By Kelly A. Shue
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Located less than ten miles from Ashby Ponds, the Air and Space Museum’s companion facility, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, provides a unique  glimpse into the world of aviation and space flight. This conveniently located destination is the perfect way to spend the day either alone or in the company of children and grandchildren.

Ready for adventure
Open since December 2003, the center displays thousands of aviation and space artifacts, including the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest jet in the world; the Boeing “Dash 80,” the prototype of the 707; the Boeing  superfortress “Enola Gay”; and the De Havilland Chipmunk aerobatic airplane.

In conjunction with the Air and Space Museum, the center showcases the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world.Wandering through the spacious museum, guests literally walk among the aircraft, either in front of them or underneath of them, as several are suspended from the arched ceilings and elevated skywalks. Air and space lovers will appreciate that many of the engines, helicopters, ultra-lights, and experimental flying machines are on display in a museum setting for the first time.

Into a space capsule
Perhaps the most popular destination within the museum is the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar, a must-see for all space enthusiasts. Walking into the hangar, guests are greeted by the space shuttle Enterprise, the centerpiece of the exhibit.

Also on display are hundreds of famous spacecraft, rockets, satellites, and small space-related artifacts. In addition to the Enterprise, guests enjoy an up-close-and-personal encounter with the Redstone Rocket and the Gemini VII space capsule, the Mobile Quarantine Unite used by the Apollo 11 crew upon their return.

Something for everyone
For those who prefer to view more traditional aircraft in motion, the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower gives guests an unbeatable 164-foot-high view of air traffic into and out of Dulles International Airport.