Aerospace, Est. 1995
In June 1995 the Aerospace Education Center, in Little Rock, Arkansas, opened and since then it has been the staff's intention to become an invaluable resource for Arkansas’ teachers and students. Its changing exhibits, educational workshops and summer programs, continue to expose students to a diverse field of scientific inquiry related to aviation and the space sciences. The exhibits boast a variety of historical displays. Among them are such displays as the Link Trainer, designed by Edwin C. Link. Although the trainer, also known as the “Pilot Maker,” came from humble beginnings, it was instrumental during World War II; it was used to train virtually all U.S. pilots. Another exhibit at the center is the Sopwith Camel F-1, which is suspended from the lobby ceiling. The Camel was the most successful combat aircraft of World War I, destroying 1,294 enemy aircraft in less than two years' service. This Sopwith Camel is the only one in the United States and one of only seven in the world. It was last flown in 1964 by Frank Tallman, the preeminent aviation consultant to Hollywood, and was seen in the movie Blue Max. The plane was restored by Tom Smith of Central Flying Service. Russian Space Art is another exhibit at the Aerospace Education Center. Four Russian artists have created 74 original works that are on display in the exhibit gallery. This one-of-a-kind collection of Russian space art includes four acrylic-on-nylon sketches by Andrei Sokolov that were on board the Mir Space Station. With two exceptions, all art is available for purchase. Suspended above the ticket counter is an exact replica of the Wright Flyer, paying homage to the first successful flight of a heavier-than-air flying machine at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. The Wright Flyer is 21 feet, one inch long, with a wingspan of 40 feet, four inches. It weighs 605 pounds and has a 12hp engine. To operate the machine, the pilot lies in a prone position with head forward, his left hand operating the elevator level and his hips in a saddle. Shifting the hips to one side pulls wires attached to the saddle, which cause the wing tips to warp and the rudder to turn, allowing balance control and directional steering. The Command-Aire 5-C-3 on display in the main lobby was built in 1929 and is one of only ten surviving Command-Aire aircraft. Command-Aire, Inc., based in Little Rock, was one of the nation's leading aircraft manufacturers from 1926 to 1930. This three-passenger airplane was powered by a 160hp Curtis Challenger engine and was featured at air shows around the nation.
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