National Air and Space Museum
The National Air Museum was created by a congressional act on August 12, 1946. Its name was changed to the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) in 1966 as part of a congressional act authorizing a separate building to house its collections. The museum opened to the public on July 1, 1976. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center located in Chantilly, Virginia, opened to the public on December 17, 2003 and has allowed NASM to display more and larger air and space artifacts and expand storage space. The postcards in this gallery show several of the air and space crafts from the National Air and Space Museum. Several of these postcards have pre-printed messages for tourist to fill in.
Color postcard of the Bell X-1 plane known as Glamorous Glennis on display at the National Air Museum, now the National Air and Space Museum. The plane is red and white and its tail says "U.S. Air Force 6062." The postcard is unused, but the message side has a printed note: "The Bell X-1 ("Glamorous Glennis"): Piloted by Captain Charles Yeager on October 14, 1947, it was the first airplane to fly faster than the speed of sound. In later tests this airplane attained a speed in excess of 1,000 miles per hour. National Air Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C." c. 1950-1966, Capitol Souvenir Company, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 52, Folder: 4, Negative Numbers SIA2013-06629 (front) and SIA2013-06630 (back).
Color postcard of the Enterprise space shuttle from the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum. It is arriving at the Washington Dulles International Airport riding aboard a Boeing 747. The card has basic information about the Enterprise shuttle. The postcard is unused, but the message side has a pre-printed note: "Dear _____, The Enterprise is the first space shuttle ever built! What I think is great about the Enterprise is... [blank space] You have got to come see it!" c. 2003, Mark Avino, Unknown, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Collection 09-171, Box 1, Folder: Udvar-Hazy Center Postcards, Negative Numbers SIA2013-07779 (front) and SIA2013-07780 (back).
Color postcard of the Boeing 307 from the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum. It is landing at the Washington Dulles International Airport. The card has basic information about the Boeing 307. The postcard is unused, but the message side has a pre-printed note: "Dear _____, The Clipper Flying Cloud is the world's first pressurized airliner! What I think is great about the Clipper Flying Cloud is... [blank space] You have got to come see it!" c. 2003, Dane Penland, Unknown, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Collection 09-171, Box 1, Folder: Udvar-Hazy Center Postcards, Negative Numbers SIA2013-07781 (front) and SIA2013-07782 (back).
Color postcard of the Concorde F-BVFA plane landing at Washington Dulles International Airport. The plane is heading to its home at the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum. The card has basic information about the plane. The postcard is unused, but the message side has a pre-printed note: "Dear _____, The Concorde is the fastest passenger airplane in the world! What I think is great about the Concorde is... [blank space] You have got to come see it!" c. 2003, Jeff Tinsley, Unknown, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Collection 09-171, Box 1, Folder: Udvar-Hazy Center Postcards, Negative Numbers SIA2013-07783 (front) and SIA2013-07784 (back).
Color postcard of the SR-71 Blackbird from the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum. It is landing at Washington Dulles International Airport. The card has basic information about the plane. The postcard is unused, but the message side has a pre-printed note: "Dear _____, The Blackbird is the fastest airplane in the world! It even looks FAST! What I think is so great about the Blackbird is... [blank space] You have got to come see it!" c. 2003, Jeff Tinsley, Unknown, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Collection 09-171, Box 1, Folder: Udvar-Hazy Center Postcards, Negative Numbers SIA2013-07785 (front) and SIA2013-07786 (back).