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View of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center tower at sunset

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Bob Hoover Gives an Air Show Performance

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Bilge Pump Used on Spirit of St. Louis

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  3. Bilge Pump Used On Spirit of St. Louis
  • A bronze-colored tube-shaped pump used to remove water from pontoons.
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    Floatplanes use pontoons instead of wheels for water landings. Water would seep into the Lindberghs’ pontoons. Charles used this bilge pump almost daily during his 1931 and 1933 survey flights to remove it, so it wouldn’t add weight or affect the airplane’s balance.

  • A bronze-colored tube-shaped pump used to remove water from pontoons.

Photographer

Eric Long

ID#:

NASM2011-00572

Source:

Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

Owner:

Smithsonian Institution

Rights Usage:

Contact Smithsonian Institution

Terms of Use:

Smithsonian Terms of Use

For print or commercial use please see permissions information.

Related Content

Bilge Pump, Lockheed Sirius "Tingmissartoq", Lindbergh

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Admission is always free.
Open daily 10:00 am – 5:30 pm

National Air and Space Museum

National Air and Space Museum 650 Jefferson Drive SW
Washington, DC

202-633-2214

Free Timed-Entry Passes Required

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151

703-572-4118

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