| Steven
F. Udvar-Hazy Center |
Steven
F. Udvar-Hazy Center, is next to the Washington
Dulles International Airport, Chantility, Virginia.
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Hours: 10:00
am - 5:30 pm. Open every day except December 25.
Extended Summer Hours:
May 27 - September 4
10:00 am - 6:30 pm
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Admission: FREE,
parking $15
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I’d been looking forward
to my visit to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center for several years.
On my way back from Seymour Johnson AFB, on April 18th, I stopped
by to visit this interesting aviation facility located next to
the Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly
Virginia. |
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington
Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on the National
Mall in Washington, D.C.
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The Center was made possible by a $65 million gift in October
1999 to the Smithsonian Institution by my fellow immigrant from
Hungary, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, the co-founder of the International
Lease Finance Corporation.
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The building opened in December, 2003. According to the Smithsonian
website, “The two sites together showcase the largest collection
of aviation and space artifacts in the world.” Perhaps
the largest collection, but not necessarily the largest when
it comes to "on display", and I will leave it at that!
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As in other
Smithsonian museums, admission is free. However, there is an
expensive parking fee, currently $15 per vehicle at Udvar-Hazy because of its
close proximity to Dulles Airport. There is no direct mass transit
to the museum. Thus, one must drive and pay the absurdly
high rate demanded by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority,
to discourage the possibility of travelers taking advantage of
lower-cost parking at a non-airport location! |
The aircraft, as
well as engines and missiles, are displayed behind barriers or
are hanging from the arched ceiling on three levels inside the
Boeing Aviation Hangar, as well as in the James S. McDonnell Space
Hangar where space related gear, including the space shuttle Enterprise,
currently resides. For
an up-to-date listing of what is on display, click here. For
me the Boeing B-29 Superfortress " Enola Gay ",
the only surviving Arado Ar 234 B Blitz (Lightning), and Dornier
Do 335A-1 Pfeil (Arrow), the Concorde, the Boeing 307 Stratoliner
Clipper Flying Cloud and the reconnaissance Lockheed SR-71
Blackbird were among my favourites. |
There is
the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility
now located at the West wing of the museum where visitors can
look down from the overlook. There is also an IMAX theater,
and one can visit the Donald D. Engen Tower, that provides a
360 degree bird's-eye view of Washington Dulles International
Airport and the surrounding area. Visitors can watch planes land
and take off from the nearby airport tower beside the entrance. |
Photography is allowed (although no tripods), a flash
is very useful, or if one has a camera with great high ISO performance,
1600 ISO or more is required without flash.
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Over all the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is well worth the visit,
even with the expensive parking fee.
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