Air and Space

Near the Dulles Airport is an extension of the Smithsonian Museum. More correctly known as the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy center. It is home to some vintage, rare, and exotic airplanes and if you are even mildly interested in avaition this is a nice way to spend an afternoon.

A couple of fellow classmates and myself took Saturday morning off and we went out to visit the site - actually located in Chantilly, Virginia but very near where we are staying. Access to the museum is free - just like all the other Smithsonian buildings, however it's conveniently located on Dulles airport property so parking cost $12 per day.

The building is quite large as you might imagine and it is home to a variety of aircraft from the SR-71 Blackbird, the Enola Gay, an SST and the space Shuttle Enterprise - just to name a few. There is something for everyone there. An IMAX theater provides an exciting adventure to the Air Force 'Red Flag' exercise program and you get to see some exciting flying. We did attend the 'Fighter Pilot' movie - again at a small charge of only $8.00.. less if you qualify as a Senior Citizen. None of us wanted to admit to it and save the $2 bucks. But we did enjoy the movie.

Another $6 bucks cost me a ride in the 'simulator' where you could take "rides" on airplanes or do a simulated space walk. I elected to try the airplane "ride". One tends to learn things when trying events - I learned my $6 bucks wasn't worth the price of admition to the airplane simulation. It's a video of airplanes in flight.. sort of putting you in the pilots seat if you will.. then the machine will bump you around to simulate a bumpy ride. You do have to hang on or you will be in your neighbor's lap. Which may be fine if you know the person, but the fellow I was next to didn't seem all that anxious to have me in his lap. In any case.. you learn.

The day mainly was a slow stroll through the building looking at various aircraft, reading through some of avaition history and seeing some of the very interesting aircraft people dreamed up and actually flew. Sometimes you'd wonder what in the world were they thinking and other times was - "there is no way I'd get into that thing."

All in all, it was a good time. I did take a few pictures. Here is the url http://photos.yahoo.com/kwh5999 so, run out to the album and you can browse some of the photos I took.

I'd also like to know how that works for you.. looking at the album. It seems to work ok - this is my first attempt at posting items to the web. I can get to it.. and I think you will be able to as well - but if for some reason you can't. Let me know.

Ok,, back to the books.

Take care -

Joe