With apologies to Paul Harvey, "now you see the rest of the collection."
The Smithsonian's newest Air and Space facility is now open and serving huge crowds at Dulles International Airport.
Formally named the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center to honor the man whose 30-million plus donation helped bring it to life, this vast new museum is a delightful mind-boggler for anyone who appreciates the history of aviation and space.
As a journalist, I've used the Smithsonian's resources for more than thirty years, spending a lot of time among its stored collection at Silver Hill, Maryland. Silver Hill serves as a restoration and storage facility because there just isn't room for everything in the big museum on the Washington Mall. Now it's a thrill to finally see most of them restored and 'shined up to show off,' and to know there's still room for a lot more at Dulles. To boggle your own mind, all you have to do is pass through the gates under that big observation tower (above)and lose yourself among them.
This report will be a picture album. I think the Udvar-Hazy Center speaks for itself.
What's your pleasure? You'll find it here. This is just one end of the main hall, which is built as an immense hangar.
Here's the other end..
Where else will you see the original Boeing 707, the Winnie Mae, a Concorde and a Boeing 347 wingtip to wingtip?
Bet you never knew about this one. It's a PA-18 Super Cub that belonged to the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1950s. They outfitted ten 150 hp Super Cubs with scintillation counters so they could search rugged western country for uranium..low and slow. How about themapples?
There's more. Click here to continue. . .
With apologies to Paul Harvey, "now you see the rest of the collection."