The Tales These Planes Could Tell

We ventured into DC yesterday to enjoy the Udvar-Hazy Museum of Air and Space, the Smithsonian Museum located next to Dulles Airport.   Hundreds of aircraft hang suspended from the roof's framework or are parked shoulder to shoulder--the Enola Gay, an SR-71 Blackbird, an F-14 Tomcat, and dozens of other history-making planes. Elevated walkways border the building at multiple levels so that you can see every plane and helicopter and glider from all angles.  Docents who have flown in these planes tell sobering stories and lead tours all through the building.  It was a lot to take in.

 (Wiggly) Amelia, meet Amelia.

I thought a lot about the men in our family who were around planes like these everyday in their time at war.  There we were being wow-ed (and overwhelmed) by something that was so commonplace to them--they knew the sounds and smells and sensations (and fear and excitement) that went along with these planes.

J's personal favorite is the Bell XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft--it hovers like a helicopter and flies with the speed of an airplane.

We all loved the Enterprise--I had no idea of the enormity of these space shuttles!  As we approached J burst into a smile--look for the apples of his cheeks in this photo.

 It really is a thing of beauty, and I don't necessarily consider myself an air enthusiast.

It was a little paralyzing to imagine the adventures that it had seen--the ultimate adventures, orbiting the earth, defying gravity and death.

 Dozens of satellites dangling

All the stars aligned this time--we were able to have D there with us for most of the time (until he had to sneak away to Fairfax for a meeting for a couple hours) and then afterwards we met up with my beautiful friend JJ to enjoy an hour and a half with her family.  We look forward to another trip sometime soon.