10:00AM – 12:00PM

General: The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is part of the Smithsonian Institution and one-half of the National Air and Space Museum. It is located near Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, and is a massive structure with open, hangar-like settings that accommodate large aircraft and spacecraft, as well as entire collections of aviation and space artifacts.

The Museum’s collection encompasses some 60,000 objects ranging in size from Saturn V rockets to jetliners to gliders to space helmets to microchips. Fully one-third of the Museum’s aircraft and spacecraft are one-of-a-kind or associated with a major milestone. Three connecting hangars hold hundreds of aviation and space artifacts including the Space Shuttle Discovery; the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay; a NASA android; Charles Lindbergh memorabilia; space science instruments; and pilot and astronaut equipment and gear.

Photography: Standard zooms and mid-sized telephoto lens would work best. Bring a camera bag or backpack but it will be searched at the security entrance.

Note: Sorry, tripods are not allowed in the museum so please leave it at home or in your car.

Meeting Time and Place: Members should plan to meet just inside the entrance near the welcome center shortly after 10:00 AM.

Driving Directions: From Washington, DC, and points south: Take I-66 West to Route 28 North (Exit 53B): Travel on Route 28 North for 5.3 miles. Exit at Air and Space Museum Parkway and follow the signs to the Udvar-Hazy Center.

From Washington, DC, and points north: Take I-495 West (Capital Beltway) to the Dulles Toll Road West (Route 267). Exit the toll road at Route 28 South (Exit 9A) and travel south 3.5 miles. Exit at Air and Space Museum Parkway and follow the signs to the Udvar-Hazy Center.

From points west: Take I-66, Route 29, or Route 50 East to Route 28 North.

Cost: Entrance to the museum is free but public parking is $15.