Check out these Flight to Washington images:
Washington DC: National Air and Space Museum – Breitling Orbiter 3 Gondola
Image by wallyg
On March 1, 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones lifted off from the Swiss alpine village of Chateau d’Oex in the Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon. On March 21, 1999—19 days, 21 hours, and 55 minutes later—they landed in the Egyptian desert after traveling 45,755 kilometers (28,431 miles) and completing the first nonstop flight around the world in a balloon.
The success of Breitling Orbiter 3 was built upon two previous attempts: Breitling Orbiter in 1997 and Breitling Orbiter 2 in 1998. Those experiences enabled the Breitling team to develop trustworthy technical systems and a basic strategy in which Piccard and Jones would pilot their balloon up to altitudes of 11,000 meters (36,000 feet) and to where jet stream winds would drive it across the Pacific at up to 176 kilometers (105 miles) per hour.
The National Air and Space Museum (NASM), administered by the Smithsonian Institute, maintains the largest collection of aircraft and spacecraft in the world and is a vital center for research into the history, science, and technology of aviation and spaceflight, as well as planetary science and terrestrial geology and geophysics. Established along the National Mall on July 1, 1976, the museum was designed by Gyo Obata of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum as four simple marble-encased cubes containing the smaller and more theatrical exhibits, connected by three spacious steel-and-glass atrium which house the larger exhibits such as missiles, airplanes and spacecraft.
The Smithsonian Institution, an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its shops and its magazines, was established in 1846. Although concentrated in Washington DC, its collection of over 136 million items is spread through 19 museums, a zoo, and nine research centers from New York to Panama.
Soon, these Boeing 787s will have their engines and fly…
Image by AvgeekJoe
Because tomorrow (27 September), All Nippon Airways (ANA) will get their first 787 jet.
Congrats Boeing & ANA!
Got this pic from Future of Flight’s skydeck – don’t even have to pay admission to get up there. For other pics from my April trip – go here.
