128 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1951 



eruiting displayvS, and preparation of special exhibitions for Armed 

 Forces Day. 



To record historical and design details of specimens, the staff de- 

 vised and installed a special card-index system, and by the close of 

 the year cards had been prepared for all aircraft, engines, parachutes, 

 and flight clothing. This information will expedite the preparation 

 of permanent records at the Washington oflfice. The operation of 

 the storage facility this year was under the immediate supervision of 

 the associate curator, Walter Male. His staff consisted of two clerks, 

 three mechanics, two carpenters, and four guards. Space occupied 

 by the stored collections, office, and shop at Park Kidge remained at 

 147,600 square feet throughout the year. 



Naval aircraft being retained for the Museum are stored at the Naval 

 Base, Norfolk, Va. Additions during the year included several en- 

 gines and the McDonnell Whirlaway helicopter. Donors who are as- 

 sisting the Museum by storage of significant aircraft include Howard 

 Hughes with his transcontinental record holder of 1937, and Stanley 

 Hiller with one of his early coaxial helicopters. During the year, 

 storage at Washington was relieved by shipping to Park Ridge two 

 aircraft, six engines, and a quantity of components, models, and other 

 items which had been removed from exhibition to relieve congestion. 



G00PERATIM3 PROJECTS AND INFORMATIONAL SERVICES 



Assistance to other Government departments included : for the State 

 Department, furnishing historical data on rigid airships ; and for the 

 Department of Justice, tracing development of various types of con- 

 nectors and handles used in parachute harnesses, and checking cockpit 

 installations as adapted to blind-flying operations. This research was 

 in connection with patent priority investigations. The Museum pro- 

 vided and assisted in posing models of aircraft and items of insignia 

 and flight clothing for a motion picture being prepared for the Air 

 Force. The use of identifying marks and insignia on aircraft was 

 traced for the heraldic office of the Air Force, and one of its historical- 

 research analysts was assisted in preparation of data on the Wright 

 Brothers. At the request of Kirtland Air Force Base, a Japanese 

 fighter airplane, Oscar^ was made available from the excess examples 

 stored at Park Ridge. 



The Department of the Navy consulted the Museum to determine 

 details of one of its early Curtiss aircraft — the Triad of 1911. This 

 information was supplied from photographs and texts in the Faurote 

 collection of Curtiss data acquired several years ago. The Naval 

 Bureau of Ordnance Laboratory was lent a scale model of the Curtiss 

 SB2C for use in preparing a larger model, and the Bureau of Navi- 

 gation was assisted in identifying an early bubble sextant adapted 



