Air and Space Museum- Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

One thing that is great about living in the Washington DC area is that there are so many museums to  visit. One museum that I like and my family likes is the Air and Space museum. There is one downtown and one near Dulles airport. Recently I went with my mom and brother to the Steven F . Udvar-Hazy Center (air and space museum) near Dulles Airport. They have a lot of information about space and air. Here are a few things that I really loved about the place.

1. They have a tall tower that is like an air traffic control tower. You have a take an elevator that goes 600 and something feet into the air. When you are up there, you can look out the windows and see airplanes taking off and landing at Dulles airport because it is so near to the museum.

Here is a picture of my brother and me looking at an airplane that is landing.

 

2. They have a big thing like a stadium where you can see all kinds of airplanes. There were some that were really old. There were some that were military planes. There were lots of different types of planes to look at.

3. There was a simulator to make it feel like you were driving a space shuttle and landing it. There is one seat for the Commander. I was the Commander. There is a second seat for the Pilot. The Pilot is in charge of the landing gear. My brother was the pilot. There is a computer inside to show in front of you and so you can see the runway where you are trying to land.
Here is a picture of me inside.

4. There is a cafeteria and a gift shop. The cafeteria was really just a big McDonalds, but we got ice cream! There was also a gift shop with toys, books, clothes, costumes, and other stuff about air and space.

5. They have IMAX movies to see.

I recommend a visit to this place. The admission is free and parking is $15.

- Blake