SECRETARY'S REPORT 89 



shed; and those in England are in the South Kensington Museum, 

 which was built for general scientific displays and not specifically for 

 aircraft. The United States National Air Museum exhibits are 

 housed for the most part in a World War I hangar, while the Wright 

 brothers' original "Kitty Hawk Flyer," the Spirit of St. Louis, the 

 Winnie Mae, and 14 other famous aircraft are inadequately displayed 

 in the Arts and Industries Building constructed in 1880. 



The architects were, therefore, undertaking this work without pre- 

 vious examples to guide them. More than 80 separate plans and 

 renderings were prepared and from each concept the best features were 

 selected. One of the most impressive details was the plan to enshrine 

 the "Kitty Hawk Flyer" in a scene reproducing the historic moment 

 when man first flew in a powered heavier-than-air craft, December 

 17, 1908. In a full-scale diorama the airplane would be seen just 

 rising from the ground, Orville at the controls, and Wilbur running 

 beside it, the amazed Coastguardsmen in the background, and with 

 the sheds built by the Wright brothers and Kill Devil Hill in the 

 distance. Next would be the Hall of Famous Flying Firsts exhibit- 

 ing eight outstanding American pioneer aircraft; and beyond that the 

 main exhibition hall where about 75 aircraft including commercial 

 types, fighters, bombers, racers, seaplanes, flying boats, autogyros, 

 helicopters, and lighter-than-air craft would be arranged, some shown 

 on the floor to permit close technical study and others suspended as 

 though poised in flight. Other unit displays of this first true aero- 

 nautical museum would feature the old w^ood-and-wire craft of the 

 "Early Birds," heroic warrior planes of World War I, interesting and 

 unique experimental types, ex-enemy planes of World War 11 con- 

 trasted with our own victorious fighters, technical exhibits showing 

 details of aeronautical developments from the flight of a kite to the 

 sonic boom, dioramas illustrating the varied and valuable uses of 

 aircraft, an aeronautical Hall of Fame, provision for special displays, 

 and manufacturers' shows, together with the necessary facilities for 

 museum operations. 



Two scale models of this Air Museum building were constructed, 

 one showing the early layout and the other a more recent refinement. 

 As the fiscal year came to a close the architects were preparing esti- 

 mates of cost and computations of the cubic footage assigned to specific 

 purposes. 



ADVISORY BOARD 



Although no formal meetings of the Board were held during the 

 year, contacts were maintained with all members. Their assistance 

 was very helpful. The Air Force member, Maj. Gen. George W. 

 Mundy, made several visits to the Museum, studying tlie collections 

 pertaining to the Air Force and discussing their improvement with 



