This exhibition is now closed. 

This gallery contained airplanes from the formative years of air transportation in the United States. It outlined how the airliner has revolutionized the way people travel, greatly reducing travel time between countries and bringing the world closer together. It also reflected on how direct government support, together with a technological revolution that produced modern all-metal airplane by the early 1930s, air travel made tremendous strides in speed, safety, and reliability.

Related Topics

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Plan Your Visit

You may also like

Two silver airplanes suspended in midair. One large one is for Eastern Airlines, one smaller one reads TWA on the side.
Exhibition

America by Air

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
On View Exhibition
A view of the America by Air gallery. Several large airplanes are suspended from the ceiling with smaller airplanes on the ground.
Deep dive

Early Commercial Aviation

A view of Early Flight featuring the Lilienthal Glider.
Exhibition

Early Flight

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
On View Exhibition
PSA Interior postcard
Deep dive

The Evolution of the Commercial Flying Experience