File:Fairchild FC-2W2 ‘NX8006’ “Stars and Stripes” (51235356429).jpg

c/n 140 Built 1928 “Stars and Stripes” was used by Lt Commander Richard Byrd for surveying and aerial photography during his Antarctic expeditions. She first flew in Antarctica on 15th January 1929 and was active for a year until Byrd left in January 1930. The FC-2 was then buried in a snow hangar and left there until December 1933. Incredibly, she was not only found but was flying again by December 1934. She was again used for surveying until the entire expedition returned to the United States in early 1935, taking the aircraft with them. She was badly damaged while being loaded on the ship and was later sold to Alton Walker. He had her restored by Fairchild and then used her for passenger work during a barnstorming tour, during which she logged up 304 hours. She was offered to the Smithsonian but they were not interested and she was instead sold to Fairchild Aerial Surveys. They used her for surveying work in Guatemala and across the United States,during which she flew another 1.534 hours. She was retired in 1942 and used for spares to keep other aircraft flying. The remains were sold off in 1954 but eventually bought back by Fairchild Aircraft in 1957 for a proposed restoration. This did not happen and the aircraft was stored until 1961 when she was saved by Paul E. Garber of the National Air Museum. She was restored by the Cradle of Aviation Museum between 1982 and 1989 and then loaned to the Virgina Aviation Museum in Richmond until 2016. She is seen on display at the Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center as part of the National Air and Space Museum. Washington Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia