[2025 Sully Attraction] Travel Guide for Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Updated Mar)

Instantly recognizable, the SR-71 Blackbird is one of the most impressive airplanes every designed. Capable of speeds in excess of mach 3, it was standard operating procedure for pilots to simply accelerate and outrun any air defense missiles launched to target it. Note the skunk on the tail, a reference to the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, which designed the SR-71. #triplocal

#travel #museums #citydaytours The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is truly a gem for anyone fascinated by aviation and space exploration. Just a stone's throw from Dulles Airport, this part of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum houses an incredible array of aircraft and spacecraft. From the awe-inspiring Space Shuttle Discovery to the sleek Concorde, there’s plenty to marvel at. The center is spacious, allowing visitors to wander and view the exhibits from various angles. The observation tower offers a great spot to watch planes land and take off, adding to the excitement. It’s an educational, engaging visit for families or anyone interested in the history of flight. The staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, which really enhances the experience.

📍 Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center An annex of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, a museum located a little way from the city of Washington, D.C.✈️ As one of the Smithsonian museums, you can enjoy exhibits related to aircraft and spacecraft☺️🤍　 It's an "annex" but... it's actually bigger than the main building in the city center‼︎ lol😳😳 The museum is packed with more than 300 aircraft and spacecraft. The biggest attraction is the space shuttle "Discovery". 🚀 Its size and presence are enormous and impressive‼ ︎🙌🏽 Discovery has the most flights of any space shuttle, having flown into space 39 times between 1984 and 2011🥹🥹 The heat-resistant tiles and cockpit, which are clearly visible to the naked eye, and the huge engines are a constant source of excitement‼︎ This is a must-visit spot if you go to Washington D.C.✨ Also on display are Japanese fighter planes with the Japanese flag painted on them, and the B-29 fighter plane Enola Gay. The Enola Gay is known as the fighter plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. You can also listen to an explanation about the Enola Gay by joining the free tour. In addition, the museum has many attractions, including the supersonic passenger plane Concorde, and I was excited from start to finish🥹💓　 #USAtrip #WashingtonDC #OverseasTrip

we spent nearly two hours in here. It’s really cool and kind. you might want to be a pilot or space explorer. I highly recommend this place.

The Observation Tower at the Udvar-Hazy Center is nice for the view it offers; however, I was disappointed in the exhibit. They could have done much more to recreate the experience of being in an airport control tower. Instead there are just a few things displayed to give the most basic sense of tower operations. It's worth it for the view, but don't expect much if you go up there. #triplocal

Udvar-Hazy Center is a part of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and is located at Dulles International Airport. Though the Udvar-Hazy is less easy to access than the Air and Space Museum's main location on the National Mall, it is, in my opinion, the better of the two locations! There's really a lot of amazing aviation history on offer including the Enola Gay, which dropped the first atomic bomb ever used in war on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945.  #triplocal