The right stuff

WASHINGTON--If you're a geek and you're in the nation's capital, one of the must-sees is definitely the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Located just west of the U.S. Capitol, the museum is an absolute treasure trove of aviation and space artifacts.

CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman came through this week as part of Road Trip 2010 and made sure to spend some time looking at some of the most famous airplanes in history.

As a fan of the terrific film "The Right Stuff," Terdiman couldn't resist the allure of this plane, the Bell X-1, in which Chuck Yeager became the first pilot ever to surpass the sound barrier. The plane has a 28-foot wingspan, is 30 feet, 11 inches long, and a total of 10 feet, 10 inches tall. It weighs 12,250 pounds and was made by Bell Aircraft company in 1946.

Click here to read the related story on the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and click here to check out the entire Road Trip 2010 package.