National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center to Expand

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum boasts some of the finest aviation artifacts in the world, and soon more of them will be on display to the public.

The institution is planning the expansion of its Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. This is the first time the facility, which will remain open during construction, has been added to since it opened in 2003. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2028.

“We are excited for this expansion of our world-class facility in Virginia,” said Udvar-Hazer Center director Chris Browne. “Adding on to the Udvar-Hazy Center will allow us to offer even more to the public and will give us a chance to make major changes to the arrangement of artifacts in the entire center, enhancing the experience for our visitors.”

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The U.S. Congress authorized the Smithsonian to build the air and space museum extension at Washington Dulles International Airport (KIAD) in 1992. Udvar-Hazy Center opened in 2003 in time to celebrate the centennial of the Wright brothers’ first flight.

In 2011, the museum completed the construction of its collections spaces that house archives along with conservation and restoration work, part of which is on public view.

According to museum officials, an additional 44,000 square feet of space will be added to the north end of the Boeing Aviation Hangar, increasing its size by 20 percent. The space creates room for more artifacts, including those that have been in storage for lack of space.

Among these, the Martin B-26B-2-MA Marauder Flak-Bait will be displayed in the World War II section in the center of the hangar along with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby. According to the museum officials, both of these planes have never been displayed at the center fully assembled.

New to View

Other aircraft new to the public to be displayed include the restored Sikorsky JRS-1 that was at Pearl Harbor in 1941 the day of the Japanese attack.

In summer 1940 the aircraft was assigned to Utility Squadron 1 (VJ-1) and used in non-combatant roles as sort of a flying pickup truck by the U.S. Navy. It is one of three aircraft still in existence that was at Pearl Harbor during the attack. The aircraft survived, as it was parked in an area of Ford Island that was not hit.

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Also soon to be shown publicly is a de Havilland DH-98B Mosquito, famous for its versatility and use of wood in its construction, and a Franklin “Texaco Eaglet,” a 1930s-era glider with a 50-foot wingspan designed for a transcontinental flight under tow. The glider was equipped with a two-way radio, which at the time was unusual in general aviation aircraft.

Change and Rearrange

Museum officials note the added space creates an additional challenge for staff to determine its most expedient use, necessitating a rearrangement of the current artifacts. The museum also expects to receive new acquisitions that will be added to the collection.

Officials also note the Udvar-Hazy Center is one of the top-20 most-visited museums in North America, welcoming more than 1 million visitors per year. Admission is free, timed-entry passes are not required for regular indoor visitation, and parking costs $15.

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is located at Jefferson Drive between Fourth and Seventh streets S.W. and is open every day except Christmas Day from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT. Admission is free, but timed-entry passes are required to visit.