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Nation of Speed

Air and Space Museum

Nation of Speed recounts our desire to become the fastest on land, sea, air, and space in the pursuit of commerce, power, and prestige.

Featuring iconic vehicles from Mario Andretti’s Indy 500 winning race car to the Sharp DR 90 Nemesis, Nation of Speed paints a portrait of human ingenuity — the technology developed to propel people faster and faster— and explores how the pursuit of speed has shaped American culture and our national identity.

Nation of Speed is presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.


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Low-profile white racing aircraft with pink lettering that reads "NEMESIS" on the side. Multiple sponsor logos painted all over aircraft. Small propeller at front. Covered wheels on landing gear.

Sharp DR 90 Nemesis

White, blunt missile with rounded front and flared, enclosed end at back.

Missile, Reentry Vehicle, Mark 4

Custom designed silver racing aircraft with a three-blade propeller, wide wings, and low-profile covered cockpit. Covered wheels on landing gear. Large yellow "Champion Spark Plugs" logo painted on side just below cockpit. Number "29" painted in black on side and wing.

Turner RT-14 Meteor

Large circular black engine on a wheeled black base. The number 360 is in white on the front of the base.

Pratt & Whitney J58 (JT11D-20) Turbojet Engine

Pin, Lapel, Roscoe Turner Flying Corps

Side view of a taxidermied lion on wooden base.

Gilmore the Flying Lion

Roscoe Turner's Custom Civilian Pilot's Badge

Aircraft, Flying Model Rocket Plane, X-15

Rocket Engine, Liquid Fuel, XLR-91, Second Stage, Titan I Missile

Model, Static, Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird

Machmeter, Early Model, Kollsman

Goggles, Flying, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics

Rocket, Flying Model Kit, Titan IIIC, 1:100

Thompson Trophy

Orange cap with mesh back and Section 3 logo and "RENO AIR RACES" printed in black on the front.

Cap, Section 3

Pin, Section 3

Flag, Section 3

T-Shirt, Section 3

Bead Necklaces, Section 3

Thiokol XLR99-RM-1 Pioneer Rocket Motor

Cup, Annual Race Meet, Syracuse New York

Toy, Space Port, Flash Gordon

Computer, True Air, Speed, General Luminescent Corp.

Mask, Oxygen, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics

Trophy, Bendix Trophy, Jacqueline Cochran

Cup, 25 Mile Road Race, Glenn Curtiss

Vertical Indicator, Airspeed, Mach, Safe Speed, AN/AVU-1/A (F-105 type)

Model, Static, Seversky SEV-S2

Helmet, Flying, Protective, Type APH-6/D, United States Navy

Medal, 1902 Motorcycle Race, Glenn Curtiss

Rocket Sled, Sonic Wind I

Model, Static, Wedell-Williams Model 44 Special

Model, Static, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

Pitot - Static Tube, Airspeed, AN5816-2, Kollsman

Model, Launch Pad and Controller, Flying Rocket


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