Front entrance to the museumThe National Air and Space Museum Dulles Annex
Photos © Joe Vogel and Jean Aker
I was lucky enough to be a member of the Air and Space Society of the Smithsonian and receive an invitation to a members only preview of the new museum. I invited a few buddies and we roamed around it museum for hours on Saturday the 6th, 2003. It opened to the public on Monday the 15th.
Here is a small sampling of the exhibits currently on display. According to Jack Bailey, the NASM Director, only about 40% of the planned artifacts are on display.
The museum architecture features several elevated walkways that give the visitor some incredible views.
I occasionally add new pictures to these pages as new aircraft are displayed.
Front entrance to the museum
John, Biff and I pose before the
SR-71 
SR-71 Blackbird. This was very difficult to photograph due to the unique finish.
You can see some of the walkways, a P-26, and the Space Shuttle.
Space Shuttle Enterprise
The missing wing leading edge was used in the Columbia tragedy investigation
B-29 Enola Gay
Famous for dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945.
Air France Concorde 
The largest aircraft in the museum, so far
The only surviving Dornier Do335 Pfeil (Arrow). It was restored by Dornier from the original plans.
Amazing Arado Ar243. A German WWII jet bomber. It was recently restored by NASM.
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
The aircraft is unrestored, and looks the way the museum received it after WWII.
Vietnam Nemeses, F-4 and Mig21
Korean War Nemeses, F-86 and Mig15