Those in the Know Just Call It 'Hah-Zee' | Part 2, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

The Superbowl of Aviation Museums

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, or "Hazy", is made up of five main areas: the Boeing Aviation Hangar, the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar, the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Center (that has largely supplanted the Paul Garber Facility for restoration work), the Airbus IMAX Theater, and the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower. The latter two portions of the center are pictured here, but at this angle, I cannot help but think that the observation tower looks more like the Lombardi Trophy than anything else. As one of my friends noted, the view from up there was nothing compared to what we had on final approach to Dulles that morning.

1946 Pitts Special S-1C.

Hanging appropriately inverted in the main entry hall is the Pitts Special S-1C once owned by Betty Skelton and named Little Stinker. It was the second aircraft built by Curtis Pitts and, because the first prototype was ultimately wrecked years after its first flight, it is the world's oldest surviving Pitts Special. When constructed in 1946, it was the smallest aerobatic airplane in the world and with it, Betty Skelton won the 1949 and 1950 Feminine International Aerobatic Championships. Few aerobatic aircraft are more iconic.

1964 Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

The entrance hall at "Hazy" ends in a balcony overlooking the Boeing Aviation Hangar and gives visitors this perfect perspective on the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Storied for its speed (the fastest air breathing aircraft in the world) and high flying capability (85,000+ feet), this slide-rule designed reconnaissance aircraft roamed the global skies with untouchable impunity during the Cold War. This particular example was built in 1964. It completed its final flight on March 6, 1990 from Los Angeles to Washington Dulles International Airport in one hour and four minutes, setting a transcontinental speed record averaging an extraordinary 2,124 miles per hour. 

Live! From the Edge of Space

Our volunteer docent at "Hazy" was retired Air Force Colonel Chuck Wilson. Shrewdly ascertaining that he was leading a pilot group around "Hazy", he shared a story about successfully dead sticking a Cherokee into a Michigan farm field decades prior. (Carburetor icing, go figure.) He still remembered the tail number and rattled it off without hesitation. He did not disclose to us that he was a rated US Air Force Command Pilot who flew the first operational U-2 mission. In addition to multiple U-2 hours logged flying spy missions in a pressure suit right on the edge of space, Wilson ultimately became an instructor in the Dragon Lady. Sadly, we only discovered these details of his history after the fact.

Brick with Wings

Although “Hazy” originally displayed the boilerplate Enterprise space shuttle used for glide testing, it was replaced by the Discovery in 2012. Discovery is both the oldest surviving and the most utilized orbiter in the shuttle fleet and made 39 trips to orbit traveling about 150 million miles during its time in service. A total of 251 crew members flew on Discovery including the first female shuttle pilot — Eileen Collins from Elmira, NY — and the oldest man in space, former Mercury astronaut John Glenn.

When standing before any space shuttle, I am always amazed by how aerodynamically inelegant they are. For something designed to glide into safe harbor, the wings are relatively puny and the fuselage slab-sided and draggy. This is not a criticism, the shuttles were certainly mission capable, but they are always more graceful in my memory.

This close-up of Discovery's nose shows the heat resistant ceramic tiles protecting the spacecraft during atmospheric reentry. The tiles are extremely hygroscopic, which was problematic for a number of reasons. First, water is heavy and extra water weight was undesirable at launch. Moreover, freezing that water at high altitude could fracture a tile. Finally, rapid outgassing (boiling) of remaining water on reentry could also damage these critical tiles. Because it burned off on reentry, a silicone waterproofing agent was reinjected into each individual tile (note the holes in each tile) prior to every mission.

Close-up of Discovery's nose attitude maneuvering jets, part of the Reaction Control System (RCS).

My attention was also captured by this North American Aviation Gemini capsule intended for runway landings after deploying a paraglider wing. It was a significantly different recovery method than splashing into the ocean, one that was probably preferrable to pilots because it gave them more control. Known as the TTV (Test Tow Vehicle), this manned capsule was released eight times at altitude by helicopter to maneuver for landing on the dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base. An interesting, but ultimately unimplemented, means to bring astronauts home.

Early Aviation and World War I

1911 Wright EX, Vin Fiz.

While the original 1903 Wright Flyer is on display on the National Mall, "Hazy" features a 1911 Wright Ex model known colloquially as the Vin Fiz. In 1911, Cal Rodgers became the first to fly an airplane across the U.S. in a bid for a $50,000 prize offered by William Randolph Hearst. While succeeding in making the first transcontinental-U.S. flight, Rodgers' feat was not timely enough to earn him the prize. He significantly exceeded Hearst's 30 day limit owing to multiple engine failures, crashes, and other incidents. The Vin Fiz was rebuilt so many times while flying across the nation that it is hard to say whether any original components that left Sheepshead Bay, NY actually made it to Pasadena, CA; a true to life "Ship of Theseus" example. The Vin Fiz took its name from a new grape soda promoted by Rodgers' sponsor Armour and his airplane became the first aerial advertisement. "Vin Fiz: The Ideal Grape Drink" read the bottom wing. The company was looking for a novel way to advertise their new soft drink because by most accounts, Vin Fiz was awful.

1917 French Caudron G.4 light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.

1918 Nieuport 28C.1, a French design flown by American pilots in WWI.

1918 German Halberstadt CL.IV.

1918 Curtiss JN-4D "Jenny".

This original Curtiss JN-4D "Jenny" was acquired by the Smithsonian directly from the U.S. Air Service in 1918 after the Armistice was signed to end War War I.

Interwar Period

1922 Bellanca C.F.

The 1922 Bellanca C.F. is a one-of-a-kind protype that combined speed (it won several air races in 1922-1923) and finely crafted elegance while introducing the bold idea of carrying passengers in a comfortably enclosed cabin. That was revolutionary thinking for the time.

1922 Bellanca C.F.

Unfortunately, that revolutionary thinking did not extend to the poor fellow flying the airplane, who still contended with the elements from an open cockpit. Conceptual baby steps.

1928 Fairchild FC-2W2 Stars and Stripes.

Lt. Commander Richard E. Byrd modified this Fairchild for polar exploration. The airplane was flown in the Antarctic from 1928 to 1930, then left behind with wings folded in a "snow hangar" to be successfully located and revived in 1933 for more Antarctic exploration until 1935. At some point later, the well-travelled Stars and Stripes was used as a photo platform in Guatemala.

1932 Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk.

In an idea born directly from a steampunk fever dream, eight Curtiss Sparrowhawks were built to launch from and be recovered by airship aircraft carriers, specifically the U.S.S. Macon and Akron. Recovery was achieved by capturing a trapeze hung from the airship with a hook mounted above the Sparrowhawk's wing and retracting the trapeze into the airship's internal hangar bay. Up to four aircraft could be stored, launched, and recovered in this way. Originally intended for coastal defense during the interwar period, the experiment ended when both airships were lost to crashes.

1934 Boeing P-26A "Peashooter". Pew-pew.

1934 Boeing P-26A "Peashooter".

On the reaction pathway between open cockpit stick and fabric biplanes serving in World War I and the all metal monoplane fighters of World War II, the interwar era Boeing P-26 represented a transition state. It was the first all-metal fighter design, a wire-braced monoplane, and the last open cockpit, fixed gear fighter accepted into the U.S. Army Air Corps.

1936 Bucker Bu-133C Jungmeister.

This German aerobatic aircraft was designed by Carl Bucker in 1935 as a single seat version of the Bu-131 Jungmann aerobatic trainer. Romanian pilot Alex Papana had the airplane crated and shipped on the Hindenburg to the United States where he flew it at the 1937 Cleveland Air Races. Mike Murphy and Beverly "Bevo" Howard won the American Aerobatic Championships in this airplane in 1938/1940 and 1946-1947, respectively. Howard was killed in a 1971 accident while flying this airplane and his estate restored it before donation to the Smithsonian in 1973. I am unaware of any other aircraft on display at the Smithsonian in which a pilot died.

1936 Grumman G-22 Gulfhawk II.

1936 Grumman G-22 Gulfhawk II.

At first, I mistook this aircraft for a gussied-up Grumman F3F. While clearly based on the Navy's pre-World War II standard fighter, the Gulfhawk was a customized aerobat built for the Gulf Oil Companies and flown by former naval aviator Major Alfred "Al" Williams who ran Gulf's aviation department.

1952 Grumman G-21 Goose beneath the tail of the Concorde.

In 1937, Grumman flexed their design muscles to produce the hugely capable amphibious G-21 Goose. Intended as a commuter to shuttle wealthy Manhattan businessmen to their Long Island mansions, the Goose was Grumman's first monoplane and first twin-engine aircraft. No mere pleasure yacht, the Goose was of such great utility that it was adopted for airline and military use.

The Aviator

1935 Hughes H-1 Racer fuselage.

Howard Hughes, later known for his H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose), reclusive nature, and gnarly fingernails, designed his very first aircraft for speed. Intending to reduce drag as much as possible, Hughes insisted on flush rivets, countersunk flathead screws, and even ensured that the slot in every screw head was aligned with the slipstream lest it increase parasitic drag. This tightly cowled beauty gleams with smooth metallic Art Deco elegance. To my eye, it is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever made. How fortunate I was in 2025 to visit with two of Hughes' signature creations on opposite coasts within a few weeks of each other! (The other being the Spruce Goose.)

Hughes set the land speed record in 1935 with the H-1 by averaging 352 mph over four runs. To conserve weight, the aircraft was only fueled for two runs, but Hughes pressed on with two more, ran the aircraft out of gas, and made a forced landing in a beet field. When his horrified staff rushed to his aid, Hughes simply said, "She'll go faster." (This scene is well-depicted in The Aviator if one ignores DiCaprio's ham-fisted handling of the controls.)

Wings and gear for the 1935 Hughes H-1 Racer.

In 1937, Hughes fit a shorter set of wings to the H-1 and set the transcontinental speed record, leaping from Los Angeles to Newark in 7 hours and 28 minutes while averaging 332 miles per hour. This seems pedestrian compared to what the SR-71 Blackbird accomplished in 1990, but Hughes was literally months faster than that first transcontinental flight by Cal Rodgers in the Vin Fiz.

World War II Era

1942 Ryan PT-22 Recruit primary trainer.

1941 Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 seaplane trainer.

1937 Vought OS2U-3 Kingfisher scout aircraft.

British 1942 Westland Lysander liaison aircraft.

From this angle, the gravity-deployed leading edge slats were apparent on the short field capable Lysander.

1940 Vought F4U-1D Corsair.

I think I hear some whistling... 

(Aviation nerd humor: Corsairs were nicknamed "Whistling Death" by the Japanese.)

1939 Curtiss P-40E Warhawk.

Corsair pilot: "Hey! I'm flyin' over here!"

FAR 91.113(g): "Landing. Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface..." 

With gear down, clearly this Corsair is landing and thus has right of way over the P-40. Of course, it's been in the process of landing for 22 years and I really thought Corsairs were faster than that.

German 1943 Focke Wulf Fw190 D-9.

Charmingly known as the Würger (Butcher Bird), the Fw190 was the only German single seat fighter powered by a radial engine in World War II.

1943 Northrup P-61C Black Widow night fighter.

The P-61 Black Widow was equipped with airborne radar and was the first purpose built U.S. night fighter. Including this one, only four survivors are known. Another is close to home at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Pennsylvania.

1944 Republic P-47D Thunderbolt.

Nicknamed the Juggernaut (or "Jug"), the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was the largest single engine fighter built by any nation during World War II. It was armed with eight 0.50 caliber machine guns and powered by the largest radial engine in existence at the time, the 2,000 horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-2800. The burly airplane would go on to earn a reputation for shrugging off damage and bringing its pilots home.

1944 Republic P-47D Thunderbolt and the 1945 Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay.

Of all the aircraft on display at "Hazy", few posses the brooding gravitas of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress christened Enola Gay by its pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets. Tibbets named the aircraft in honor of his mother who encouraged him to follow his dreams of flight (Dad wanted him to be a doctor). On August 6, 1945, Tibbets and the Enola Gay forever changed the course of history by unleashing a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.

1945 Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay.

Was the first wartime use of a nuclear weapon a necessary last resort against an intransigent enemy or an unmitigatedly barbaric tactic? Can both be true? The very sight of the Enola Gay stimulates profound contemplation. Regardless of where that event in history falls on a grayscale moral continuum, there is no denying that the moment ushered in by this airplane was important.

1945 Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay.

"I Will Name Him George"

(Hugo the Abominable Snowman in "The Abominable Snow Rabbit")

In addition to key U.S. World War II aircraft, "Hazy" features several Japanese and German aircraft.

A line-up of Japanese World War II aircraft in olive drab.

1942 Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko ("Moonlight"), Allied codename: "Irving"

The world's sole surviving Nakajima Gekko (which means "moonlight") night fighter lives at "Hazy". 

1945 Aichi M6A1 Seiran ("Clear Sky Storm")

During World War II, Japan sought a means to bomb the United States mainland or key Allied facilities such as the Panama Canal. To that end, they devised the ingenious Seiran aircraft, a float plane bomber designed for transport aboard submarine aircraft carriers that could surreptitiously deliver these airplanes within striking distance of their targets. Each submarine carried three Seirans in a watertight compartment. To launch the aircraft, the submarines surfaced, wings and other control surfaces were unfolded and locked into place, and the aircraft were mated to floats. Remarkably, experienced crews could launch three Seirans in fifteen minutes. Only 28 Seirans were manufactured, with the "Hazy" example being the last off the line as well as the sole survivor of the type.

1942 Kawanishi N1K2-Ja Shiden ("Violet Lightning") Kai (Modified), Allied codename: "George".

1942 Kawanishi N1K2-Ja Shiden ("Violet Lightning") Kai (Modified), Allied codename: "George".

One of four surviving Kawanishi Shiden fighter aircraft, "George" was designed by Japan to counter newer American fighters such as the Hellcat and Corsair. Only a truly outstanding fighter could hold its own against Hellcats and Corsairs and the Shiden delivered.

German 1944 Arado Ar 234 B-2 Blitz ("Lightning").

The odd looking Arado Blitz was a single seat, twin jet engine German bomber equipped with rocket assisted take-off. With a top speed of 459 miles per hour, the bomber could outrun any Allied piston-powered fighters flying in the European theater. It is the sole remaining example of its type in the world and came to the United States in 1946 after British capture in Norway.

Civil Aviation Classics

1941 Piper J-3 Cub.

No aviation museum is complete without this little gem from Lock Haven, PA, the yellow Model T of the skies.

1946 Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser City of Washington.

Together with sister ship The City of the Angels (on display at the Piper Aviation Museum in Lock Haven, PA), the City of Washington was the first light aircraft to fly around the world in 1947. The pair of tube and rag aircraft covered nearly 20,000 miles around the world with the flags of each nation visited hand painted along their fuselages.

1946 Mooney Mite.

This diminutive single seat airplane started an aeronautical dynasty. Sharp eyed readers may recognize the forward swept tail as a hallmark of Mooney design. The single seat 1946 Mooney Mite was the first airplane model to bear the Mooney name and the example on display at "Hazy" is serial number one. Fast and nimble, it was built to appeal to fighter pilots leaving the military. It was nicknamed the "Texas Messerschmitt".

1957 Waterman Aerobile.

An ongoing quest to design a "flying car" (or more formally, a "roadable aircraft") has generally yielded machines that were neither good airplanes nor good cars. So it was with Waldo Waterman's Aerobile, but the ungainly outputs of these design efforts are nonetheless intriguing to see.

1946 Globe Swift GC-1A.

Characterized by Art Deco styling, a distinctively grinning front grill, and fighter-like handling, the Swift was one of the most intriguing sport aircraft produced during the post-World War II period.

1972 North American Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S Sweetie Face.

Flown by one of the best stick and rudder pilots ever to escape Nazi Germany in a stolen Fw190, this Shrike Commander belonged to former World War II fighter pilot, military test pilot, and legendary airshow performer Robert A. "Bob" Hoover. As a business aircraft, it was not designed for aerobatics, but under Hoover's skillful manipulation, the aircraft dazzled audiences with a remarkable dead stick routine that demonstrated Hoover's mastery of energy management. One of his most famous feats involved Hoover pouring iced tea into a glass on the instrument panel with his right hand while rolling the aircraft with his left. Hoover's smooth control and careful loading of the airplane allowed him to manage this feat without spilling a drop. (See video of Bob here.)

Aerial Applicators

1963 Grumman G-164 Ag-Cat.

First flown in 1957, the Grumman Ag-Cat was the first airplane specifically designed for aerial application of agricultural chemicals, i.e., it was the first purpose built crop duster. Considering that Grumman was well known for its World War II military "cats" -- the Wildcat, Hellcat, Tigercat, and Bearcat -- it seemed appropriate to continue the theme, even if the spray plane was obviously a different breed of cat from its military forebears.

Air Tractor AT-400A Dusty Crophopper.

This PT-6 turboprop agricultural airplane from Air Tractor is a more modern example of purpose-built agricultural aircraft. Like the Ag-Cat, it features a single seat situated on a fuselage hump to provide the pilot with excellent visibility. This particular Air Tractor was painted to resemble the character Dusty Crophopper from the Disney film, Planes.

People Haulers

1945 Junkers Ju52.

Manufactured between 1931 and 1952 throughout Europe (Germany, France, and Spain), the trimotor version of the Junkers Ju52 was a highly successful 17 passenger European airliner

1938 Boeing 307 Stratoliner "Clipper Flying Cloud".

In 1938, Boeing took the wings, tail, and engines of the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber and created the world's first pressurized passenger aircraft. Able to carry passengers at 20,000 feet with a cabin pressure equivalent to 8,000 feet, the Stratoliner was able to fly above most weather for a smoother, faster ride. Only ten Stratoliners were ever built, but the idea was clearly revolutionary.

1956 Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation.

The original Lockheed Constellation came about when majority Transcontinental and Western Airlines (TWA) shareholder Howard Hughes requested a 40 passenger airliner with a 3,500 mile range. No other airplane looks quite like the graceful Constellation, with its slightly curving dolphin-like fuselage and distinctive triple tail (designed to fit the large airplane in existing hangars). The L-1049 Super Constellation or "Super Connie" was developed as a stretched version of the original with more powerful engines. With a pressurized cabin, Constellations were the pinnacle of piston driven airliners before passenger jets became the norm.

1954 Boeing 367-80 prototype, later the Boeing 707.

The eightieth proposed design iteration (hence "Dash 80") in a quest to update the piston driven Boeing Model 367/C-97 aerial tanker was a quantum leap advancement over its predecessor. Significantly faster than other jet propelled airliners like the de Havilland Comet, the Dash 80 -- later renamed the 707 -- ushered in a new era of jet airliners. Perhaps what really sold airline executives was test pilot "Tex" Johnson's surprise double barrel roll of the prototype during what was supposed to be a perfunctory fly by at the 1955 Gold Cup hydroplane races held on Lake Washington in Seattle.

1975 Concorde.

The Concorde was the world's premier supersonic transport. This one, F-BVFA ("Fox Alpha"), was one of 20 constructed. It was the first production Concorde delivered to Air France and the first Concorde to open service between Paris and New York, Washington, and Rio de Janiero. Over its career from 1975 to 2003, this airframe accumulated 17,824 hours. Despite the expediency of the Concorde, with tickets going for as high as $12,000 apiece, the customer base for the airplane was too limited to sustain the program. But what a marvelous example of aviation technology!

Jet Fighters

Soviet 1947 MiG-15 and 1947 North American F-18 Sabre.

Adversaries in the skies over 1950 Korea, this pairing of the MiG-15 with the F-86 Sabre truly inaugurated the era of jet fighter combat. Both represented their respective nations' first production swept wing fighters.

Soviet 1960 MiG-21.

The Soviet Union's supersonic second generation MiG-21 fighter was so successful that 11,000+ were produced to serve in approximately 60 countries around the world.

1958 McDonnell F-4S Phantom II.

United States Marines, Air Force, and Navy pilots all flew the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. It was the Navy's first carrier-based aircraft capable of Mach 2. It is the only airplane used by both the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration teams. First flown in 1958, the Phantom II remained in service for the U.S. until 1996 and in other global Air Forces until as late as 2024.

Grumman F-14D(R) Tomcat.

1987 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet.

Pictured above is a combat veteran that ultimately started a second career in show business. This F/A-18C Hornet was a veteran of Desert Storm, but transitioned to the Blue Angels in 2015. In 2020, the Blue Angels moved on to flying the larger Super Hornet and retired their F/A-18C models. "Hazy" seems like a cushy retirement gig compared to sitting in a boneyard.

Odd Ducks

1940 Northrup N-1M.

The first flight of the Northrup N-1M in 1940 finally accomplished a dream long held by Jack Northrup. Northrup believed that a flying wing design would be more aerodynamically efficient than conventional aircraft by eliminating the drag imposed by non-lifting structural elements like the fuselage and tail. Earlier attempts at the flying wing concept, including Northrup's own 1929 Avion, ultimately required a tail for stability. Not so for the N-1M, a pure flying wing design. Ultimately, learnings from this aircraft rolled up to the stealthy Northrup B-2 Spirit flying wing heavy bomber.

Boeing CV2 Cargo Air Vehicle (CAV) Drone outfitted as and X-Wing fighter from Star Wars.

A Boeing unmanned aircraft system (UAS or more colloquially: drone), this CV2 Cargo Air Vehicle once cosplayed as an X-Wing starfighter. When Galaxy's Edge opened at Disney World in 2019, two X-Wing fighters flew over the park at night, stunning those on the ground. The effect was achieved with the help of Boeing, whose CV2 remotely piloted vehicles wore X-Wing costumes. Ultraviolet spotlights were used to illuminate only the X-wing elements of the drone. Is this artifact truly National Air & Space Museum worthy? Perhaps not, but it appealed to me anyway because my inner six year old is still alive and well.

Full Circle

1964 Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

We ended our tour with Chuck Wilson at the SR-71, the world's fastest, highest flying airplane. After establishing that the airplane was built for reconnaissance, he asked if anyone knew Boyle's Law. I recalled that Boyle's Law describes one of the relationships between gas pressure, volume, or temperature that ultimately roll up to the Ideal Gas Law (PV = nRT), but I did not recall which specific relationship it represents.

"Anyone? Any of my pilots?" We were a disappointingly silent group.

"Any scientists?" That hit even closer to home. Perhaps it was just projection, but I sensed Ed exuding an awkwardly chagrined vibe matching mine.

Grasping at straws, Wilson made one last futile attempt. "Engineers?" That encompassed a portion of the remaining WFC crew, but they remained silent as well. Shame. With a sigh, Wilson explained that Boyle's law concerned the inverse proportionality between pressure and volume and parlayed that into an explanation on why U-2 and SR-71 pilots wore pressure suits to accomplish their missions. Despite the fact that Wilson had extensive pressure suit experience himself, he made no mention of it.

It's not every day that I am privileged to disappoint a U-2 pilot.

Before wrapping up our time at "Hazy", we took this group photo with the SR-71 Blackbird before facing the swarming lanternflies outside. They seemed particularly fond of Gilead. Our next goal was departing Dulles, hopefully as smoothly as we arrived.