![Monocoupe 110 Special Little Butch, late 1940s.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789783.dmuXq5C4.jpg) Monocoupe 110 Special "Little Butch," late 1940s. |
![Grumman G-22 Gulfhawk II, left, and Bücker Bü-133 Jungmeister, 1930s and 1940s.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789777.PhJEwG9S.jpg) Grumman G-22 Gulfhawk II, left, and Bücker Bü-133 Jungmeister, 1930s and 1940s. |
![Early aircraft.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789759.c3ogypoN.jpg) Early aircraft. |
![World War I and other early aircraft.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789751.YKM1uJoJ.jpg) World War I and other early aircraft. |
![The Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIc played a key role during the Battle of Britain, 1940, World War II.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789756.YPgrd8Xw.jpg) The Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIc played a key role during the Battle of Britain, 1940, World War II. |
![Lockheed P-38J Lightning, World War II.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789781.P10h1Fsm.jpg) Lockheed P-38J Lightning, World War II. |
![Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, World War II.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789784.l8UuIw03.jpg) Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, World War II. |
![North American P-51C Mustang, World War II. This Mustang set many records after the war.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789761.IkiEBKyR.jpg) North American P-51C Mustang, World War II. This Mustang set many records after the war. |
![World War II.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789754.9hzFBFIn.jpg) World War II. |
![Toward the end of World War II, a B-29 Superfortress ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789765.5wwSTBYb.jpg) Toward the end of World War II, a B-29 Superfortress ... |
![... the Enola Gay ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789763.qsTF0BTD.jpg) ... the Enola Gay ... |
![... delivered the first nuclear weapon used in combat.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789766.EnkK0FSj.jpg) ... delivered the first nuclear weapon used in combat. |
![It dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789769.DvztqZez.jpg) It dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945. |
![Three days later, another B-29 named Bockscar ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789770.GgJgG4tO.jpg) Three days later, another B-29 named "Bockscar" ... |
![... dropped a second atomic bomb, on Nagasaki, Japan.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789772.KtXQjvEF.jpg) ... dropped a second atomic bomb, on Nagasaki, Japan. |
![By Aug. 14, 1945, the Japanese surrendered to the Allied powers.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789773.vBy32dId.jpg) By Aug. 14, 1945, the Japanese surrendered to the Allied powers. |
![The two atomic bombs killed about 200,000 Japanese.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789786.sA6SGYmr.jpg) The two atomic bombs killed about 200,000 Japanese. |
![But by shortening the war and averting land battles in Japan ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790316.SCT3srGS.jpg) But by shortening the war and averting land battles in Japan ... |
![... the bombs may have saved more than a million Japanese and American lives, historians say.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790508.DLXqMdzF.jpg) ... the bombs may have "saved" more than a million Japanese and American lives, historians say. |
![German aircraft from World War II.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790349.I4cTageH.jpg) German aircraft from World War II. |
![Curtiss P-40, World War II.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790343.YLkmaL3v.jpg) Curtiss P-40, World War II. |
![Vietnam War aircraft.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790318.olTTa6JY.jpg) Vietnam War aircraft. |
![McDonnell F-4S-44 Phantom II.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790321.heG0Mt5U.jpg) McDonnell F-4S-44 Phantom II. |
![Russian MiG-21.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790323.EpxCD7Tq.jpg) Russian MiG-21. |
![Russian MiG-21.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790510.JafTdFez.jpg) Russian MiG-21. |
![Vietnam War aircraft.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790512.RcpmruXV.jpg) Vietnam War aircraft. |
![21st century Lockheed Martin X-35B Joint Strike Fighter.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790320.nvgXfz1Q.jpg) 21st century Lockheed Martin X-35B Joint Strike Fighter. |
![Cruise missiles.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790352.eJWsSLkU.jpg) Cruise missiles. |
![The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790324.DV9FH8u0.jpg) The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird ... |
![... continues to hold the distinction of being the world's fastest jet aircraft.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790515.8LzWQyf1.jpg) ... continues to hold the distinction of being the world's fastest jet aircraft. |
![No reconnaissance aircraft has operated ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790513.e7yyADXm.jpg) No reconnaissance aircraft has operated ... |
![... in more hostile airspace or with such impunity.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790514.ImYu8xqH.jpg) ... in more hostile airspace or with such impunity. |
![The Blackbird was at the pinnacle of aviation technology during the Cold War.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790317.q8fT3myR.jpg) The Blackbird was at the pinnacle of aviation technology during the Cold War. |
![It was designed to fly deep into hostile territory ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790509.jTFjsQbM.jpg) It was designed to fly deep into hostile territory ... |
![... and to avoid interception with its speed and high altitude.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790511.Whkf6HaH.jpg) ... and to avoid interception with its speed and high altitude. |
![This ultimate spy plane could fly at Mach 3.3 more than 85,000 feet above Earth.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790333.aJjDnxml.jpg) This ultimate spy plane could fly at Mach 3.3 more than 85,000 feet above Earth. |
![On March 6, 1990, the career of this SR-71A Blackbird ended with a record-setting flight.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790330.73x0D0Pm.jpg) On March 6, 1990, the career of this SR-71A Blackbird ended with a record-setting flight. |
![It flew from L.A. to Washington in 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 20 seconds, averaging 2,124 mph.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790328.AOQgpqSB.jpg) It flew from L.A. to Washington in 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 20 seconds, averaging 2,124 mph. |
![At the flight's conclusion, the plane landed at Dulles International Airport ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790335.xssTo7yQ.jpg) At the flight's conclusion, the plane landed at Dulles International Airport ... |
![... and taxied into the custody of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790338.7GvtkM4h.jpg) ... and taxied into the custody of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. |
![Here's another look at this once super-secret plane.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790340.HRThFa6S.jpg) Here's another look at this once super-secret plane. |
![And here's the plane's tail.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790354.USxyFVKs.jpg) And here's the plane's tail. |
![The Boeing 307 was the first airliner with a pressurized fuselage.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789787.15xZHzTC.jpg) The Boeing 307 was the first airliner with a pressurized fuselage. |
![Also known as the Stratoliner, the Boeing 307 was first flown in 1938.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790315.s8LiFkXK.jpg) Also known as the Stratoliner, the Boeing 307 was first flown in 1938. |
![The Dash 80, bottom, was the prototype of the Boeing 707, America's first jet airliner.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789775.i4fECNb7.jpg) The Dash 80, bottom, was the prototype of the Boeing 707, America's first jet airliner. |
![The Concorde was the only supersonic jetliner ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790346.ZYX7w9UG.jpg) The Concorde was the only supersonic jetliner ... |
![... that ever went into commercial service.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789780.708uFbC1.jpg) ... that ever went into commercial service. |
![Air France donated this particular plane ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789789.ONQjpxWN.jpg) Air France donated this particular plane ... |
![... which was the first of its five Concordes.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789790.EH5zBACH.jpg) ... which was the first of its five Concordes. |
![British Airways owned a similar number.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85789792.dISs9fdd.jpg) British Airways owned a similar number. |
![The Concorde cruised at about 1,350 mph, more than twice the speed of sound.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790312.r3mStLTf.jpg) The Concorde cruised at about 1,350 mph, more than twice the speed of sound. |
![Traveling at more than double the speed of a 747 ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790313.TQpnat2N.jpg) Traveling at more than double the speed of a 747 ... |
![... it crossed the Atlantic in about three and a half hours.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790314.KD6UG2bV.jpg) ... it crossed the Atlantic in about three and a half hours. |
![Air France began its supersonic service in January 1976 ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790507.OPXmydGJ.jpg) Air France began its supersonic service in January 1976 ... |
![... and ended it on June 12, 2003, with the delivery of this plane to the Smithsonian.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790506.y1IpoR5I.jpg) ... and ended it on June 12, 2003, with the delivery of this plane to the Smithsonian. |
![Enterprise, the first space shuttle.](https://a4.pbase.com/g6/21/783021/3/85790326.bsYenjqG.jpg) Enterprise, the first space shuttle. |