On April 9, 2004, our son Jim and I had the opportunity to visit the new Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport outside Washington DC. This is the newest part of the National Air and Space Museum, which is the most popular museum of the Smithsonian Institution. I took forty-five digital photos that day but discovered that the camera flash simply could not illuminate the displays adequately. This photo was the only one taken that automatically went to available light and so didn't need the flash! Fortunately, this one photo is a spectacular "keeper." You see the tail fin of the MiG-21 "Fishbed" that is now on display at this new facility. You can read all the details about this aircraft at the Air & Space Museum's site.

The Udvar-Hazy Center truly is a magnificent facility for the display of aircraft and I plan to return there with a more powerful flash unit in the future. You get the chance to see the planes at ground level, at a mid-level alongside many of those hanging from the ceiliing, and from above you view everything when up on the "catwalk" level closer to the roof. This variety of perspectives is one of the great strengths of the huge structure so I recommend a visit if you are interested in aviation. Like all Smithsonian facilities, admission is free (but the parking cost us $12).

My next aviation visit will be to the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, late in May. I'll hope to have some photos from that location to share with you this summer.