Air and Space Annex to open at Dulles (KIAD)

[BladeLWS 0]

The National Air and Spaces new annex at Dulles International Airport (KIAD) which is just south of Washington DC, will be opening this Monday. The main complex, on the National Mall in downtown DC, held only 10% of the NAS collection, this new annex will put ALL of them on display for the first time. The hangar is next to the main runways, and includes a 164 foot high observation tower!!!! What a great thing for us spotters! There will be 335 aircraft on display, including the B-29 Enola Gay, the hangar is one of the largest, it is 986 feet long, 103 feet high, and has its own IMAX theater. Other famous aircraft will be a 1916 Caudron G.4 and F4U Corsair, to the Apollo Command Module and Space Shuttle Enterprise. Two aircraft from the US Naval Academy, a N3N-3 and G-22 will also be on display. Also the Concorde will be on permanent display, the first one in an American museum. This seems like a good place to hold a future Avsim Conference hint hint ;). Oh and if you all are wondering about prices to get in... THERE AREN'T ANY! Its all free admission. Info on the facility is here http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/ A VR Movie file of the hangar under construction is here http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/im.../uhc_hangar.movA full list of aircraft is herehttp://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/artifacts_air.cfmSpacecrafthttp://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/artifacts_space.cfmHere's the article from my local paper.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/52338.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/52339.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/52340.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/52341.jpg

[Guest Citationpilot]

It is a shame that they couldn't have put it a smaller more GA friendly field. I'll personally be flying a 172 over there, but the controllers will soon get tired of mixxing 172's with 747s. Plus the FBO there isn't too cheap. I might be meeting a buddy with a Cessna 140 their so we'll have some fun that day.

[BladeLWS 0]

The problem was that you can't land an SR-71 or Concorde at a small GA airfield. The origional plans, DRAWN UP 20 YEARS AGO, called for space and a large, active runway. The only two options in the area were Dulles, or Baltimore Washington.

[Guest cloudtops]

Erik,I work 3 miles from the complex and am looking forward to spending many a lunch hour there. I plan on purchasing the $50 year-round parking pass so I can come and go without paying the $12/day parking fee. Thanks for the article. I have a friend who just retired from UAL as a 777 captain who is a big-time WWII, history, and aviation buff who says he wants to spend a day or two walking through it with me. That will be an education, for sure. :-jumpy I hope you enjoy it thoroughly, as will I.Kevin

[BladeLWS 0]

Yea its going be great.

[Guest Air1]

Thanks Erik, for a very informative posting. I visited the downtowncomplex shortly after it opened and hope to make it to the Annex one of these days soon. After the hoopla dies down a bit I think.Steve A

[Guest Citationpilot]

>The problem was that you can't land an SR-71 or Concorde at a>small GA airfield. The origional plans, DRAWN UP 20 YEARS AGO,>called for space and a large, active runway. The only two>options in the area were Dulles, or Baltimore Washington.What about Martin State? 8,000 feet there and right next to the city. By GA friendly I ment an airport that welcomes GA aircraft. BWI has a flight school and a Runway for GA aircraft, so that's what I ment by ''smaller'' and more friendlier airport.

[Guest tgabriel]

Thanks for the notice. My wife and I are going to in on the 26th. I can't wait :-jumpy

[BladeLWS 0]

They need alot of space and BWI had limited space, so Dulles was chosen. GA friendly fields weren't really a concern for the Smithsonian.