Blog Post #6 - Sometimes the Displays Need Dusting

In a recent article from Space via Yahoo News entitled “SpaceShipOne 'Lands' on Smithsonian Floor as Museum Renovates Hall,” the author relates that the groundbreaking “spaceplane,” which was the first private aircraft to achieve supersonic flight and has been a hovering fixture at the Nation’s Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, was lowered to the floor for the first time in 10 years.  The museum is doing some renovation, and wanted to take some time to examine the craft, perform any needed maintenance, and then redisplay the spaceplane in a different position.

According to the article, the Smithsonian was excited to receive this historic aircraft, and gave the developers their Trophy Award for this groundbreaking innovation.  At the time, they fully thought that this would open the door for many more aircraft capable of private spaceflight.   Notes the museum curator responsible for this exhibit, “‘We thought it was on the cusp of a new style of flight and maybe a new era of spaceflight," [Valerie] Neal remarked. "I think everybody thought that within about five years or so, there would be more activity going into suborbital space than there is [now]’" (qtd in Pearlman).

Even so, there is a lot of interest in this aircraft.  On its way to the Smithsonian, the aircraft made a stop here in Dayton.  “On July 25, 2005 SpaceShipOne was brought to the Oshkosh Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. After the airshow, Mike Melvill and crew flew the White-Knight, carrying SpaceShipOne, to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio” […] “in honor of Wilbur Wright's now famous presentation to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers” (“SpaceShipOne”). 

So, if you are interested in seeing this remarkable aircraft up close, you will be able to for the next “couple of months,” notes the museum curator, because they will continue to allow visitors to walk through the exhibit while the aircraft is on the ground. 

Pearlman, Robert Z. “SpaceShipOne 'Lands' on Smithsonian Floor as Museum Renovates Hall.” Space via Yahoo News. 30 March 2015. Web. 18 April 2015.

http://news.yahoo.com/spaceshipone-lands-smithsonian-floor-museum-renovates-hall-200938501.html;

“SpaceShipOne.” Aviation Earth. 2008. Web. 18 April 2015.