Exhibitions

The Wright brothers inaugurated the aerial age with their historic first flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. The influence of their invention is beyond measure. The transport by air of goods and people, quickly and over great distances, and the military applications of flight technology have had vast economic, geopolitical, and cultural impact around the globe. The Wrights helped fashion a radically new world.
 

Learn how rocketry got a boost in the 20th century, altering warfare and taking humans into space.

Learn about the broad range of science performed by vehicles that travel into the Earth's atmosphere and beyond. The relatively young field of space science ranges from Earth observation to planetary exploration to astronomy and astrophysics.

While the German Luftwaffe demonstrated early successes in the use of airpower during World War II, and spurred many technological advancements, faulty military strategy and mismanagement of aircraft development programs ultimately led to its downfall.

The development of more advanced and precise air power after World War II.

It's not for military, commercial, or business — sport aviation is all about flying for pleasure. Learn about gliders, homebuilts, ultralights, and more.

The concept of gliders propelled by small engines emerged in the 1920s, but didn't rise in popularity until the 1970s. 

Helicopters come closer than any other aircraft to achieving the birdlike freedom humanity has always envied. Learn about the history of helicopters from the first rotary-wing aircraft (autogiro) to the XV-15.

Aircraft demonstrating some of the major technological advancements during World War II.

This small exhibit featured historic Transformers toys, aviation and Jetfire-related characters, and props used in the major motion picture Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, a portion of which was filmed at the Museum.