Whenever I travel, I always keep an eye out for spots that will excite an aviation enthusiast like me.
So you can imagine my thrill when a recent trip to the U.S. put me within Uber distance of one of the most fascinating air and space museums I’ve ever visited.
Located in Chantilly, Virginia, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is the second Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in the Washington, D.C., area.
It might not be as conveniently located as its downtown sibling, but it more than makes up for it with the incredible collection inside.
From decades-old flying machines to modern jets and historic spacecraft, there’s something to wow everyone – even a Star Wars X-wing fighter and a Concorde.
The exhibits are designed as much for the stories as the machines themselves, highlighting the engineers, pilots and astronauts behind the hardware.
One of the centre’s standout displays is the retired space shuttle Discovery. Launched in 1984, Discovery became NASA’s most travelled orbiter, completing 39 missions, spending a full year in space, logging almost 240 million kilometres and carrying 251 astronauts – more than any other shuttle.
After its final mission in 2011, it flew over Washington, D.C., on its way to the Smithsonian, where it’s now displayed almost exactly as it looked when it last touched down.
Just a few metres away is another piece of travel history: Concorde. This supersonic marvel whisked passengers across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound.
The museum’s Concorde F-BVFA came directly from Air France in 2003, just after its final flight. It had plenty of bragging rights: first flights to Rio de Janeiro, Washington, D.C., and New York, and more than 17,800 hours in the air.
Fighter jet fans will appreciate the F-14 Tomcat on display, the very same type of aircraft that made Maverick and Goose iconic in Top Gun.
This twin-engine, supersonic, variable-sweep wing jet could dogfight, perform precision strikes and, of course, look spectacular while doing it.
Star Wars fans aren’t left out either. A Boeing Cargo Air Vehicle outfitted with an X-wing “skin” has been on display since 2024.
Originally flown over Walt Disney World for the opening of Galaxy’s Edge, this fully electric, remotely piloted craft isn’t just a movie prop – it’s a real experiment in autonomous flight.
For something a bit different, head up the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower. From the top, you get a 360-degree view of Washington Dulles International Airport and the surrounding countryside – perfect for spotting jets landing or taking off.
Inside the observation level there’s a small exhibit explaining air traffic control and how airports keep planes moving safely. You can even tune in to live Dulles tower radio. The tower is accessible by elevator, though strollers must be left at the ground floor.
A word of advice: the complex is huge, with plenty of walking, so grab a bite to eat before you start or pick up something at the on-site outlets like Shake Shack.
Just be ready for queues during busy times; I waited about 20 minutes for my food while surrounded by school groups.
All pictures courtesy Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center
