Visit us in Washington, DC and Chantilly, VA to explore hundreds of the world’s most significant objects in aviation and space history.
Learn how aviation and spaceflight transformed the world.
The lunar module represents one of humanity’s greatest achievements: landing people on another heavenly body.
Don’t miss our fast-paced webcasts designed to engage students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in 30 minutes.
Apollo 11 was a global event. What did that historic mission mean to you? Share your story and read what others have to say.
Our scientists are involved in current research focused on the Martian climate and geology. Find out what we’re discovering.
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Our Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia has reopened. Get free timed entry passes. The Museum in DC will remain closed. See our COVID-19 message.
Lilienthal Glider Wing
The most significant pre-Wright brothers aeronautical experimenter was the German glider pioneer Otto Lilienthal. Between 1891 and 1896, he built and flew a series of highly successful full-size gliders. During this period, Lilienthal made close to 2,000 brief flights in 16 different designs based on aerodynamic research he conducted in the 1870s and 1880s. Like the example in the National Air and Space Museum collection, most were monoplanes with stabilizing tail surfaces mounted at the rear. Control was achieved by shifting body weight fore-and-aft and from side-to-side. Highlighted in this image is a wing of the Lilienthal Glider.
