My boys asked me to chaperone their field trip to the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center. Knowing they are 13 and won’t want me around much longer I volunteered to go. While I spent most of my time keeping pace with a bunch of 13-year-olds I did manage to snap a few pictures. I clearly did not have much time to read any plaques but it was really neat getting to see all these aircraft up close and personal.

The Udvar-Hazy center is part of the Smithsonian Air and Space museum in Fairfax Virginia. It has a huge collections hangar, and a smaller restoration hangar. Additionally, there is an IMAX theater, and an observation tower where you can watch planes take off and land at Dulles International Airport.

1. Vertical Flight 
2. Sport Aviation
3. General Aviation
4. Business Aviation 
5. Commercial Aviation
6. Pre-1920 Aviation
7. World War II Aviation
8. Korea and Vietnam 
9. Cold War Aviation 

10. Modern Military Aviation
11. Aerobatic Flight 
12. World War II German Aviation
13. Ultralight Aircraft
14. Interwar Military Aviation
20. Human Spaceflight
21. Space Science
22. Applications Satellites
23. Rockets and Missiles

Some of the collection highlights are the Space Shuttle Discovery, a Blackbird SR-71, and a Concorde. My Uncle used to work at JFK airport in New York and showed me the Concorde up close and personal, but unfortunately the kids were in full sprint mode and I didn’t have time to take a picture!

There were a large selection of warplanes from across the aerial combat era.

Dusty Crophopper was a highlight of the museum for me, as was the idea of doing patrol from a glider. Not for me, but for someone else! The highlight of the museum for the kids was the space toilet of course….

I wish I had more time to explore at a leisurely pace but it wasn’t to be. Still, I got to spend some time with the kids and see a bunch of cool planes so it was well worth it. If you are in the Washington DC area and looking for something free to do (minus the $15 parking fee) you should check out the Udvar-Hazy Center!

-Wachtmeister