The SR-71 was built for speed and stealth. Setting records as the world's fastest manned aircraft, the SR-71 easily cruised at more than three times the speed of sound.

This specimen is a metallic fragment from SR-71 61-7956, also known as NASA 831. With 1,454 successful flights and 3,967.5 flight hours, this craft holds the record for the most flight time regularly soaring above 80,000 ft at speeds greater than Mach 3.2. It is also believed to be the single most photographed Blackbird aircraft.

All fragments have sharp edges, so please use extreme caution when handling and never allow children to handle the specimens unattended.

Amelia Earhart was a promising young pilot in 1932, but it was her solo transatlantic flight that brought her from a rising star to a figure of legend. Earhart was the first woman and only second pilot ever to across the Atlantic alone, following Charles Lindbergh five years before. After a dangerous crossing filled with storms, instrument trouble, and an engine fire, Earhart touched down near Derry, Northern Ireland, instantly becoming an aviation legend.

This specimen is a swatch fabric from Earhart's "Little Red Bus," the Lockheed Martin Vega 5B that she used to cross the Atlantic. The material comes to us by way of the Smithsonian. The institution purchased the plane in 1966 from the Franklin Institute. In the 1970s, restoration work began on the craft, and several sections of material were sold to private collectors.

Also included in the display case is a bonus large 3x4" display card with photos of Earhart and the specimen, as well as more information about the flight.

This specimen is a fragment of mission-flown Kapton foil, which provided thermal protection for the astronauts aboard the Apollo 11 Command Module.

Acquired at auction, this material comes from the personal collection of retired NASA Production Control Engineer William R. Whipkey. Among space collectors, Whipkey is considered the most reliable source for Kapton foil because he oversaw the decommissioning of the Command Modules from multiple missions. He was also responsible for making most of the commemorative displays for astronauts, VIPs, and others who worked on the Apollo Program.

On April 12, 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia roared to life on the pad at the Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A. Solid rocket boosters and Columbia’s own engines delivered more than 6,600,000 pounds of thrust, lifting the crew of two and 4,500,000 pounds (2,000,000 kg) of dreams into orbit at more than 17,500 miles per hour (28,163 kmh).

This specimen is a mission-flown nose landing gear tire fragment from the Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102). Serial number verification against public information indicates the tire was removed from service after Columbia's 13th mission (STS-52).

The material is layered (in this case 20-ply) and highly irregular. Our target size is approximately 1x1 cm, but there will be variation in width, length, thickness, and texture. Some specimens may exhibit small metallic bands from the interior of the tire while others may be completely smooth. This makes each specimen absolutely unique!

Traveling at a top speed of Mach 2.04, the Concorde was the first supersonic commercial aircraft in history. While it was retired in 2003, the aircraft represented a collaborative effort between British and French engineers that resulted in one of the most powerful aircraft engines of the time.

Recovered from one of the jet engines powering the sleek ship, this specimen is a fragment of one of a Concorde's compressor vanes. Featured in the Fourth Edition of the Mini Museum, we are proud to present the Concorde in add-on form