Smithsonian Collections Online:
Humanity from 30,000 feet.
From the hot air balloons of yesteryear to the commercial airline carriers of today, mankind has always been fascinated by the concept of flight. Public interest in aviation peaked during the twentieth century, leading to rapid development of its corresponding technology. From this period of fervent focus emerged the celebrated pioneers of aviation: Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Howard Hughes, Wiley Post, Jimmy Doolittle, Chuck Yeager, and many others who forever changed the way humans interact with the world. Their theories, feats, and record-breaking efforts are all captured in Evolution of Flight, 1784-1991.
Drawing from the treasure trove of images, diaries, correspondence, scrapbooks, government documents, and other primary source materials available within the National Air and Space Museum Archives, the National Air and Space Museum Library, the Smithsonian Archives, and Smithsonian Libraries, this newest collection in the Smithsonian Collections Online series offers unparalleled insight into the era of aviation and its lasting impact on today's society with content that spans more than two centuries, from 1784 to 1991.
The Evolution of Flight sketches the lives and contributions of aviation's pioneers, scientists, promoters, businessmen, barnstormers, racers, designers and manufacturers, and the aerial aces spanning World War I to Iraq and all the wars in between, revealing the personal -- and often hidden -- aspects of humankind's conquest of the skies. Together, these materials provide a complete and compelling resource for students and scholars of a number of disciplines.
Topics include:
- Early flight
- Air races
- The evolution of aerial weaponry
- Navigational technology
- Long-distance flights
- Engines and propulsion
- The Cold War aviation race
- Inventions
- The fighter pilot
- Training programs
- Landmark altitude
- Zeppelin travel
- Germany's WWII jet program
- America's current high-tech air fleet
Additional Details
subjects covered
- Black Studies
- African-American Studies
- European Studies
- Western European Studies
- Gender & Women's Studies
- Science & Technology
- U.S. History
Support Materials
View and download these PDFs
Platform Features & Tools
Term Frequency
Researchers can see the frequency of search terms within sets of content to begin identifying central themes and assessing how individuals, places, events, and ideas interact and develop over time.
Topic Finder
By grouping commonly occurring themes, this tool reveals hidden connections within search terms—helping to shape research by integrating diverse content with relevant information.
Cross-Search Capability
Search across the materials of complementary primary source products, including books, in one united, intuitive environment, enabling innovative new research connections.
