Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

There's just too much, believe it or not, at this museum.

Now that I've had a chance to go through my shots and do some cropping and editing, I thought I'd share some more

(Already one member has PM'd me about a trip they're going to make here!)

Udvar-Hazy Center

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Storm A-brewin'

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Man-powered Flight

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Discovery Tail II

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Discovery - Showing Its Wear 'n' Tear

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British Monoplane

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F86 Sabre (I Think)

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Warplane

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P-47 Thunderbolt

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Jet Fighter

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djtravels Loc: Georgia boy now

Nice photos. I think your F-86 is an F-100, but I've been wrong once before.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Thanks for stopping by and looking. And thank you for the compliment.

You may be right about the plane. I confess that my knowledge of post-WWII planes is murky, at best.

Speaking of which, I was very frustrated at the display of Axis powers aircraft. They had an FW-190 and a JU-52, but they were in areas that were extremely difficult to find an angle and lighting. Some of the Japanese warplanes were also interesting, but hard to photograph.

tbohon Loc: Olympia, WA USA

From a retired USAF guy thanks for the airplane fix!!! Great shots all, may have to schedule a trip back there as part of my 'See America' tour (hey, pop stars can have 'tours', why can't us old folks??? :) )

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Thanks, tbohon, both for visiting and your comments. And thank you, also, for your service.

A friend of mine is a retired Navy fighter pilot, and has taken church groups there. He puts on his flight suit (yes, he can still fit into it!) and demonstrates flight prep and holds Q&A before one of the aircraft he flew during his service. Pretty neat!

Harold Lafferty Loc: Texas

I believe he would recognize the P47 as an F4U Corsair flown by the Navy and Marines

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I'm gonna have to stop posting titles. :?

Better yet, I'll write down the names and models next time I go.

Thanks.

wilikioti Loc: Deep South, USA

I think the swept wings on your P47 makes it an F4U. Nice pictures.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Thank you. I will bow to your expertise, having none whatsoever when it comes to aircraft. That's my "note to self:" Next time (and there WILL be a next time) I go to Udvar-Hazy, I'm going to write notes on the shots I take!

Harold Lafferty Loc: Texas

Looks like a really cool place to visit, I've been to Dayton and Pensecola, but have never heard of this one-where is it?
Harold

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

Hi Harold,

This is the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Center in Dulles, Virginia. It has a tower that one can go up and look over Dulles International Airport, which is approximately 16 miles west of Washington, D. C.

As the Air & Space Museum in downtown Washington, D. C. outgrew its capacity, the Udvar-Hazy (so named for its major financial donor, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy) was built and is larger than its downtown counterpart. It houses some 150 aircraft including the Enola Gay (the B-29 bomber that dropped the first atom bomb), an SR-71A, and the Discovery space shuttle (which replaced the Enterprise -- a test shuttle that never saw space).

It's quite an impressive place, but a real challenge to take photographs in, because although they invite photographers (amateur -- pros need to get permission), they don't allow tripods or monopods. Since the lighting is either sparse, ground-based, or scattered, and the craft are squeezed in some places, that makes taking quality photographs a real challenge.

I'm going back in a few months after I've grasped my new camera better! :)