| Famous for | Airplane | Pilot |
| Flow by the highest scoring ace in the history of aerial warfare (1942-1945) | |
| First aircraft to drop an atomic weapon in combat (1945) | |
| Second (and, to date, last) aircraft to drop an atomic weapon in combat (1945) | |
| First aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in controlled, level flight (1947) | |
| Largest wingspan of any aircraft in history (1947) | |
| First aircraft to fly nonstop around the world (1949) | |
| First human powered aircraft to cross the English Channel (1979) | |
| Smallest piloted aircraft (by dimensions) ever flown (1984) | |
| First aircraft to fly around the world without stopping or refueling (1987) | |
| First privately funded vehicle ot reach space (2004) | |