Lee, Russ
Acting Chair, Aeronautics Department
Lee, Russ
Acting Chair, Aeronautics Department
Sport aviation including motor-less flight, tailless and semi-tailless aircraft, Japanese World War II aviation.
Positions
- Acting Chair, National Air & Space Museum 2020 -
- Chair, Aeronautics Department, National Air & Space Museum 2021 -
- Chair, Aeronautics Department, National Air & Space Museum 2015 - 2019
- Chair, Aeronautics Department, National Air & Space Museum 2015 - 2019
- Chair, Aeronautics Department, National Air & Space Museum 2015 - 2019
- Chair, National Air & Space Museum 2015 - 2019
- Chair, Aeronautics Department, National Air & Space Museum 2015 - 2019
- Curator, National Air & Space Museum 1992 - 2015
Geographic Focus
- Europe Continent
- Indo Pacific Transnational Region
- North America Continent
Background And Education
Education And Training
Professional Biography
- Published a history of all-wing aircraft, working on a history ultralight aircraft, managed several treatment loans of artifacts, served as curator on several exhibition teams, presented papers and lectures to both professional and public audiences, supervisory curator since 2015.
Publications
Selected Publications
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Article
- Lee, Russell E. 2022. "A Homebuilt Built for the Highway." Air & Space Quarterly, Dec 21, 2022, 2, (1), 44–45. 2022
- Lee, Russell E. 2012. "Know the Sky: A History of Interaction between Meteorology and Soaring." Technical Soaring, 36, (4) 84–93. 2012
- Lee, Russell E. 2010. "Tin Soldiers vs Glass Slippers-How Competition Sailplane Development and Innovation Shifted from America to Europe." National Soaring Museum Historical Journal, 32, (2) 17–19. 2010
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Blog Posting
- Lee, Russell. 2024. "Soaring Into History: Al Parker’s Record-Breaking Flight in the Sisu Sailplane." National Air and Space Museum Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Aug 31, 2024. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/al-parker-record-breaking-flight-sisu-sailplane. 2024
- Lee, Russell. 2023. "Northrop P-61 Black Widow: First American Airplane Designed and Built to Fight at Night, Part II." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. May 26, 2023. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/northrop-p-61-black-widow-80th-part2. 2023
- Lee, Russell E. 2022. "Account of Kenneth A. Arnold's sighting of unexplained flying objects. Press reports used the words "flying saucer" and the story spread worldwide." Air and Space Stories; 1947: Year of the Flying Saucer Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Jun 24, 2022. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/1947-year-flying-saucer. 2022
- Lee, Russell E. 2022. "Northrop P-61 Black Widow: First American Airplane Designed and Built to Fight at Night, Part I." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Aug 4, 2022. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/northrop-p-61-black-widow-80th-part1. 2022
- Lee, Russell E. 2022. "Robert C. "Bob" Mikesh." Air and Space Stories Mar 18, 2022. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/robert-c-bob-mikesh. 2022
- Lee, Russell E. 2020. "Fighting Gliders of World War II." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. May 8, 2020. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/fighting-gliders-world-war-ii. 2020
- Lee, Russell. 2020. "Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden Kai GEORGE." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Jul 27, 2020. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/kawanishi-n1k2-j-shiden-kai-george. 2020
- Lee, Russell E. 2020. "Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. May 3, 2020. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/mitsubishi-a6m-zero-fighter. 2020
- Lee, Russell E. 2020. "Neal V. Loving: Pilot, Engineer, Aircraft Designer." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Jun 17, 2020. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/neal-v-loving-pilot-engineer-aircraft-designer. 2020
- Lee, Russell E. 2019. "A High-Flying Spy Plane." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Apr 26, 2019. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/high-flying-spy-plane. 2019
- Lee, Russell E. 2017. "The Unknown History of the Curtiss P-40E Lope's Hope." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Nov 2, 2017. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/unknown-history-curtiss-p-40e-lopes-hope. 2017
- Lee, Russell E. 2016. "The History of Japan's First Jet Aircraft." Air and Space Stories Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Sep 28, 2016. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/history-japans-first-jet-aircraft. 2016
- Lee, Russell E. 2015. "Horten Ho 229 V3 "Bat-Wing Ship," January 2015 Update." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Jan 23, 2015. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/behind-the-scenes/horten-january-2015-update/. 2015
- Lee, Russell E. and Crellin, Evelyn. 2015. "Lippisch DM 1 Reconsidered - Part 1." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum 2015
- Lee, Russell E. and Crellin, Evelyn. 2015. "Lippisch DM 1 Reconsidered - Part 2." http://blog.nasm.si.edu/ Washington DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. June 16. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/lippisch-dm-1-part-2/. 2015
- Lee, Russell E. and Crellin, Evelyn. 2015. "Lippisch DM 1 Reconsidered - Part 3." http://blog.nasm.si.edu/ Washington DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. June 23. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/lippisch-dm-1-part-3/. 2015
- Lee, Russell E. and Crellin, Evelyn. 2015. "Lippisch DM 1 Reconsidered - Part 4." http://blog.nasm.si.edu/ Washington DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. June 30. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/lippisch-dm-1-part-4/. 2015
- Weiss, Anna, McElhinney, Peter, and Lee, Russell E. 2014. "Horten H IX V3 "Bat-Wing Ship," March 2014 Update." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Mar 4, 2014. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/restoration/horten-h-ix-v3-bat-wing-ship-february-2014-update/. 2014
- Lee, Russell E. 2014. "Horten H IX V3 "Bat-Wing Ship," May 2014 Update." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. May 25, 2014. 2014
- Lee, Russell E. 2013. "Horten IX V3 "Bat-Wing Ship," November 2013 Update." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Dec 5, 2013. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/uncategorized/horten-h-ix-v3-bat-wing-ship-november-2013-update/. 2013
- Lee, Russell E. 2013. "Preserving and Displaying the "Bat-Wing Ship" - March Update." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Mar 12, 2013. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/restoration/preserving-and-displaying-the-bat-wing-ship-march-update/. 2013
- Lee, Russell E. 2013. "Sea-Air Operations Gallery." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Apr 30, 2013. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/sea-air-operations-gallery/. 2013
- Lee, Russell E. 2013. "Solar Impulse." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Jun 4, 2013. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/solar-impulse/. 2013
- Lee, Russell E. 2012. "Preserving and Displaying the "Bat-Wing Ship" - July Update." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Jul 13, 2012. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/behind-the-scenes/preserving-and-displaying-the-bat-wing-ship-july-update/. 2012
- Lee, Russell E. 2012. "Vought Aircraft Heritage Foundation Retirees Finish Vought V-173 "Flying Pancake" Following 8-Year Restoration Effort." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National air and Space Museum. Mar 20, 2012. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/vought-aircraft-heritage-foundation-retirees-finish-vought-v-173-flying-pancake-following-8-year-restoration-effort/. 2012
- Lee, Russell E. 2011. "Preserving and Displaying the "Bat-Wing Ship"." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Jun 24, 2011. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/preserving-and-displaying-the-%E2%80%9Cbat-wing-ship%E2%80%9D/. 2011
- Lee, Russell E. 2011. "Preserving and Displaying the "Bat-Wing Ship" - August Update." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Sep 9, 2011. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/preserving-and-displaying-the-%E2%80%9Cbat-wing-ship%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-august-update/. 2011
- Lee, Russell E. 2010. "Restoring and Preserving Aircraft." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Nov 1, 2010. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/restoring-and-preserving-aircraft-3/. 2010
- Lee, Russell E. 2010. "Thirtieth Anniversary - First Public Demonstration of Solar-Powered Gossamer Penguin." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Aug 7, 2010. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/thirtieth-anniversary-first-public-demonstration-of-solar-powered-gossamer-penguin/. 2010
- Lee, Russell E. 2009. "Ultralights Are for the Birds." AIRSPACE BLOG: Behind the Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Nov 20, 2009. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/ultralights-are-for-the-birds/. 2009
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Book
- Lee, Russell E. 2020. Only the Wing: Reimar Horten's Epic Quest to Stabilize and Control the All-Wing Aircraft. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. 2020
- Lee, Russell E. 2011. Only the Wing: Reimar Horten's Epic Quest to Stabilize and Control the All-Wing Aircraft. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. 2011
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Chapter
- Horelick, Lauren, Collum, Malcolm, McElhinney, Peter, Weiss, Anna, Lee, Russell E., and Madden, Odile. 2014. "Technical Study of the Bat Wing Ship (The Horten Ho 229 V3)." In Proceedings of the Objects Specialty Group Session 42nd Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California: AIC. Davis, Suzanne, Dodson, Kari, and Hamilton, Emily, editors. 229–250. Washington, DC: American Institute for Conservation. In Objects Specialty Group Postprints, v.21. 2014
- Lee, Russell E. 2009. "Flying High and Far: the Impact of Meteorological Knowledge on the Sport of Soaring Flight." In Weather, Local Knowledge and Everyday Life - Issues in Integrated Climate Studies. Jankovic, Vladimir and Barboza, Christina, editors. 194–202. Rio de Janeiro: Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins. 2009
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Review
- Lee, Russell. 2021. [Book review] "Rain of Steel." Air & Space/Smithsonian, 36, (4), 80–80. 2021
- Lee, Russell E. 2017. [Book review] "Workshop Practice." Soaring and Motorgliding Magazine, 81, (1), 7–8. 2017
- Lee, Russell E. 2016. [Book review] "Workshop Practice for building and repairing wooden gliders and sailplanes." Bungee Cord, 42, (4), 10. 2016
Activities
Responsible Collections Areas
- Sport aircraft including amateur-built and motor-less aircraft; all-wing and semi-tailless aircraft; Japanese World War II aircraft.
Contact
Location
- National Air & Space Museum Academic Department
