The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion
facility to the Museum on the National Mall. The building opened in December, 2003, and provides enough space for the
Smithsonian to display the thousands of aviation and space artifacts that cannot be exhibited at the Museum in Washington, DC.
The two sites together showcase the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world.
 Visitors to the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center admire the Monocoupe 110 Special Little Butch and other aircraft hanging from 10-story-high trusses.
The Center was named in honor of its major donor, and features the large Boeing Aviation Hangar in which aircraft are displayed
on three levels. Visitors can walk among aircraft and small artifacts in display cases located on the floor, and view
aircraft hanging from the arched ceiling on elevated skywalks. Many engines, helicopters, ultra-lights, and experimental
flying machines are on display in a museum setting for the first time. Among the aviation artifacts on display are the
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest jet in the world; the Boeing Dash 80, the prototype of the 707; the Boeing B-29
Superfortress Enola Gay; and the deHavilland Chipmunk aerobatic airplane.
The space shuttle Discovery is the centerpiece of the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the National
Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va.
The James S. McDonnell Space Hangar opened in November 2004 and displays hundreds of famous spacecraft, rockets,
satellites and space-related small artifacts. The centerpiece of the space hangar is the Space Shuttle Discovery.
Other space artifacts include the Gemini VII space capsule; the Mobile Quarantine Unit used upon the return of the Apollo
11 crew; and a Redstone rocket.
In addition, the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower provides an excellent location from which visitors
can watch air traffic at Dulles Airport.
The Center also offers the Airbus IMAX Theater; flight simulators; food service; a museum
store; free docent tours; daily educational programs; and school group tours and activities are available.
A special feature of the Center is the National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor.
Situated along the entryway to the Center, the Wall of Honor is a permanent memorial to the thousands of people who have contributed
to our aviation and space exploration heritage. Names of honorees are inscribed on the air-foil-shaped wall, which will
continue to grow in the years to come. One name could be yours!
See the Timeline for a chronology and photos of all major events in the Center's history. For more facts and figures about the Udvar-Hazy Center, please see the Museum's press kit.
Begin planning your visit and learn more about the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
More Information:
- Hours & Directions to the Udvar-Hazy Center
- Exhibit Stations on view at the Udvar-Hazy Center
- Aircraft and space objects on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center
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