One of the most important pieces of technology being used to search Iraq for evidence of weapons is a 48-year old spy plane. The U-2, which was first flown in the beginnings of the Cold War, has withstood the test of time and continues to be widely used by the US. This site provides details about the history of the U-2. It also describes many technical aspects involved in flights, such as the...
Located inside the National Air and Space Museum, the Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight Gallery highlights the world of aviation in the 1920s and 1930s. During this period, flight technology rapidly advanced, aviation records were made and broken in quick succession, and African Americans gained increasing prominence in the field. Visitors to this site will get a preview of the materials contained...
Any lover of airplanes is bound to enjoy this collection of digitized photos "of many of the unique research aircraft" from the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The photos go back to the 1940s and into the present. Multiple resolutions are available. The collection is regularly updated. Visitors can browse the entire list alphabetically, or go right to the most recent...
At this website, NASA provides users with many pages discussing the science of the Wright Brothers' aircraft as well as information that has been discovered since 1905. Physics students can find lots of materials on fundamental concepts such as Newton's laws, equilibrium, thermodynamics, basic aerodynamics, and power. The website features interactive sections to educate people about lift, drag,...
The National Air and Space Museum offers a veritable cornucopia of programming each year, and many of these events end up right here on this site. For people who can't make it to Washington, D.C., these talks and lectures are a real find. Currently, the archived events here date back to 2007. There are many highlights, but first-time visitors might do well to start by watching "Gamma Ray Bursts...
The Air Museum, headquartered in Chino, California, houses a large collection of famous aircraft from many different countries. One of the most interesting features on the museum's Web site is the virtual tour, which allows users to view a 360-degree panorama of many hangars and displays. The Special Features section highlights nine remarkable aircrafts, providing a brief historical background and...
The US Air Force Museum, situated on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, is the "oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world." Its homepage is the next best thing to visiting the museum in person. Several galleries showcase hundreds of aircraft, ranging from the early 1900s to modern military jets. Spacecraft and components are also featured. The galleries include...