Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. It is a massive annex of the National Air and Space Museum, designed to publicly display the majority of the Smithsonian Institution's aviation and space artifact collection, which cannot be housed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. The facility opened in December 2003, named in honor of Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, a major benefactor and co-founder of the International Lease Finance Corporation. Its immense hangars house iconic aircraft, spacecraft, and related artifacts, providing restoration workspace and serving as a major center for aerospace research and education.

History and development

Planning for a large-scale storage and display facility began in the late 20th century as the National Air and Space Museum's collection rapidly outgrew its flagship building, which opened in 1976. The Smithsonian Institution selected a site adjacent to Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, for its proximity to aviation infrastructure. A landmark gift from Steven F. Udvar-Hazy in 1999 provided critical funding for construction, leading the United States Congress to authorize naming the center in his honor. The first phase, featuring the Boeing Aviation Hangar and the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar, opened to the public in December 2003, with further expansion continuing over subsequent decades.

Location and facilities

The center is situated in the Dulles corridor of Fairfax County, Virginia, directly south of the runways at Washington Dulles International Airport. The main architectural features are two enormous hangars: the massive Boeing Aviation Hangar, which is ten stories high and the length of three American football fields, and the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar. The complex also includes the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower, offering views of airport operations, the Airbus IMAX Theater, and classroom spaces. The Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar allows visitors to view ongoing preservation work on artifacts like the Enola Gay.

Aircraft collection

The aviation hangar displays hundreds of historically significant aircraft arranged chronologically and thematically. Among the most celebrated artifacts is the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the world's fastest jet-propelled aircraft. The center also displays the prototype Boeing 367-80, which led to the Boeing 707 and the Boeing 747, and the only surviving Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. Other highlights include a Concorde from Air France, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress *Enola Gay*, a P-51 Mustang, and the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery, which is suspended as a centerpiece. The collection spans from early flight, including a Curtiss model, to modern military aircraft like the F-14 Tomcat.

Spacecraft and other exhibits

The James S. McDonnell Space Hangar is dominated by the Space Shuttle Enterprise, used for atmospheric test flights. It also contains an extensive array of NASA rockets, including a Saturn V engine and the mobile quarantine unit used by the Apollo 11 crew. The Lunar Module *LM-2* is displayed, alongside satellites like Explorer 1 and the Hubble Space Telescope test vehicle. The center houses smaller galleries focusing on topics like World War I aviation, featuring aircraft like the Sopwith Camel, and World War II fighters. A collection of aviation uniforms, engines, and instruments provides further context across both hangars.

Operations and public access

Operated by the National Air and Space Museum, the center is part of the Smithsonian Institution and charges for parking but offers free admission. It is accessible via the Washington Metro's Silver Line to the Washington Dulles International Airport station, with a shuttle bus connection. The facility hosts numerous educational programs, lectures by figures like John Glenn, and special events. Annual attendance exceeds one million visitors, who can also experience flight simulators, guided tours led by docents, and view ongoing restoration projects in the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar, making it a dynamic partner to the museum on the National Mall.

Category:National Air and Space Museum Category:Aerospace museums in the United States Category:Museums in Fairfax County, Virginia Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2003