goSmithsonian - February 2009 - (Page 15) N AT I O N A L A I R A N D S PA C E M U S E U M Hungry? FIRST FLOOR “Milestones of Flight” (100): Many of the most famous air and space vehicles in history are found just steps inside the doors of the museum. Look up to see Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, which he piloted for the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight; the Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis, the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound; and the North American X-15, the fastest aircraft ever flown. At floor level, touch a real moon rock and check out the space capsules Friendship 7, Gemini IV and Apollo 11. “America by Air,” (102): Packed with historic airplanes including a Douglas DC-3, a Ford Tri-Motor and a Curtiss JN-4D Jenny, this gallery explores the history of passenger air travel in the United States. Step inside two airplanes—a Boeing 747 and a Douglas DC7; and experience an A320 cockpit simulation of a takeoff and landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Interactive flight simulators (103): With seating for eight, riders can choose from the “SpaceWalk,” “Cosmic Coaster” or “Wings” experiences at $7 per person. Or with seating for two, fly jet-age combat sorties at $8 per person. The rockets and missiles in the museum’s “Space Race” gallery, located on the main floor (left), combine to tell the history of the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, beginning with the race to land a man on the moon. Look for the spacecraft of the 1975 ApolloSoyuz Test Project; the German V-1 cruise missile and the Hubble test telescope. At the east end of the museum, behind the lunar module, the museum offers a selection of food from McDonald’s, Donatos Pizza, Boston Market and a McCafé, featuring coffees, wraps and pastries. ERIC LONG/NASM, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION goSmithsonian.com 15 http://www.goSmithsonian.com
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