AirSpaceMuseum.JPG

AirSpaceMuseum.JPG
Originally uploaded by gtromble. Pam's parents were visiting last weekend. Sunday we went to Mt Vernon, with Roy and Nicole, as you should already know if you've been keeping up with the BLOG. Saturday afternoon we went out to the new Smithsonian Air and Space Museum facility in Virginia near Dulles airport. Like all the Smithsonian exhibits, admission is free. Parking, however, costs $12.

It's a worthwhile stop if you are at all interested in aviation. Under one, giant roof they have everything from early planes (that didn't actually fly) to a Concorde, an SR71 Blackbird, and the Space Shuttle Enterprise. The SR71 Blackbird is a military spy craft that can fly something like 3,620 mph. The exhibit said that when they brought the plane from LA to DC to put in the museum, they made the trip across the country in 1 hour, 4 min, and 20 seconds.

One of the planes they have is the Enola Gay, shown here in this photo taken by Pam's father, Perry Mason (I am not making that up, but he is not a lawyer). The EG, of course, is the plane that dropped the first Atomic bomb. For me, it was somewhat sad and sobering to see the plane and think about its role in history.

Galen