Photos from the Smithonian Air and Space Museums

Soviet SS-20 and U.S. Pershing II Nuclear Missiles, Banned by the INF Treaty in 1987.

German V2 Rocket. More than 3,000 of these were launched in the last few months of World War II, most at London and Antwerp. More than 4,500 people were killed and over 11,000 injured by the attacks. The U.K. announced that the rockets were overshooting London, which caused the Germans to adjust their aim into less populated areas.

The German V-1 Buzz Bomb was powered by a pulse jet engine. Over 6,000 were launched at the U.K. in World War II, killing over 5,000 people.

This is the first of two X-45a UAV prototypes built and flown from 2002 to 2006. The aircraft were designed as autonomous combat vehicles, with the ability to detect and attack targets without human guidance.

The MQ-1 Predator was developed as a reconnaissance UAV, but the cability to fire hellfire missiles was added in 2001. 285 of the reconnaissance RQ-1 were built, and 75 of the armed MQ-1 were built. The last MQ-1 was delivered in March, 2011. They have been replaced by the MQ-9 Reaper.

The MQ-1 Predator was developed as a reconnaissance UAV, but the cability to fire hellfire missiles was added in 2001. 285 of the reconnaissance RQ-1 were built, and 75 of the armed MQ-1 were built. The last MQ-1 was delivered in March, 2011. They have been replaced by the MQ-9 Reaper.

Two RQ-3A Darkstar UAV prototypes were built in the late 1990's. The first crashed on its second test flight. The second prototype made 5 test flights before the program was cancelled. This plane had the intake and exhaust openings sealed to conceal its design.

The RQ-7A Shadow was first used in 2002. It has a wingspan of 12.75 feet and max weight of 327 lbs. It uses a 38hp "Wankel" rotary engine. It is launched from a trailer-mountain pneumatic catapult.

The RQ-7B has a 14 foot wingspan and longer endurance. In 2010 development began on a new version of the Shadow with 20 foot wingspan and expanded capabilities.

In August 2011 a C-130 ran into an RQ-7A in Afghanistan. The RQ-7A crashed and the C-130 landed with a damaged wing.

The RQ-7 Shadow is authorized to fly at Benson Municipal Airport in Arizona, a general aviation facility. The Illinois National Guard has authorization to fly the RQ-7 Shadow in public, non-restricted airspace.

The Gossamer Condor was the first human powered aircraft capable of controlled and sustained flight. It successfully completed a mile-line figure-8 course in 1977. It was flown (and pedalled) by Bryan Allen. It was built by Paul MacCready and Peter Lissaman.

The RQ-2A Pioneer was developed in the 1980's as an artillery spotter for battleships. Its role has expanded into reconnaissance for the Navy, Marines, and Army.

It has a wingspan of 16.9 feet, max speed of 110 knots, and a max weight of 452 lbs. It uses a 2 cylinder 2 stroke engine. It has a 15,000 foot ceiling and can stay in the air for 5 hours.

175 RQ-2s were delivered, beginning in 1986. In 2007 the RQ-2s were retired by the Navy and replaced with the RQ-7 Shadow.

In Desert Storm, the USS Missouri, using her Pioneer to spot 16 inch gunfire, devastated the defenses of Faylaka Island off the coast near Kuwait City. Shortly thereafter, while still over the horizon and invisible to the defenders, the USS Wisconsin sent her Pioneer over the island at low altitude. When the UAV came over the island, the defenders heard the obnoxious sound of the two-cycle engine since the air vehicle was intentionally flown low to let the Iraqis know that they were being targeted. Recognizing that with the "vulture" overhead, there would soon be more of those 2,000-pound naval gunfire rounds landing on their positions with the same accuracy, the Iraqis made the right choice and, using handkerchiefs, undershirts, and bedsheets, they signaled their desire to surrender. Imagine the consternation of the Pioneer aircrew who called the commanding officer of Wisconsin and asked plaintively, "Sir, they want to surrender, what should I do with them?"

The X-15 rocket-powered plane first flew in 1959. This is the first of three X-15s built. They flew more than 4,500 mph and more than 50 miles high. The X-15 would launch from a B-52 at 45,000 feet. The last X-15 flight was in 1970.

The Vin Fiz Flyer in the picture is one of the Wright Brothers' planes. It was the first plane to fly across the United States.

The French Caudron G.4 was used for reconnaissance and light bombing in World War I.

P-38J Lightning, 1943

The Enola Gay is the B-29 that bombed Hiroshima in 1945.

The Enola Gay is the B-29 that bombed Hiroshima in 1945.

Vought OS2U-3 Kingfisher

Grumman G22 Gulfhawk II
28'7" wingspan, 1000 hp, 290 mph, 1936

Monocoupe 110 Special, 1941

Current Projects

Current Projects

Current Projects

Boeing P-26A Peashooter, 1936, all metal monoplane fighter

37 of the Dornier Do 335 Pfiel (Arrow) were built in 1944 and 1945. They have a twin engine push-pull configuration, and were capable of speeds around 474 mph.

This is the second Do 335 built, and the only one in existence today.

This is an ME-163B Komet, a rocket powered fighter. It's 18'8" long with a 30 foot wingspan. It could climb to 40,000 feet in three and a half minutes and fly at over 600 mph. However, it only carried eight minutes of fuel. It took off on a wheeled trolley that was jettisoned after takeoff. It landed on extendable skids at about 125 mph, which injured a lot of pilots.

The Walter Rocket Engine, a variable thrust, liquid fuel rocket motor used in the ME-163.

This is an ME-163B Komet, a rocket powered fighter. It's 18'8" long with a 30 foot wingspan. It could climb to 40,000 feet in three and a half minutes and fly at over 600 mph. However, it only carried eight minutes of fuel. It took off on a wheeled trolley that was jettisoned after takeoff. It landed on extendable skids at about 125 mph, which injured a lot of pilots.

The JB-2 Loon missile was a U.S. version of the German buzz bomb. It was used until 1950, when it was replaced by the Regulus missile.

The JB-2 Loon missile was a U.S. version of the German buzz bomb. It was used until 1950, when it was replaced by the Regulus missile.

The Mig 21F was an early version of the Mig 21, built in the early 1960's. Several thousand Mig 21s were built from 1960 to 1985.

The Mig 21F was an early version of the Mig 21, built in the early 1960's. Several thousand Mig 21s were built from 1960 to 1985.

This version of the Soviet Mig 15 was built in China in 1947. More than 12,000 Mig 15s were built, most in the 1950's.

This version of the Soviet Mig 15 was built in China in 1947. More than 12,000 Mig 15s were built, most in the 1950's.

The F-86A was the first production version of the F-86. 554 of the 9,860 F-86s built were F-86A models. This plane was built in 1949 and was used in the Korean War.

T33A Trainer

T33A Trainer

T33A Trainer

The RF-8G is the reconnaissance version of the F-8U Crusader. This RF-8G was the last operational Navy F-8. It was built in 1959. The wingtips fold for carrier storage, and the wings rotate about the rear spar to change the incidence angle in flight.

This F-35 was the first one built, in 2001. It was later modified to add short takeoff / vertical landing capability.

The F-35 engine.

The F-14 was used by the U.S. Navy from 1972 to 2006. This one shot down a Mig 23 near Libya in 1989. It was an F-14A and was upgraded to an F-14D(R) in the early 1990s.

The QH-50 was an unmanned helicopter used in the 1960's for antisubmarine missions. It carried a nuclear depth bomb (shown here) or torpedoes. This QH-50C was built in 1965. 755 QH-50s were built 1959 - 1969. It has a max weight of 2,300 lbs, 16,000 foot ceiling, and 80 mile range.

The QH-50 was an unmanned helicopter used in the 1960's for antisubmarine missions. It carried a nuclear depth bomb (shown here) or torpedoes. This QH-50C was built in 1965. 755 QH-50s were built 1959 - 1969. It has a max weight of 2,300 lbs, 16,000 foot ceiling, and 80 mile range.

The RF-8G is the reconnaissance version of the F-8U Crusader. This RF-8G was the last operational Navy F-8. It was built in 1959. The wingtips fold for carrier storage, and the wings rotate about the rear spar to change the incidence angle in flight.

T33A Trainer

This version of the Soviet Mig 15 was built in China in 1947. More than 12,000 Mig 15s were built, most in the 1950's.

The Corporal Missile is 36.3 feet tall and 2.5 feet in diameter. It has a 75-mile range, and is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. It was the first U.S. operational guided missile. It was first fired in 1947 and became operational in 1954. It was retired in 1966. Manufactured by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.

The Corporal Missile is 36.3 feet tall and 2.5 feet in diameter. It has a 75-mile range, and is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. It was the first U.S. operational guided missile. It was first fired in 1947 and became operational in 1954. It was retired in 1966.

The German Fritz X guided bomb was used in World War II. mostly in the Mediterranean. It was radio controlled by joystick.

The U.S. Bat Missile (or Guided Bomb) was used in World War II in the Pacific, in 1944 and 1945. It was dropped 15-20 miles from its target and used an autopilot to home in on a radar target. It had no propulsion and carried a 1000lb warhead.

82 of the German Rheintochter R I antiaircraft missiles were test launched during World War II.

Nike Cajun Sounding Rocket, Far Side Sounding Rocket, F-23 Ramjet Research Vehicle, and the Loki Dart Sounding Rocket (Right to Left)

The Pegasus Launch Vehicle is launched from a modified L-1011 airliner and carries relatively small satellites into low earth orbit. It's first launch was in 1990, and the last (40th) one was in 2008. A flight is scheduled for April, 2004.

The Soviet Styx surface to surface anti-ship missile was developed in 1958. It has a solid fuel rocket booster (not in the photo) and a rocket engine to sustain flight for its range of about 26 miles. The Styx missile was used by Egypt to sink an Israeli destroyer in the 1967 six day war.

The Little John was a U.S. battlefield nuclear missile with a range of 10 miles and a 1 to 10 kiloton warhead. It was deployed in 1961 and retired from service in 1969.

The Little John was a U.S. battlefield nuclear missile with a range of 10 miles and a 1 to 10 kiloton warhead. It was deployed in 1961 and retired from service in 1969.

The Little John was a U.S. battlefield nuclear missile with a range of 10 miles and a 1 to 10 kiloton warhead. It was deployed in 1961 and retired from service in 1969.

The Little John was a U.S. battlefield nuclear missile with a range of 10 miles and a 1 to 10 kiloton warhead. It was deployed in 1961 and retired from service in 1969.

The AGM-86B cruise missile is a nuclear missile launched only from B-52s. 1,700 of these were built from 1980 to 1986, and they're expected to remain in service until 2020.

The R391 propeller, introduced in 1999, is used on the newest model of C-130, the C-130J. It is carbon fiber composite with foam filling and aluminum leading edges. It is half the weight of the traditional 4-blade aluminim C130 props, is quieter, and has much better takeoff and climb performance.

The Arado AR 234 was a German jet reconnaissance / bomber used in World War II in 1944 and 1945. It jettisoned a three-wheel trolley on takeoff and landed on extendable skids. This AR 234B is the only AR 234 left.

This is a German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-8/R1. More than 20,000 Focke-Wulf 190s were built. This one began its career as a 190 A, but was remanufactured in 1944.

The Enola Gay is the B-29 that bombed Hiroshima in 1945.

P-38J Lightning, 1943

Hawker Hurricane. This one was built in 1944.

Hawker Hurricane. This one was built in 1944.

Hawker Hurricane. This one was built in 1944.

The Loening OA-1A . This is the "San Francisco," one of 5 planes that flew the 1926-1927 Pan-American Goodwill flight to Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Curtiss N-9H World War I Seaplane

Samuel Langley's Aerodrome A had two unsuccessful manned flight attempts in 1903 before the Wright Brothers flew. This is the original plane with new covering.

Samuel Langley's Aerodrome A had two unsuccessful manned flight attempts in 1903 before the Wright Brothers flew. This is the original plane with new covering.

The French Caudron G.4 was used for reconnaissance and light bombing in World War I.

The French Caudron G.4 was used for reconnaissance and light bombing in World War I.

The French Caudron G.4 was used for reconnaissance and light bombing in World War I.

The French Caudron G.4 was used for reconnaissance and light bombing in World War I.

The Halberstadt CL.IV was a German World War ground attack plane introduced in 1918. It has a 160hp motor and a radiator in the wing.

The Halberstadt CL.IV was a German World War ground attack plane introduced in 1918. It has a 160hp motor and a radiator in the wing.

The Halberstadt CL.IV was a German World War ground attack plane introduced in 1918. It has a 160hp motor and a radiator in the wing.

The Halberstadt CL.IV was a German World War ground attack plane introduced in 1918. It has a 160hp motor and a radiator in the wing.

Samuel Langley's Aerodrome A had two unsuccessful manned flight attempts in 1903 before the Wright Brothers flew. This is the original plane with new covering.

Samuel Langley's Aerodrome A had two unsuccessful manned flight attempts in 1903 before the Wright Brothers flew. This is the original plane with new covering.

The Halberstadt CL.IV was a German World War ground attack plane introduced in 1918. It has a 160hp motor and a radiator in the wing.

The French Caudron G.4 was used for reconnaissance and light bombing in World War I.