View of the Udvar-Hazy Center – Photo: David Delagarza | AirlineReporter

Everyone has heard of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington DC (at least if you read this site, you likely have).  The museum’s main location, prominently located on the National Mall, has long been a favorite stop for tourists exploring the nation’s capitol.  Less well-known, however, is the museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center located 25 miles to the west, adjacent to Dulles International Airport (IAD).  I recently took the opportunity to spend a few hours before a flight exploring this amazing facility, and I was not disappointed.

The museum, which opened in 2003, consists of two massive hangars housing over 3,000 aircraft, spacecraft, and other historical items.  All told, there is nearly 300,000 square-feet of floor space in the museum.  The collection includes the space shuttle Discovery, an SR-71, an Air France Concorde,  and the B-29 bomber Enola Gay among many other fascinating pieces.