SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL

AIR&

SPACE
MUSEUM
STEVEN F. UDVAR-HAZY CENTER

STEVEN F.
UDVAR HAZY
CENTER
AIR & SPACE
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy National Air and Space
Museum in Chantilly, Virginia near Dulles International Airport opened in 2003. The Udvar-Hazy Center is
immense in size, since the facility is approximately
three football fields long, ten stories high, and
close to 260,000 square feet. It contains two large
hangers: The Boeing Aviation Hanger and James S
McDonnell Space Hanger, and it also mimics an
actual airport with the 164 foot tall observation
tower. Inspiring visitors before they come through the
door with the design elements of the outside, the
inside of the museum contains amazing artifacts
ranging from past to present. The Museum also
offers IMAX films, guided tours, and flight simulator
rides. When I first walked into the museum, I was
mesmerized by the large displays. I could instantly
see the Space Shuttle Discovery and the Blackbird.
Astonished by the layout of the museum, I quickly
grabbed a pamphlet and commenced my journey.

WWII

World War II was truly a horrific era. Germany, Italy,

and Japan were defeated by the UK, former Soviet
Union and the United States. The Steven F. UdvarHazy Center contains several artifacts from several
different years and countries. It was astonishing to
envision these aircrafts that were once in motion,
and to now view them in a museum.

Lockheed T-33A
Shooting Star

TOPSPEED
600 MPH

USA 1948|

During 1948 through 1957, Lockheed T-33A-5-LO

Shooting Star, known to many at the T-Bird, was
the only jet trainer in the United States Air Force.
The T-33A served as an instrument trainer and
utility aircraft as well as a test aircraft. Canadian
and Japanese versions of the Lockheed T-33A came
about, and approximately 1,058 T-33A Shooting
Stars were sent to neutral nations as part of the
Mutual Defense Aid Program.

Aichi M6A1 Seiran

Arado Ar 234 B-2 Blitz

GERMANY 1944 | TOPSPEED 459 MPH

The worlds first operational jet bomber and

reconnaissance aircraft, the Arado Ar 234 B-2 Blitz
(Lightning). The jets had a maximum velocity at
456mph, which was amazing during its time. This
aircraft originated in Germany during the year 1940,
and was captured by the British and
turned over to the United States in
1946. The Arado in the Udvar-Hazy
Center is the sole survivor of it type.

COLD WAR

The Cold War was considered cold

because there was no large-scale
fighting. There was a
political and military
tension between
Western and Eastern
powers. Nevertheless
both powers were prepared
for an all out war.

JAPAN 1945 | TOPSPEED 295 MPH

The Aichi M6A1, also known as the Clear Sky Storm,
was designed by Japanese chief engineer, Toshio
Ozaki, in order to have a bomber operate exclusively
from a submarine. The Aichi M6A1 Seiran never
entered into combat, but the submarine weapons
system proved to be an inventive form of
technology. The Udvar-Hazy Center now contains the
only Seiran left in the
world, and there were
only twenty-six
Serians built.

North American
F-86A Sabre

USA 1949 | TOPSPEED 679 MPH

The North American F-86A Sabre proved to be a
great fighter aircraft during combat operations.
Its the first swept-wing jet fighter. During the
Korean War, the F-86A Sabre flew
several of its missions, and ha
astonishing shoot down advantage
against enemy aircraft MiGs.

KOREAN & VIETNAM WAR

The Korean and Vietnam War had their similarities

and differences, but the greatest difference between
both wars were their methods of fighting. Due to the
different fighting styles, the planes were created for
specific scenarios.

Mikoyan-Gurevich
MiG-15
RUSSIA | TOPSPEED 652 MPH

The Mikoyan-Gurevich, also known as the MiG-15,

was the rival aircraft of US F-86. The Russian MiG15 amazed the Americans with its capabilities. The
Russians designed and developed the plane,
and gave it to the Koreans to
battle with the US.

Grumman A-6E Intruder

Bell H-13J
USA 1957

TOPSPEED 105MPH
Bell H-13 J was developed in order for
the President to depart Washington,
D.C. in a quickmanner. Dwight D.
Eisenhower was the first President
of the United States to fly the Belll

H-13 J. The helicopter contained a
frame-less, Plexiglas nose bubble heavily tinted to
reduce glare and heat. The Bell H-13 eventually
ceased to be used, since the Bell could not carry
aides or family members.

USA 1968 | TOPSPEED 480 MPH

During the Korean War, the need for an aircraft to

have a long range strike with high subsonic performance at a very low altitude was a
top priority. This type of aircraft needed
to be able to attack enemy defenses and
successfully find and destroy small
targets in all variations of weather. The
Grumman was the outcome of these
requirements. The Navy and Marine
Corps used this aircraft. It proved to be
a well-designed aircraft because it endured
harsh combat conditions in the skies of Vietnam,
and it accumulated more than 7,500 flying hours,
over 6,500 landings, 767 carrier landing and 712
catapult launches.

McDonnell F-4S
Phantom II

USA 1970 | TOPSPEED 1,428 MPH

The Phantom, the multi-role aircraft, which has
been flown by U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps,
and other air forces from different nations. The
McDonnell Phantom was a modernized version of
its older plane, F-4J. These changes allowed the McDonnell F-4S Phantom II to be so widely used.

BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS

ENOLA GAY

USAWWII
TOP SPEED

339MPH
HIROSHIMA
LITTLE BOY

ATOMIC BOMB
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, which is known for dropping the first
atomic bomb in 1945 during World War II. The Enola Gay was the most
sophisticated propeller-driven bomber of its time. After the United States Air
Force donated the aircraft to the Smithsonian in 1960, the Enola Gay process of
restoration began. The Enola Gay underwent nearly 300,000 hours of restoration, which is the most extensive in the museums history. Several views of the
Enola Gay allow the audience to truly view this historical aircraft, which allows the
audience to grasp the devastation of WWII in Hiroshima, Japan. Viewing the Enola
Gay brought several emotions forward. It was astonishing to see the plane that
destroyed several lives. The size and length of the plane practically took all of the
space in the hanger. It enjoyed viewing the plane in several angles, and the longer I
viewed the Enola Gay the more mesmerized I became.

BLACKBIRD

DISCOVERY

LOCKHEED SR-71 A SPACESHUTTLE

BLACKBIRD

ORIGINUSA
TOP SPEED
2,250MPH
WEIGHT, EMPTY

60,000LB

Before the government acknowledged the Blackbirds existence, it was a spy plane that flew for 15
years. This extraordinary Lockheed SR-71A was built
in the 1960s by the Lockheed Corporation, and its
designed was based on not being shot down by the
enemy. During the Cold War, the Blackbird flew missions over heavily defended areas such as
Vietnam, and provided information to several
regions. The Blackbird is the worlds fastest jetpropelled aircraft. It traveled three times the speed
of sound, and went from Los Angeles to Washington
DC in record time of 68 minutes and 17 seconds.
That makes its top speed approximately 2,112 mph.
The Blackbird was officially retired by the Air Force in
1990 due to budget, the end of the Cold War and
competition from spy satellites. Once the Blackbird

landed in Dulles Airport, they handed the aircraft

over to the Smithsonian. When I first laid my eyes
on the Blackbird, I was surprised by the magnitude
of the aircraft. I was also intrigued by the sleekness,
and the interesting choice of animal in the painted
near the back of the aircraft. The Blackbird was
the first aircraft I saw while walking in the Steven F.
Udvar-Hazy Center. I was amazed by the layout of
the museum, and it truly inspired me. The concept
of placing one of the best aircrafts in the museum
up front was out of the ordinary, and I enjoyed it. The
lighting on the SR-71 A Blackbird was gorgeous. I
viewed several people automatically take their cameras out, and take photos from different angles. Of
course, I did the same. I will definitely come back to
to view the Blackbird along with several others.

Space Shuttle Discovery was the third shuttle orbiter to

fly in space. Discovery was first launched in 1984, and
flew 39 missions up until its retirement after 27 years
of service. It spent a total of 365 days in space, carried
246 crew members, traveling a total of 148 million
miles, and making 5,830 orbits around the Earth.
Discovery embodies well the 30-year history of the
U.S. human spaceflight from 1981 to 2011. Space
Shuttle Discovery was donated from NASA to the
Smithsonian in April 2012. The layout of the museum
allowed me to see the Space Shuttle Discovery right
behind the Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird. Once I walked
in the museum, I was hearing conversations from
others stating their disbelief. Several people
questioned if the Discovery was actually the real deal.
I had no doubt in my mind that it was indeed the

DISCOVERY
ORIGIN
USA

SERVICE

1984-2011
WEIGHT

161,325LB

authentic Space Shuttle Discovery. When you walk up

closely to the space shuttle, you can clearly see the
burnt markings on the heat shields on the tip of the
nose. Discovery is massive in size, and I envisioned
Discovery launching into space. On the Discovery, there
were markings of where to cut, and I thought it was
interesting to see how simple it was to show where
someone could cut incase of an emergency. I realized
how intricate the design of the space shuttle was, and
I learned something new. It was amazing to see the
Space Shuttle Discovery, and I was amazed by how
many times it traveled in and out of Space.

SPACE

AIR FRANCE
The Concorde, the first supersonic airliner, that
traveled at twice the speed of sound which is
approximately 1,360-mph. Air France and British
Airways jointly inaugurated Concorde service in 1976.
The Concorde could board 100 passengers and flights
from Washington to London would take half the time
of a conventional jetliner. The costs of the supersonic
airliner were sky high because of the high operating
costs. A round-trip ticket for one would cost approximately $7,800, and only a few could afford to fly on
the Concorde. Due to the economy, all Concordes
were retired in 2003. Before the Concorde retired, Air
France agreed in 1989 to donate a Concorde to the
Smithsonian once they retired. The Smithsonian did
not expect to see it so soon, but they gladly accepted
the first supersonic commercial aircraft. I never knew

CONCORDE
ORIGIN

FRANCE&LONDON
TOP SPEED

1,350MPH

WEIGHT, EMPTY

174,750LB

of the Concorde until I walked in the Steven F. UdvarHazy Center. I have to admit that I am embarrassed of
that fact. I was fascinated and curious of the Concorde.
The reason being is because it was ahead of it time,
and stopped being used strictly because it was far
to expensive. I believe the Concorde will come again
when the time comes, and itll be better and perhaps
even faster. I would have loved to actually enter the
Concorde, but being able to see it from multiple angles
and height was good enough for me. I was surprised
that it had to piloted by three people, and I was definitely shocked on the speed of the aircraft. I am now
aware of the Concorde, and will certainly recommend
and educate others to come view the Concorde in the
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F.
Udvar-Hazy Center.

Mercury Capsule #15B

USA 1996 | 5 FT TALL

This Mercury capsule, number 15B, is one of two

left showing the complete one-man spacecraft in its
orbital configuration. The Mercury Capsule includes
the silver and black retrorocket package used to
slow it down for its return to Earth. Alan B. Shepard,
Jr. was the first American in space, and he hoped
to fly the Mercury capsule on a long-duration orbital
mission in 1963. Unfortunately, Shepard did fly the
Mercury due to the success of MA-9 in 1963. In
September 1967 NASA transferred the capsule to
the Smithsonian Institution.

Redstone Rocket
USA 1958 | LENGTH 69 FT

LIQUID OXYGEN & ALCOHOL

The Redstone was the first large-scale
operational liquid-propellant missile. Later
it was modified as the Jupiter-C, which
places the Unites States first artificial
satellite into orbit in 1958. The Redstone had a range of 200-250 miles
and carried either a conventional or
nuclear warhead. Eventually the missile was replaced by another in 1964,
and was donated to the Smithsonian
in 1978.

ROCKETS
Goddard Rocket 1935
A-Series Rocket
USA 1935 | LENGTH 15.5 FT

LIQUID OXYGEN & GASOLINE

On September 23, 1935, Robert H. Goddard most
likely attempted to launch this rocket at New Mexico
to demonstrate its capabilities to his supporters.
Unfortunately, a technical issue prevented the
demonstration of the Goddard Rocket. Due to the
malfunction of the first liquid-fuel rocket, it was
donated to the Smithsonian in 1935.

Mars Pathfinder Lander

USA 1961 | 3,000 LBS

The Pathfinder was the first spacecraft to land on

Mars since the Viking mission in 1976. The Pathfinder is a full-scale engineering prototype for a
spacecraft that launched on December 4, 1996.
The Pathfinder reached Mars on July 4, 1997, and it
recorded scientific data of the atmosphere of Mars,
which suggested the presence of water in the past.
The Pathfinder and the prototype were designed and
built by Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASAs office of
Space Science.

Smithsonian
National Air and Space Museum
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center