Vaca Part 9: Air & Space Museum

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6126534660640333112#editor/target=post;postID=3513852908985370588;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=12;src=postnameHelicopters and Airplanes and Spaceships, oh my! I knew the Air and Space museum would be enjoyed, but I had no idea how much the kiddos would love seeing all the different kinds of aircraft and learning about flight. We started at the smaller museum on the National Mall where we learned about the Write brothers and jet engines, experienced an IMax movie on space travel and a hands on learning center.

The kids enjoyed it so much, we took them out to Dulles a few days later for a look at more aircraft, a simulator experience and an inspiring look at the space shuttle Discovery. To think of the process of developing the ideas, putting them into play, building such a machine and actually flying it into space, not once or twice, but 39 times! You could see the scorch marks from the heat of re-entry and the panels that were replaced at various times for repair.

We spent most of our time with Discovery, but also self-toured the rest of the enormous building full of aircraft...some hanging from the ceiling. This was one of the favorites as the kids decided it was just their size.

Another shot of Discovery from the catwalk with the kids being...well, themselves.

We ate our picnic lunch in the grass by the vehicle and then went back in for some more adventures. We started with a tour of the observation deck which has views of Dulles International Airport and many of the take off and landing patterns. We watched large jets fly in and take off for quite a while before the children decided to move on. It was really fun to experience with them. Before leaving the deck, though, the kids made sure to take a photo of our suv in the parking lot. Can you see it?

Our two middle children took me up on the offer to try out a flight simulator. Neither one loved it, but I was pleased they had tried something new. If the lines had not been so long, mommy would have gone too! On the way out, we took a closer look at this fountain and the names inscribed on the plaques. These are in honor of those who support flight training, education and advancements. And we got one more shot of a jet flying overhead in to land at Dulles.

Next: Arlington House (I didn't even know there was one!)