Geoff Steele approaching the entrance to the Paul Garber facility of the National Air and Space Museum. Geoff is toting a camera with a flash unit so powerful, when set to 'stun' it can stop an enraged bull moose at 50 yards.

The front of the Silver Hill complex.

From the collection of Geoff Steele.

The Bachem Ba 349 "Natter". Launched with solid-fuel rocket motors, and then used a liquid-fuel Walter rocket engine for cruise, the Natter housed a formidable array of 55 mm rockets in it's nose, launched in one salvo at a single target (a bomber). The plane did not land, instead, it broke apart in midair after pilot ejection, and the component pieces returned to earth via parachute. Truly a "desperation" weapon.

From the collection of Geoff Steele.

A Heinkel He 162A Salamander (Volksjager) (People's Fighter).

A strap-on liquid fuel rocket motor, used to assist large aircraft during takeoff. Designed so that it would automatically fall off after it was expended, it descended to earth via parachute for recovery and reuse.

The Arado 234B, the first jet-powered bomber, with it's two Jumo 004B engines.

The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (Arrow). Restored by Dornier, this is the only specimen in the world. A pusher/puller twin engine plane, it was the fastest production airplane of WWII. This picture doesn't do it justice, the plane is huge!

OK, story time. I was gawking at the Northrop N-1M, which has been beautifully restored by the NASM staff. Al Robinson was studiously examining the propeller beneath the left wingtip (visible in the bottom photo), oblivious to the plane in front of him. I finally said, "Al, look up!". And so he did....

From the collection of Geoff Steele.

The 1936 Ackerman. Photo on the right from the collection of Geoff Steele.

The fuselage and wings of the Curtis XP-55 Ascender, a canard interceptor prototype. This is the second prototype, the first was lost after it fell into an inverted flat spin and crashed. A wicked looking aircraft, even in pieces.

A Mitchell U2

The Convair XFY-1 Pogo, a vertical takeoff and landing airplane. Guaranteed to give pilots a sleepless night before a test flight, they never did figure out how to land the thing easily.

A German glide bomb with wings made of concrete, an unusual construction material for an aircraft, even a bomb.

The Avro VZ-9V Avrocar. Designed to give high performance with a unique control system, the thing never managed to get out of ground effect. In essence, they invented the hovercraft.

Right wing of the Ho 229.

Detail of the right wing root of the Ho 229, showing rework.  Material was removed so it would join with the center section

The aft end of the Ho 229 center section, showing the effects of exposure.

The interior of the left wing, showing the internal ribbing and fuel tanks. Quality workmanship.

The right hand engine inlet, showing the first stage compressor.

The aft end of the right hand engine. Note the cone, used for varying the exhaust velocity and thrust.

Inside the nose gear bay, looking aft. The structure to the right is the cockpit enclosure. Or the engine enclosure.

Speed brakes in the extended position. Notice that they are made of wood.

The aft end of the center section. The aft end is badly weathered from exposure. The swastikas were not visible in photographs after the aircraft was captured, they must have been painted afterwards.

Al, Geoff, and Russ examining the Ho 229. Still a beautiful airplane after all these years.

Inside the nose gear bay, looking forward. Unfortunately my autofocus camera did a brilliant job of detailing the struts, I wanted to see the cockpit. Sigh.... you can <almost> see one of the dials in focus.

More detail of the landing gear and associated items in the nose gear bay.

Front view of the Ho 229 center section, with Al and Geoff.

Detail of the right-hand wing root, showing metal fastener clips in the plywood structure.

The Ho 229. Left to right: Douglas Bullard, Al Robinson, Russ Lee.
From the collection of Geoff Steele.

The Ho 229. Left to right: Douglas Bullard, Al Robinson, Russ Lee.
From the collection of Geoff Steele.

The Ho 229. Left to right: Al Robinson, Russ Lee, Douglas Bullard.
From the collection of Geoff Steele.

The Ho 229. Left to right: Russ Lee, Al Robinson, Douglas Bullard.
From the collection of Geoff Steele.

From the collection of Geoff Steele.

From the collection of Geoff Steele.

A Japanese clone of the Me 262. I believe this is the only one in existence.

A small oblique-wing RPV with a ducted fan.

The ass-end of the Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet.

The front end of the XP-56. This airplane featured a welded magnesium structure.

Cockpit of the XP-56

The GE Unducted Fan prototype. Discontinued largely by falling fuel prices, this research showed that airliner fuel efficiency could be improved by 10% or more. Vibration problems and mounting constraints were also factors in the programs demise.

The LZ-NC glider. From the collection of Geoff Steele.

Al Robinson and an early model Hiller helicopter. From the collection of Geoff Steele.

The Waterman Whatsit. Pictured: Douglas Bullard, Al Robinson. From the collection of Geoff Steele.

The 1933 Bessler aircraft steam engine. Yes, a steam engine. And it flew. 
From the collection of Geoff Steele.

That's me, examining a sample of the wordworking skills of the NASM staff. Russ Lee is on the left.
From the collection of Geoff Steele.

A Hawker Hurricane. 
From the collection of Geoff Steele.

A radial engine being restored.
From the collection of Geoff Steele.

Al Robinson talks with Anne, a staff member at the facility, who's busy refurbishing an aileron.
From the collection of Geoff Steele.

The RT-14. Left to right: Geoff Steele, Al Robinson, Douglas Bullard
From the collection of Geoff Steele.

The Pterodactyl Fledgling.
From the collection of Geoff Steele.

Unidentified staff member at the NASM.
From the collection of Geoff Steele.