Skip to main content
Reserve Free Passes
Donate

Search form

Visit

Visit

  • National Air and Space Museum in DC
  • Udvar-Hazy Center in VA
  • Plan a field trip
  • Plan a group visit
View of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center tower at sunset

One museum, two locations

Visit us in Washington, DC and Chantilly, VA to explore hundreds of the world’s most significant objects in aviation and space history. Free timed-entry passes are required for the Museum in DC.

What's On

What's On

  • Events
  • Exhibitions
  • IMAX and Planetarium
Apollo 11: Buzz Aldrin on the Moon

At the museum and online

Discover our exhibitions and participate in programs both in person or virtually.

Explore

Explore

  • Stories
  • Topics
  • Collections
  • On demand
  • For researchers
space shuttle launch

Dive deep into air and space

Browse our collections, stories, research, and on demand content.

Learn

Learn

  • Programs
  • Learning resources
  • Plan a field trip
  • Professional development
  • Education monthly theme
Women in Aviation and Space Family Day

For teachers and parents

Bring the Air and Space Museum to your learners, wherever you are.

Give

Give

  • Donate
  • Become a Member
  • Wall of Honor
  • Ways to give
  • Host an Event
Bob Hoover Gives an Air Show Performance

Be the spark

Your support will help fund exhibitions, educational programming, and preservation efforts.

Ultralights

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Explore
  3. All Topics
  4. Aviation
  5. Ultralights
Aviation
  • Ultralights
  • Aircraft
  • Airships
  • Balloons
  • Commercial aviation
  • Early flight
  • General aviation
  • Helicopters
  • Interwar aviation
  • Military aviation
  • Sports aviation
  • Vertical flight
Other Topics
Aviation
  • Ultralights
  • Aircraft
  • Airships
  • Balloons
  • Commercial aviation
  • Early flight
  • General aviation
  • Helicopters
  • Interwar aviation
  • Military aviation
  • Sports aviation
  • Vertical flight
Spaceflight
  • Human spaceflight
  • Artemis program
  • Apollo program
  • Gemini program
  • Mercury program
  • Space Shuttle program
  • Commercial spaceflight
  • Uncrewed spaceflight
  • Spacecraft
  • Space stations
Astronomy
  • Telescopes
  • Stars
  • Sun
  • Solar System
  • Moon (Earth)
  • Small solar system bodies
  • Dwarf planets
  • Exoplanets
Behind the scenes
People
  • African American or Black people
  • Asian American or Asian people
  • Latino people
  • LGBTQ+ people
  • Native American or Indigenous peoples
  • Pacific Islander people
  • People with disabilities
  • Women
Records and Firsts
Science
  • Life sciences
  • Physical science
Society and Culture
  • Art
  • Science fiction
Technology and Engineering
  • Navigation
  • Reconnaissance
  • Drones
  • Missiles
  • Robotics
  • Rockets
  • Satellites
War and Conflict
  • Afghanistan War
  • Gulf War
  • Iraq War
  • Korean War
  • Vietnam War
  • Weapons
  • Cold War
  • World War I
  • World War II

The first practical hang glider appeared well over one hundred years ago. In the 1970s, pilots added small engines to fly higher and farther, and the ultralight aircraft was born.

Jump to content:

  • Deep dives
  • |
  • Stories
  • |
  • On demand
  • |
  • Exhibitions

Deep dives

See all Deep dives

Luscombe Silvaire, Aeronca 65 Chief, and Piper Cub
Deep dive

What is General Aviation?


See all Deep dives

Stories

See all Stories

The words "AirSpace, a podcast" appear in bold pink and white letters against a purple background.
Story

AirSpace Season 9, Episode 9: Birds of a Feather

A person dressed in a white smock and hood is followed by about 15 young cranes near a pond in a wooded area.
Story

Operation Migration

Waco GC-4A glider
Story

Fighting Gliders of World War II

Radio transmitter with no cover, exposing electrical wiring on the side
Story

The Technology Behind D-Day's Moonlit Airborne Ops

Carolyn Burns working on the kite while it was in the humidification chamber, which helped promote removal of stubborn tape adhesive
Story

Preserving a 170 Year-Old Chinese Kite Collection

See all Stories

On demand

See all On demand

A craft time activity video about building a kite.
Video

Craft Time: Build Your Own Simple Kite

August 31, 2021
A video animating the story "At the Air Show" followed by a kite craft activity.
Video

Flights of Fancy Story Time: At the Air Show

March 09, 2021
A lesson about the science behind kites and their importance to aviation history.
Video

Kites - STEM in 30

May 02, 2016
A person speaks about flying kites indoors at a Smithsonian event.
Video

Dancing with Kites Indoors

March 30, 2016
See all On demand

Exhibitions

See all Exhibitions

Several red and white airplanes on display at the Thomas W. Haas We All Fly Gallery
Exhibition

Thomas W. Haas We All Fly

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
On View Exhibition
Grob 102 Standard Astir III at the Udvar-Hazy Center
Exhibition

Sport Aviation

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
On View Exhibition
See all Exhibitions

Explore other subtopics

  • Aircraft
  • Commercial aviation
  • Sports aviation
  • Military aviation
  • Vertical flight
  • Helicopters
  • General aviation
  • Balloons
  • Early flight
  • Airships
  • Ultralights
  • Interwar aviation
Stay up to date on the latest stories and events with our newsletter

Thank you. You have successfully signed up for our newsletter.

Error message

Sorry, there was a problem. Please ensure your details are valid and try again.

  • About
  • Newsroom
  • Support
  • Get Involved
  • Contact
  • Host an Event

National Air and Space Museum

6th St. and Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20560

202-633-2214

Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Free Timed-Entry Passes
Required

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151

703-572-4118

Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use