[Norton]

Wife and I have the week off so we took off to the new Smithsonian Aerospace Museum at Dulles......apparently everyone else had the same idea.

45 minutes sitting on Rt 28 for the privilege of paying $12 to park but once we got into the museum itself it was amazing that even with so many people in there it didn't feel too crowded.

Lots of cool planes: Blackbird, Space Shuttle, Enola Gay, some MiGs, and on and on and on.....

Of course I noticed the following: The rent-a-cops all have guns now. I don't recall this being the case at the other Smithsonians....was I just not being observant enough?

I have to laugh about these guys carrying their six-shooters as I've seen some of the GSA folks doing their 15 minute quals down in Upper Marlboro. Bottom line is that they can't hit the paper at 15 feet:rolleyes: Makes me feel reeeeeeeeallly safe.......

[Mike Irwin]

Some Smithsonian police are authorized to carry firearms. You just don't see them all that often.

There's even a firing range in the basement of the Art Museum.

[rayra]

I'm wondering if they had the sidearms on opening day when some Nuclear-Weapons Protesters attempted to throw paint on the Enola Gay, or did they arm the guards AFTER?

[Norton]

Rayra,

I don't know, but that thought crossed my mind. I did notice, however, that on the catwalk next to the nose of the Enola Gay they've placed a large piece of plexiglass to deter folks from being about to throw things. Plus there was a rent-a-cop right there.


Mike Irwin,

Hmmm....too bad that's not a public range.....wife likes to go to the art museums and I can take or leave it. "Have a good time honey....come down to the range and get me when you're ready to go":D

[Fly320s]

Hey, Norton (:D )

Were you there on Saturday, the 27th?

I tried to go on Sat., but the traffic back-up was huge! We gave up after sitting in traffic for twenty minutes, but only moving 100 yards.

Next time I go to IAD I hope it's a weekday.

[Norton]

We were there Tuesday the 30th. I overheard one of the rent-a-cops tell someone that on opening day they had a 6 hour wait at one point:what:

[Razor]

Anyone happen to get any pics?

[sendec]

The Smithsonian and its sub-units, along with the National Zoo, have their own police departments, that may be supplemented by either in-house or contract guards and docents. Federal facilities in DC frequently have their own fully sworn and empowered police departments. Probably most visible is the US Park Police and US Capitol Police, but there are plenty of others such as Bureau of Engraving, Postal Service, Pentagon Police and so forth........

Next time you are at the Kennedy Space Center check out their officers, easily recognizable by the slung MP5s.....

[moa]

Last I heard, there are 21 separate law enforcement agencies in Washington DC.

Hmmm. And Washington is still the murder capital of the USA per capita. Washington DC has probably the strictest gun laws in the country for a city.

A murder capital runner-up is Balitmore, which is in Maryland which supposedly has the most gun control of any state.

[4v50 Gary]

Does the underground Metro system connect to Dulles?

[The Reaper]

4v50 Gary

Negative, it ends some 11 miles east of Dulles, above ground. There is a connector bus to Dulles for a fee.

[4v50 Gary]

Nuts. Thanks Reaper.

[Norton]

Gary,

It also looks like there is a shuttle from the airport to the museum.

[Cougar]

is called the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Now that's a real mouthful. Rolls off the tounge naturally, doesn't it? For what it is worth, Udvar-Hazy was a major financial contributor to the new facility.

With all of the much-anticipated ballyhoo about this new and bigger museum annex (it still is not the 'main' Smithsonian Air & Space Museum), and recieving multiple articles about the new museum from my older sister living in that area, I think I'll stick with the much larger and more complete USAF Museum in Dayton. That new and improved Hazy Center is still only 1/4 the size of the Air Force Museum!

I can't even see the entire Air Force Museum in a day. Not only are there the main museum buildings, there is also the annex that is housed in the Wright Field hangars about a mile away, as well as the restoration shops that are open to tours periodically throughout the year on Friday afternoons from 1-3PM.

Anyone passing through the Dayton area should seriously consider spending a day or two at the AF Museum. Lots of free parking, free admission, and it is open 364 days a year (closed Christmas) 9am-5pm.

[4v50 Gary]

Speaking of the AF Museum in Dayton, the AAA guidebook says plan to spend about 4 hours. Well, I spent 7 (10 a.m. to 5 pm) and while I saw the experimental hangar (including Air Force 1), the planes outside (JU-52, etc.) and the WW I & WW II hangar, I didn't even get to the last hanger. It's a two day museum.

When in Dayton, don't forget to go to the National Park Sites too. The NPS have restored the Wright Bros Bicycle Shop.