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

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Visit us in Washington, DC and Chantilly, VA to explore hundreds of the world’s most significant objects in aviation and space history. Free timed-entry passes are required for the Museum in DC.

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Apollo 11: Buzz Aldrin on the Moon

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space shuttle launch

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Women in Aviation and Space Family Day

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Bob Hoover Gives an Air Show Performance

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Lockheed XP-80 "Lulu Belle" Vertical Stabilizer and Horizontal Stabilizer

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  3. Lockheed XP-80 "Lulu Belle" Vertical Stabilizer and Horizontal Stabilizer
  • Tail of green Lockheed XP-80 "Lulu Belle" aircraft with United States Air Force insignia on body
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    Lockheed's most capable engineer, Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, and a team of designers began work on a prototype, designated the XP-80 but nicknamed "Lulu-Belle," on June 21, 1943. Lulu-Belle" flew on January 8, 1944, and later starred in a series of exercises conducted to develop tactics that American heavy bomber crews could use against attacks by jet fighters. The trials showed that enemy jet fighter pilots would much prefer rear aspect attacks. Based on these findings, AAF planners moved the formations of American fighters protecting the bombers to higher altitudes. Highlighted in this image are the vertical stabilizer and horizontal stabilizer of the Lockheed XP-80.

  • Tail of green Lockheed XP-80 "Lulu Belle" aircraft with United States Air Force insignia on body

Created:

August 04, 2017

Photographer:

Mark Avino

ID#:

A19600296000-NASM2018-10292

Source:

Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

Owner:

Smithsonian Institution

Rights Usage:

CC0 (Open Access)

Terms of Use:

Smithsonian Terms of Use

For print or commercial use please see permissions information.

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National Air and Space Museum

6th St. and Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20560

202-633-2214

Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Free Timed-Entry Passes
Required

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151

703-572-4118

Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
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