National Air and Space Museum
Flight Testing
July 1, 1976 – 1995
This gallery traces the history of flight research, research aircraft, and the test pilot.
Highlights include:
- Lilienthal Glider, an early, unpowered flight research vehicle
- Bell XP-59A Airacomet, the 1st U.S. turbojet aircraft
- Hawker Siddeley XV-6A Kestrel, a successful application of vectored thrust in an aircraft
- Lockheed Model 5-C (modified) Vega Winnie-Mae, performed stratospheric research in the 1930s, piloted by Wiley Post
