Aircraft Museum

[Liam]

Rainy here in Northern Virginia, so took the kids to the Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum - a part of the Smithsonian but not located in crowded downtown Washington DC. This is next to Dulles Int'l Airport in Northern Virginia. Lots of aircraft and even a couple of guns. Charles Lindbergh's "survival" rifle - a Winchester Model 52 and General Hap Arnold's Model 12 shotgun. Even an SR-71 and Space Shuttle. Place is HUGE and FREE. Parking only $15. Come and see.

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u23/Liam_068/udvar.jpg

[Sunray]

"...Parking only $15..." Geez! They buy you dinner or whisper sweet nothings in your ear?
That a Hurricane behind the P38?

[Liam]

You offering to buy me dinner? 'Cause I'm easy! Yes, there was a hurricane.

[John Kepler]

"...Parking only $15..." Geez! They buy you dinner or whisper sweet nothings in your ear?
That a Hurricane behind the P38?

Then there's the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton...which has the largest collection of aircraft on display in the entire world, and doesn't cost a thin dime! Not to park, not to visit!

If you can swing it...on Fridays, they have a "Behind The Scenes" tour of their restoration facility that you can sign up for on-line. It's well worth the additional effort to see (they have "The Swoose", the only existing B-17D, and the "Memphis Belle" B-17F under restoration, as well as the massive XC-99).

Wear comfortable shoes.....the NMUSAF is 5 contiguous buildings, plus an Annex over on WPAFB with over 6 MILLION square feet of display area. It's the largest indoor museum in the world....and it's going to get even bigger! Construction of a 4th massive display building is scheduled (and budgeted) for 2011-12.

[John Sukey]

Juist a question, I thought the Smithsonian had the Enola Gay.
Bocks Car, of course is in Dayton.

Pima Air Museum in Tucson recently completed our B36. We also have Truman's "Sacred Cow' and LOTS and LOTS more.

[Brian Davis]

Juist a question, I thought the Smithsonian had the Enola Gay.
Bocks Car, of course is in Dayton.

Pima Air Museum in Tucson recently completed our B36. We also have Truman's "Sacred Cow' and LOTS and LOTS more.

Dayton has a B-36, also. And the only surviving XB-70.

Sometimes you have to look twice, they're both big enough that a bunch of stuff is displayed UNDERNEATH them, so if you're not paying attention you might not notice the aluminum (or titanium, in the case of the Valkyrie...) "overcast".

[Liam]

The Udvar Hazy Museum is a part of the Smithsonian. If you don't already know, the Smithsonian is made up of several buildings in DC that are not colocated. The Udvar Hazy is a new addition to the Smithsonian Institution that merely happens to be located in Northern Virginia. A benefit for me - one who dislikes the long Metro ride into deepest, darkest DC to see museums.

[Kirk]

About 10 years ago, the smithsonian made an "American Shame" shrine with the theme that the atomic bombing of Japan was an attrocity, that we vaporized decent, peace-loving civilians, etc., etc. The Enola Gay was made part of that display, provoking quite a few patriots who knew otherwisw to protest. Some peace-loving anti-war types vandalized & caused minor damage to the Enola Gay. The smithsonian soon retracted the display & the Air Force retracted No. 082, landing it at Dayton.

[IditarodJoe]

+1 for the AF museum in Dayton. Unbelievable! The next time I go, I'm taking a tent!

[John Sukey]

Have been to the AF museum years ago.

Odd story about that. When WW2 started, hangar space was at a premium and they were told to move their aircraft outside. The folks there said it would take a few days, and then some idiot lieutenant offered to move them out right away WITH A BULL DOZER:eek:

[John Kepler]

Have been to the AF museum years ago.

Then in all candor John....you haven't seen it! What it was and what it is are so radically different that there simply is no comparison. I know it's a haul from where you are now...but with your interest in history, you owe yourself a trip! Plan on a couple of days!

[John Sukey]

John, I can't even aford to attend the big gun show in Phoenix, and thats only 120 miles away.

I keep getting these pesky things in the mail called bills, and I just recieved my property tax bill.:eek::eek::eek:

Apparently our county assessor hasn't heard of the recession and falling properety values.:rolleyes:

[John Kepler]

John, I can't even aford to attend the big gun show in Phoenix, and thats only 120 miles away.

I keep getting these pesky things in the mail called bills, and I just recieved my property tax bill.:eek::eek::eek:

Apparently our county assessor hasn't heard of the recession and falling properety values.:rolleyes:

It rings a distant chord! In Ohio, your property valuations are based on the 3 biggest morons in your area....I.E.-The knotheads that paid the most money for a give square-footage. My farmer neighbors were semi-forced to sell off their road frontage as building lots a few years back (the county was going to charge for their frontage AS building lots!), and there were enough blockheads from the 'Burbs that built "McMansions" in the area that they couldn't afford to drive my values into the stratosphere! All of those idiots defaulted on their mortgages....the houses are empty and in foreclosure....but apparently the county figures that property values only move in one direction! In fairness to our local folks....THEY are being pressured by the State to avoid lowering values, since that would cut into state coffers already under strain! I MIGHT get some relief next year!

And the bureaucrats wonder why "We the People" consider them lower than whale s&#t!