The Best of the National Air and Space Museum

The most impressive aircraft and spacecraft from the most popular museum in the world. The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum hosts more than 9 million visitors a year, and the newly opened Dulles Center—three football fields long and ten stories high—is a phenomenon in it's own right: in the first week it was open, some 250,000 people came through the doors. Best of the National Air and Space Museum features the best of both museums, from the Challenger space shuttle and the Wright flyer to the Spirit of St. Louis and the stealth bomber. Bob Van der Linden, curator of aeronautics, has selected the most historically important, popular, and just plain impressive aircraft and spacecraft from the collection of both museums. The ones he has selected from the Dulles Center will be seen here for the first time; before they were put on display, they were in a sprawling storage and restoration facility in Maryland. Over 300 photographs, including 100 two-page, full-color spreads, showcase these hand-picked items, and the text relates intriguing facts on each item's design, use, mission, specifications, and dimensions. It's like your own guided tour! 100 color photographs, 300 b/w photos and illustrations.