The “Enola Gay” My favorite object may have been stratospheric suit worn by Alan Eustace when he parachuted down to Earth from the stratosphere. I also enjoyed the collection of small aircraft that were built by individuals, sometimes even in their own backyards. Some of the highlights of the visit for me included the “Dash 80,” the precursor to America’s first commercial jet, the “ Enola Gay,” which dropped the first atomic bomb during World War II, and the Concorde which flew people across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound. This number includes both commercial and military aircraft. There are about 170 airplanes displayed in the Center. The Center has a very distinctive look and feel that adds to the experience. They are also displayed in a huge, open hangar. The artifacts, which include airplanes, helicopters, and a space shuttle are much larger than typical museum objects. The Udvar-Hazy Center is unlike other museums I have visited. Udvar-Hazy Center, the companion museum to the one on the Mall located in Chantilly, VA. However, it took moving to Baltimore for me to visit the Steven F. I even volunteered for the “ Flights of Fancy” Story Time program for a brief period. When I lived in Washington, DC, I visited the Smithsonian Museums quite frequently, including the National Air and Space Museum. To read more posts from Laura, click here. Blog post by Program Assistant Laura Grant.
