Drawings Reference Policy

1. BACKGROUND: The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) is a source for historical materials and data regarding air and space craft. It makes these materials available for use by students, educators, scholars, the public, and commercial users consistent with United States copyright, trademark, patent and related laws in furtherance of the Smithsonian Institution's commitment to the increase and diffusion of knowledge.

2. POLICY: It is the policy of NASM to make available on an equal basis to requestors drawings and other data in NASM's custody relating to air and space craft. Requestors have access to these materials and data by visiting NASM and reviewing documents in NASM's reading rooms and by requesting copies of documents in NASM's custody and paying established fees for reproduction and shipping. Documents and data are supplied in support of historical research. Historical research includes, among other endeavors, development of publishable scholarly and popular works, developing exhibitions, and building model aircraft, and historical, static non-flying restorations. NASM does not provide historical documents and data in support of construction of airworthy, human-carrying replicas of aircraft, nor does NASM support the Approved Type Certificate process.

3. PROCEDURE: Requestors of air and space craft drawings must execute an agreement (PDF format 109k, requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader) with NASM indicating their intent to use the drawings and data supplied by NASM only for historical research, exhibition, model making, or non-profit restoration purposes. Requestors will also agree that the documents and data are intended solely for personal and non-commercial use, that these documents and data will not be used to create a replication of any aircraft, and that copies of the documents and data will not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted. This signed agreement must be provided to NASM before orders for copying of drawings are accepted.

4. COMMERCIAL USE: NASM will refer requests to support commercial publication, model building, or replication to the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Product Development and Licensing for negotiation of appropriate agreements.