Aircraft Factory Lipstick
Cessna factory worker Mina Weber takes a moment during her shift to apply lipstick in a stockroom, using the reflection of raw sheet aluminum that would later be used to manufacture Cessna airframe in Wichita, Kansas. The bandana worn on her head to prevent her hair from becoming entangled in machinery would become a trademark of “Rosie the Riveter” workers during WWII. Note the early Cessna shoulder patch showing a twin-engine airplane and early company typography.
Topics Related To: AVIATION HISTORY
XB-70 Valkyrie Drooping Wingtips
Among the historic and innovative aircraft on display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the Bede BD-5 showcases a legacy that belies its diminutive size.
NASA Lockheed Jetstar
Originally designed as one of the first purpose-built business jets, the Lockheed L-1329 Jetstar cast a formidable shadow even before the installation of NASA’s experimental equipment. Unlike most business jets, the Jetstar utilized four engines – and it did so with the unique rear-mounted arrangement seen here.
Unique Aircraft Design of the 1970s
Originally constructed in 1971 as part of a general aviation design study, this rarely seen Beechcraft concept model was utilized for wind-tunnel analysis and never reached production.
