111 for evaluation.