Is the Spirit of St. Louis at that museum? When I was 11 years old we were at a museum in Washington DC. My dad couldn't believe that I was more impressed with the Lunar Module than the Spirit of St. Louis. At that time, I didn't know the Spirit and I watched the Lunar Module land on the moon on TV.
Yes and no! There are actually 2 Air and Space Museums. I was at the newer Dulles-area one this time around, but the last time I visited (maybe 20 or 30 years ago?), I went to the older one in DC proper. I think St Louis is at the DC one, but I'm not 100% sure.
To be honest, the lunar module is both fascinating and an incredible piece of history, so I think it's all right that you were most interested in that!
Without the Montgolfier brothers, Leonardo Da Vinci, Daedalus in Greek mythology, and others, the Wright brothers may not have achieved their feat. Inventors, as you've always written, build on the accomplishments of those before them.
The Montgolfier brothers were featured in a weird, extended Monty Python TV sketch that purportedly was about their ballooning, but wasn't. Instead, it was about the plans for their balloon being stolen by the King of France- who spoke with a Scottish accent!
The Wrights have been portrayed comically in other media as well, though less accurately.
A captivating exploration of humanity's ascent into the skies! The ingenuity and audacity of these early aviators is simply astounding.
Thanks, Eva! The balloon thing was a serendipitous find at the Air and Space museum. I couldn't not write about it.
Is the Spirit of St. Louis at that museum? When I was 11 years old we were at a museum in Washington DC. My dad couldn't believe that I was more impressed with the Lunar Module than the Spirit of St. Louis. At that time, I didn't know the Spirit and I watched the Lunar Module land on the moon on TV.
Yes and no! There are actually 2 Air and Space Museums. I was at the newer Dulles-area one this time around, but the last time I visited (maybe 20 or 30 years ago?), I went to the older one in DC proper. I think St Louis is at the DC one, but I'm not 100% sure.
To be honest, the lunar module is both fascinating and an incredible piece of history, so I think it's all right that you were most interested in that!
I will never cease to be fascinated by the Wright brothers. Such audacity. Such confidence. Their achievements inspire even after all these years.
Yes! How about those Montgolfier brothers, though? Pretty impressive.
Without the Montgolfier brothers, Leonardo Da Vinci, Daedalus in Greek mythology, and others, the Wright brothers may not have achieved their feat. Inventors, as you've always written, build on the accomplishments of those before them.
I would love to do a longer piece on the history of flight, and go all the way back to those ancient muses! It would be a lot of work, though.
Episode 39: "The Golden Age of Ballooning". Most of the episode is devoted to it. Should be on YouTube.
Perfect! Just saved for later. Thanks, David.
The NW 747 nose section is not to be missed!
Oh yeah, you know a thing or two about these things!
I worked that plane not too long before it was retired. I know it sounds silly, but I'm pretty proud that a plane I handled is now in the Smithsonian.
I caught a closeup (ish) of the Enola Gay's cockpit. That was profound.
The Montgolfier brothers were featured in a weird, extended Monty Python TV sketch that purportedly was about their ballooning, but wasn't. Instead, it was about the plans for their balloon being stolen by the King of France- who spoke with a Scottish accent!
The Wrights have been portrayed comically in other media as well, though less accurately.
Oh man. Can you find that Flying Circus clip? I'd love to watch it today!
Imagine the faces of the French peasants if, just as they were done "murdering" the balloon demon, they saw a modern drone filming the entire thing!
I kind of think it would be just as shocking as the balloon, but no more, honestly. This was just mind-blowing for them!
You might be right. Once you see a flying demon, you probably don't care what material it's made of.
Now, a smartphone with a video on it? That might be another story!