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3 May 2003

First Airplane is Aloft at National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy
Center, the New Companion Facility at Dulles Airport

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum began the delicate
work of hanging historic aircraft today at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy
Center, its new companion facility at Washington Dulles International
Airport in Northern Virginia. The center opens to the public Dec. 15.

The Loudenslager Stephens Akro Laser 200 was lifted by crane and hung
by cable from one of the aviation hangar's 10-story-high arched
trusses. The aviation hangar-with a length of three football
fields-will ultimately display some 200 aircraft. On opening day, 70
will be in place including 38 suspended at two levels and the
remainder at floor level. For visitors to experience the sensation of
soaring, elevated walkways in the aviation hangar will run parallel
to the two tiers of suspended airplanes. 

With the Laser 200-which he built-pilot Leo Loudenslager performed
innovative tumbling and twisting routines, winning an unprecedented
seven U.S. National Aerobatic Champion titles and the 1980 World
Champion title. 

The Udvar-Hazy (pronounced OOD-var HAH-zee) Center will eventually
house some 80 percent of the museum's aircraft and large space
artifacts, many stored away for decades. The museum's flagship
building on the National Mall displays about 10 percent of the
collection. 

Artifact deliveries for the center began March 17 and will continue
on an almost-daily basis leading up to the opening.

The first layer of roofing is nearly complete on the center's James
S. McDonnell Space Hangar, which will house America's first space
shuttle, Enterprise. The space hangar will be finished by opening day
with the Enterprise installed and visible, however the structure will
not be accessible to the public until 2004 while Enterprise undergoes
refurbishment. During the interim, some 50 large space artifacts will
be previewed in the aviation hangar. The space hangar will ultimately
house some 135 large space artifacts.

The National Air and Space Museum, comprised of the Udvar-Hazy Center
and the museum's building on the National Mall, will be the largest
air and space museum complex in the world. The Mall building is the
most popular museum in the world, attracting more than 9 million
visitors each year. Attendance at the Udvar-Hazy Center is projected
at 3 million people a year. 

The National Air and Space Museum, located at Sixth Street and
Independence Avenue S.W., is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. Admission is free.

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