S M I T H S O N I A N   I N S T I T U T I O N
N A T I O N A L   A I R   &   S P A C E   M U S E U M

Washington D.C.

Lastly, this relative new addition to the gallery commemorates the first person to circumnavigate the world solo in a ballon. The daring Steve Fossett is the pilot who won that prize, taking 14 days and 19 hours to complete the trip aboard the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom. I wonder, did Steve drink Bud Light on his voyage?

On my way to my next gallery, I pass by this exhibit that discusses the challenges African-Americans faced when they tried to make inroads into the aviation community. Persistence paid off, and by 1941, many of the old stereotypes had been discarded.

This gallery is a sacred place of sorts, for it holds the world's first airplane. The exhibit provides detail and insight into the life and times of Wilbur and Orville Wright. Additionally, it also outlines the duo's great innovations and inventions.

I enter the gallery. Oh, that's right, I had forgotten, the Wright Brothers first started out as bike mechanics.

Here's the Wright Flyer, the very first airplane. Earlier, during their research and development, the Wright Brothers had successfully flown a glider. However, the aircraft before me now was the first aircraft to fly using a powerplant. An aircraft without an engine is called a glider, while one that has an engine is called an airplane.

I shot just a pittance of pictures. Sorry, I'm getting a little burned out on the Museum. I've been touring it non-stop for over 4-straight hours now.