Anyone making plans to go see this place? From what I read briefly on the website, it sounds awesome. Be sure to take a ton of pictures if you are. [:)]
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center built by the The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/
Over 200 aircraft and 135 spacecraft will be on display, including the Space Shuttle “Enterprise”; an SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft; the Dash 80 prototype of the Boeing 707; the B-17 Flying Fortress named “Swoose;” an F-4 Phantom fighter; the B-29 Superfortress “Enola Gay;” and the de Havilland Chipmunk aerobatic plane, to name a few.
Sounds cool Dave. I haven’t been up to the Smithsonian or DC for that matter since the late 70’s so I’m sure a lot has changed since then. I’d like to make a trip up there sometime soon.
I’ll be heading there on Dec. 28th as a birthday present from my wife (the 29th is my birthday). Last year, we went to the SA&SM’s Garber Restoration Facility for my birthday and saw a lot of the planes that have since been moved to the new facility at Dulles.
Hope to get up there one day, but not this year. I’m erally impressed with the aircraft they chose to put on display,and with the guts the curator has shown not to bow to the PC crowd.
Well if any of you get up there, make sure to post a report here about your trip. It sounds like it would be a great place to visit.
I was reading about the flak they are getting about the Enola Gay and the Budweiser plane. Really a shame. It’s kind of like the discussions not too long ago about modeling Axis stuff from WWII.
Anyways, anyone who’s interested in reading more about the “controversy” here are some links.
Browsed through some of the links…you posted David…I hope they go ahead with that Aircraft…the Smithsonian is about History not about being Politically Correct like so much has turned today!
It’s really not different from the Soviet rockets they have in the lobby of the Air & Space building. They were originally designed to carry nuclear warheads to the US. It’s very scary looking at them there, but I’m glad I’ve seen 'em.
