My Flying News

National Air and Space Museum at Dulles (IAD)

I recently visited the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport. I highly recommend it if you’re a pilot or #avgeek like me. There was no timed entry, and it was free!

The Smithsonian describes it as the companion facility to the museum on the Nation Mall. Although in my opinion, it is a lot better in many ways. The facility was large but still a nice size for a few-hour visit.

I had been meaning to go for years and years. Once I read that Bob Hoover’s Shrike Commander (read my Bob Hoover article here) was added to the collection, my desire to go grew. I had even been in and out of the area, including being based at DCA, and somehow never made it out.

I finally had a longer overnight at Dulles. Being flight crew, I could schedule the hotel airport shuttle to take me. The van driver didn’t seem to mind, and the drop-off and pickup at the museum was easy. There is an excellent highway and road that leads into the facility.