Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in D.C.

I recently made a trip to Washington D.C. while I was shooting a wedding in the area.  I didn't have a lot of time to play, but I did make time to visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum at the National Mall.  I'm a bit of an aviation nut, so I was kind of like a kid in a candy store.  I'll post some shots of the rest of D.C. in a later post.  

   

The following day, I spent the morning at the Smithsonian's new complex at Dulles Airport.  The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is kind of like the big brother to the National Mall museum.  This museum is actually a huge aircraft hangar.  Anyone who loves aviation, should definitely make a pilgrimage to this place.  Standing nose to nose with the Space Shuttle is a sight to behold.

The one that started it all.  This is the original Wright Flyer, on display at the National Mall.

It amazes me to be so close the real aircraft that made history.  Can you imagine flying this single engine plane all the way across the Atlantic Ocean, by yourself?

Two very cool planes from two different era's.  The F4U Corsair and the SR-71 Blackbird.