Washington DC: National Air and Space Museum - Bell XP-59A Airacomet

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Washington DC: National Air and Space Museum - Bell XP-59A Airacomet
Washington DC: National Air and Space Museum - Bell XP-59A Airacomet

The XP-59A is the first American jet aircraft. It did not see combat but it did give the U. S. Army Air Forces (AAF) and the U. S. Navy valuable experience with jet aircraft technology and helped pave the way to more advanced designs. America's first XP-59A, AAF serial number 42-108784, is preserved at the National Air and Space Museum.

The National Air and Space Museum (NASM), administered by the Smithsonian Institute, maintains the largest collection of aircraft and spacecraft in the world and is a vital center for research into the history, science, and technology of aviation and spaceflight, as well as planetary science and terrestrial geology and geophysics. Established along the National Mall on July 1, 1976, the museum was designed by Gyo Obata of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum as four simple marble-encased cubes containing the smaller and more theatrical exhibits, connected by three spacious steel-and-glass atrium which house the larger exhibits such as missiles, airplanes and spacecraft.

The Smithsonian Institution, an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its shops and its magazines, was established in 1846. Although concentrated in Washington DC, its collection of over 136 million items is spread through 19 museums, a zoo, and nine research centers from New York to Panama.

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Taken on: June 5, 2009
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Camera: Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure Time: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Focal Length: 6.2mm
ISO: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
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