Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

In the late 1980s, the U.S. government and the aerospace industry promoted an idea for an airplane that would travel at hypersonic speeds, thus dramatically shortening the time to fly from the United States to the Far East. The concept was officially called the "National Aerospace Plane," also known by the popular name "Orient Express."

This model represents a concept developed by McDonnell Douglas, with Northwest Airlines as a potential customer.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Date ca. 1989 Country of Origin United States of America Type MODELS-Aircraft Manufacturer McDonnell Douglas Corporation
 Physical Description Wood and plastic display model of a McDonnell Douglas "Orient Express" Aerospace Plane concept aircraft in overall silver with red tails and white and blue striping color scheme. 1/36 scale. Dimensions 3-D (Overall): 240 × 97.8 × 25.4cm (7 ft. 10 1/2 in. × 3 ft. 2 1/2 in. × 10 in.)
 Materials Plastics
Possible Wood
Paint
 Inventory Number A19890110000 Credit Line Gift of Northwest Airlines, Inc. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.