Field Trip
Recently I made my fourth visit to the Dulles Museum. Well, that’s not the real name; it is officially the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum/Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, but that’s way too much to remember, so I just refer to it as the Dulles Museum as that is where it is located. As my Daughter lives in the area and works nearby the Museum, I try to visit ever chance I get.
I was really interested in seeing the new restoration addition. Now you do not need to go to the Silver Hill facility to see restoration projects in progress. They have since quit having tours at that location, and now you must be satisfied to look down from the balcony at Dulles.
The space part of the Museum continues to grow with each visit. The shuttle dominates of course, but you sure can spend some time checking out our history in space. The rest of the Museum continues to grow as well with additional aircraft being added on an on-going basis, none of which come from the Museum on the downtown mall, but from the Silver Hill Facility and storage. Some are restored and some are still in original paint and markings. The Museum also houses a giant I-MAX theater, so I took in one of the new shows AIR RACER, a really great show to see on the big screen.
Needless to say, there is quite a large gift shop you will certainly spend some time in.
Love that P 40.
Pardon me while I turn green with envy, Jack...hope to see it myself one day. That and the Air Force museum in Ohio (I've been to Pensacola before).
Craig... I like the Dulles location much better than the downtown Mall location. I too like the Dayton Ohio AF Museum, but most of all I like Pensacola best. I believe we are very fortunate to have Fantasy of Flight right here in our own back yard.
Oh yeah...forgot about that one. Been there more than a few times. Maybe we should try to go at the SAME time one day.
Sounds like a good idea, we should do that. Are you going to Modelpalozza in September?
Dunno...went down there a few years back (still got the pics, too). I'll letcha know, though.
I missed the showing time for AIR RACER the last time I was at Wright-Pat. Is it worth going back to see.
I've done the restoration tour at W-P and once you get through the security screening it is very enjoyable. It's in an active part of the base.
Yes, I enjoyed the movie AIR RACER very much, and was well worth the $8 to see it on the big IMAX screen.
that was one of the last buildings i worked on in my 35 year career as an ironworker...i was there at the end just before she opened...i'd get there an hour early and go stand on the balcony 3 feet from the wing tip of the corsair or walk the the floor...all most everybody who worked there revered the place...we would just go in early and quietly soak the place up...an experience i'm grateful for and worth thev 66 mile drive from md. everyday
that was one of the last buildings i worked on in my 35 year career as an ironworker...i was there at the end just before she opened...i'd get there an hour early and go stand on the balcony 3 feet from the wing tip of the corsair or walk the the floor...all most everybody who worked there revered the place...we would just go in early and quietly soak the place up...an experience i'm grateful for and worth the 66 mile drive from md. everyday
I went there right after it opened when it was about 1/3 full of aircraft. I had seen the proposed floor plan when doing a Silver Hill tour and couldn't wait to see it open. My kids made a donation in my name so it is on the Wall of Honor at the museum.
That SB2C they're restoring looks pretty good. The problem with Wright-Pat is it is impossible to take a picture that isn't ruined by flash glare, since it's lit like the bottom of a sewer. Why do they do that?
The claim is the lack of lighting is to preserve the paint finishes-rubbish! Electric lighting WILL NOT do that! Only uv lighting will (daylight). The "mood" lighting at udvar, the brach in dc and the museum of flight in seattle are all to evoke "nostalgia" and Iis the concept ofIinterior designers-doesn't do much to help people appreciate or document the aircraft. I am an artist so I can assert the poor lighting in these museums is unwarranted and counterproductive.
Jack,
interesting photos. I wonder what a/c type is the seaplane, and isn't it a Me 262 / Kikka lying beside it?
I believe the seaplane is a Sikorsky S-43/JRS-1.
Nice pictures, thanks Jack!
I am fortunate to work across the street from the Air and Space museum downtown DC, and live about an hours drive from Udvar-Hazy. I enjoy the 'Dulles museum' very much, my son and I use any and all excuses to visit as you can imagine!
Eric aka The Yankymodeler
p.s. To make the triple play, we just returned from visiting my mother/sister-in-law who live less than an hours drive from the Museum of the USAF in Dayton!
You are truly blessed.