A row of white research aircraft on display, an F-104 in front and an X-29 behind

Field notes

Go and see the hardware

Flight lines, flight decks, research aircraft and spacecraft. Photographs from visits to the places where aviation and aerospace engineering happen.

A C-17 transport aircraft climbing out in silhouette against the setting sun — C-17 departing at sunsetVacaville, California

An A320 overhead panel at night with illuminated hydraulic, fuel and electrical system lines — A320 overhead panel at night — hydraulics, fuel and electricsA320 flight deck

The X-1E research aircraft mounted nose-up in front of a flight research headquarters building — X-1E research aircraft on displayArmstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, California

A backlit Soyuz spacecraft exhibit with an Ariane 5 replica standing in the distance — Soyuz spacecraft exhibit, Ariane 5 replica behindCité de l'espace, Toulouse

A model of the Philae comet lander on a simulated comet surface under a blue glowing sky — Philae comet lander modelCité de l'espace, Toulouse

A C-17 climbing away over a wide ramp at dusk, parked aircraft on the horizon — C-17 climbing out over the ramp at duskVacaville, California

A Viking liquid-fuel rocket engine with its turbopump and bronze nozzle on a lit plinth — Viking rocket engine (Ariane 1–4) on displayCité de l'espace, Toulouse

A model of the Curiosity Mars rover on a simulated Martian surface in warm light — Curiosity Mars rover modelCité de l'espace, Toulouse

Entrance sign of the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center with a lifting-body model on a pole — Lifting-body model at the center entranceArmstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, California

A Mir space station module exhibit in the foreground and an Ariane 5 replica under a cloudy sky — Mir module exhibit and Ariane 5 replicaCité de l'espace, Toulouse

The Mir space station's Kvant module exhibit with an Ariane 5 replica behind it — Mir core and Kvant module exhibitCité de l'espace, Toulouse

A walkway leading to an Ariane 5 replica, with an Earth-observation satellite model on the right — Ariane 5 replica and Earth-observation satellite modelCité de l'espace, Toulouse

A park with an Ariane 5 replica, a globe-shaped dome and a solar-panelled spacecraft model — Ariane 5 replica and the planetarium domeCité de l'espace, Toulouse

An Ariane 5 replica, rocket stage exhibits and a spacecraft model in a garden — Launcher stages and spacecraft exhibitsCité de l'espace, Toulouse

All photographs by AviationDevy, taken as a visitor at public displays and exhibits. Spacecraft shown are exhibits, replicas or models. No affiliation with, or endorsement by, the organizations whose sites or hardware appear is implied.