Hanging on display in the World War I gallery is a very detailed model of the Curtiss Model F flying boat. It is a two-place, single engine pusher biplane flying boat developed from Curtiss’ first successful flying boat, the Model E. The Museum's Curtiss flying boat is a 1/4 scale, scratch built model.
Large dirigible airships graced the skies for nearly four decades, from the turn of the century to the late thirties. During that period they were extensively used for both transportation and as as weapons of war.
The Museum's artifact collection houses a rare short snorter donated by the Distinguished Flying Cross Society (DFC) and is remarkably well preserved for its age.The name "short snorter" comes from the tradition that if you signed a short snorter and that person could not produce it upon request, they owed you a dollar or a drink (a “short snort”), or a drink that was less than a full shot, as alcohol and aviators did not mix well.
On August 8, 1927, 15 aircraft drew starting positions for the Dole Air Race from Oakland, California to Honolulu, Hawaii. By August 19, five aircraft were no longer competing, five crashed, three disappeared, and ten participants were dead. This is the story of the Dole Air Race. The San Diego Air and Space Museum has in in collection artifacts from this fateful race, a few of which are highlighted here.
To celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the famous Doolittle Raid, we are spotlighting an artifact that has a unique story that tells much about the state of the Second World War when the raid on Tokyo occurred.
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