Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
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Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is the Smithsonian Institution U.S. National Air and
Space Museum Annex at Washington Dulles National Airport. I got the
opportunity to go through America's hanger. I only had my little Panasonic Lumix so the pictures are not of the usual quality. The aircraft in this
museum are not just the standard models for each one, but in fact each one is
significant for a particular reason. This museum is huge and free. It was very
hot outside and the museum was cool and comfortable. In 1989 Air France signed
an agreement to donate a Concorde to the Air and Space Museum. In 2003 they
honored the agreement and this plane was the first Air France Concorde to open
up service to Rio de Janeiro, Washington, D.C., and New York and had flown 17,824
hours. |
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This mercury capsule is one of only two left. It includes the silver and
black retrorocket package used to slow the capsule for return to Earth and
the nose section containing the parachutes. What I found fascinating is how
small and cramped it was for the astronaut. The Shuttle Discovery is an incredible
sight to see in person. I really enjoyed it. I was amazed at how beat up the
thing looked but hey…. Discovery has flown more than any other spacecraft,
having completed 39 successful missions in over 27 years of service having
spent a cumulative total of almost 1 year in orbit. It completed 149 million
miles. WHAT… yes you read the right 149 MILLION miles. |
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Below is the Martin built B-29 Superfortress. But this not any old
Superfotress, this is the ENOLA GAY. On August 6, 1945 the ENOLA GAY
dropped the first atomic weapon used in combat on Hiroshima, Japan. It was
named after the pilot's mother Enola Gay Tibbets. The Blackbird SR-71 in the
lower left picture flew for 24 years and accumulated around 2,800 flight
hours. This plane set a speed record flying from Los Angles to Dulles in 1
hour and 4 minutes averaging 2,124 MPH. The Blackbird is still the worlds
fastest jet propelled aircraft. The building is named after Steven Udvar-Hazy
who is responsible for a US$66 million grant to the Smithsonian Institution
that allowed the annex to be built. He made his fortune leasing airplanes
but his family fled to the US to escape the Soviet Occupation of Hungary. |
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