Washington DC vacation planespotting
Moderators: Barry Theodore, Steve Sondheimer
- Michael Blakely
- Screenshot Contest Winner x7
- Posts: 3781
- Joined: 07-21-2003 01:14 PM
- Position: CEO
- Rank: Commander
- Hub: KDCA
- Residence: San Diego (North County)
- AAV Total Hours: 3485.5
- Previous VA Hours: 0
- Current Bid: COMPLETED KJFK-KDFW
COMPLETED KDFW-KIAD
COMPLETED KIAD-KDFW
AAL2248 KDFW-KSFO
ASA915 KSFO-KSEA
ASA672 KSEA-KDEN
AAL2771 KDEN-KORD
AAL1918 KORD-KPHX
AAL1945 KPHX-KDFW
AAL2437 KDFW-KLAX - Contact:
Washington DC vacation planespotting
Just got back from a weeks vacation in Washington DC with my family. They were gracious enough to go wtih me to BOTH of the Smithsonian Air and Space museums. I've been to the main museum on the mall many times, but this was my first trip to the Stephen Udvar-Hazy center. One word: Fabulous! From the SR-71 to the space shuttle Discovery, to the Enola Gay, to the original Boeing Dash-80 (707) it was just one treat after another.
The Space Shuttle is HUGE! Much bigger than I ever expected it to be.
The Space Shuttle is HUGE! Much bigger than I ever expected it to be.
- Attachments
-
- dc6.jpg (558.91 KiB) Viewed 1648 times
-
- sr71.jpg (295.03 KiB) Viewed 1648 times
-
- discovery.jpg (660.38 KiB) Viewed 1648 times
Mike
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/ceo_757.jpg)
Bid Theme: Back in the USA
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/map.gif)
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/ceo_757.jpg)
Bid Theme: Back in the USA
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/map.gif)
- Michael Blakely
- Screenshot Contest Winner x7
- Posts: 3781
- Joined: 07-21-2003 01:14 PM
- Position: CEO
- Rank: Commander
- Hub: KDCA
- Residence: San Diego (North County)
- AAV Total Hours: 3485.5
- Previous VA Hours: 0
- Current Bid: COMPLETED KJFK-KDFW
COMPLETED KDFW-KIAD
COMPLETED KIAD-KDFW
AAL2248 KDFW-KSFO
ASA915 KSFO-KSEA
ASA672 KSEA-KDEN
AAL2771 KDEN-KORD
AAL1918 KORD-KPHX
AAL1945 KPHX-KDFW
AAL2437 KDFW-KLAX - Contact:
Re: Washington DC vacation planespotting
We ate a picnic lunch in the parking lot. Since it's right between the two runnways at Washington Dulles airport, and traffic was landing toward the North, we could watch the planes on approach.
After lunch, we went into the tower you can see behind us in the first lunch shot. It's 160 feet high and less than a mile from runway 01R, so the arriving aircraft were at eye level as you passed. The IAD-TWR controller's audio feed was playing over the speakers in the room.
After lunch, we went into the tower you can see behind us in the first lunch shot. It's 160 feet high and less than a mile from runway 01R, so the arriving aircraft were at eye level as you passed. The IAD-TWR controller's audio feed was playing over the speakers in the room.
- Attachments
-
- lunch.jpg (602.26 KiB) Viewed 1647 times
-
- lunch scenery.jpg (410.45 KiB) Viewed 1647 times
Mike
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/ceo_757.jpg)
Bid Theme: Back in the USA
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/map.gif)
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/ceo_757.jpg)
Bid Theme: Back in the USA
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/map.gif)
- Michael Blakely
- Screenshot Contest Winner x7
- Posts: 3781
- Joined: 07-21-2003 01:14 PM
- Position: CEO
- Rank: Commander
- Hub: KDCA
- Residence: San Diego (North County)
- AAV Total Hours: 3485.5
- Previous VA Hours: 0
- Current Bid: COMPLETED KJFK-KDFW
COMPLETED KDFW-KIAD
COMPLETED KIAD-KDFW
AAL2248 KDFW-KSFO
ASA915 KSFO-KSEA
ASA672 KSEA-KDEN
AAL2771 KDEN-KORD
AAL1918 KORD-KPHX
AAL1945 KPHX-KDFW
AAL2437 KDFW-KLAX - Contact:
Re: Washington DC vacation planespotting
I also saw my first up-close Concorde at the Udvar-Hazy center. The windows are teeny tiny. Maybe 1/4 the size of regular commercial jet windows.
Mike
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/ceo_757.jpg)
Bid Theme: Back in the USA
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/map.gif)
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/ceo_757.jpg)
Bid Theme: Back in the USA
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/map.gif)
- Norberto Rivera
- Screenshot Contest Winner x7
- Posts: 6355
- Joined: 10-10-2004 05:18 PM
- Position: CLT Commander Extraordinaire
- Rank: Commander
- Hub: RETIRED
- Residence: Sterling, VA
- AAV Total Hours: 2667.4
- Previous VA Hours: 0
- Current Bid: COMPLETED KPSP-KDFW
COMPLETED KDFW-KSHV
COMPLETED KSHV-KDFW
AAL2731 KDFW-KPSP
Re: Washington DC vacation planespotting
Awesome pictures Mike! I wish I had known you were here. Our new apartment is 5 minutes away from the museum.
Maybe next time!
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Norberto "Bert" Rivera
AAV476
"The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss"
"I'm not a real pilot, but I play one on VATSIM"
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you."
"Sarcasm is just one more service I offer"
Current bid theme: Random Airbus Bid
![Image](http://www.gcmap.com/map?P=KCLT-KRSW-KDCA-KIAH-KCLT-KDEN-KCLT-KRDU-KATL-KBOS-KCLT&MS=fb&MR=540&MX=540x540&PM=*)
![Image](http://www.vatsimsigs.co.uk:80/Status/Custom/648/910899.jpg)
Check out my aircraft pics on Flightaware.
AAV476
"The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss"
"I'm not a real pilot, but I play one on VATSIM"
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you."
"Sarcasm is just one more service I offer"
Current bid theme: Random Airbus Bid
![Image](http://www.vatsimsigs.co.uk:80/Status/Custom/648/910899.jpg)
Check out my aircraft pics on Flightaware.
- Theodore Martin
- Screenshot Contest Winner x10
- Posts: 2854
- Joined: 04-09-2005 08:51 AM
- Position: DFW Hub Manager
- Rank: Commander
- Hub: KDFW
- Residence: Dallas, TX
- AAV Total Hours: 3180.7
- Previous VA Hours: 0
- Current Bid: COMPLETED KDFW-MKJS
COMPLETED MKJS-KMIA
AAL1276 KMIA-KDFW
Re: Washington DC vacation planespotting
Love the pic of you and the SR-71
. Very nice shot.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Theodore "Ted" Martin
DFW Hub Mgr.
AAV537
![Image](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g8Jtq-Dkiq1TD_jDdc4t_vF7shHbVDYQ/view?usp=sharing)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/DUo2VS2.png)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/4PI8BJF.png)
![Image](https://my.vatsim.net/indicators/898312)
DFW Hub Mgr.
AAV537
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/DUo2VS2.png)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/4PI8BJF.png)
-
- Screenshot Contest Winner x1
- Posts: 1875
- Joined: 12-06-2002 07:01 PM
- Position: A Senior Pilot
- Rank: Commander
- Hub: KPHL
- Residence: Wilmington, DE
- AAV Total Hours: 2548.6
- Previous VA Hours: 0
- Current Bid: AAL1424 KDFW-KIAH
AAL2442 KIAH-KDFW
AAL1327 KDFW-KSAT
AAL2093 KSAT-KORD
AAL410 KORD-KAUS
AAL699 KAUS-KPHX
AAL1218 KPHX-KSAN
ASA1121 KSAN-KPDX
ASA1112 KPDX-KSNA
AAL976 KSNA-KJFK
Re: Washington DC vacation planespotting
I live about 1.5 to about 2 hours away as well....just saying...
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 220
- Joined: 05-19-2010 06:46 PM
- Position: KORD Hub Manager
- Rank: Commander
- Hub: RETIRED
- Residence: Florida
- AAV Total Hours: 3933.5
- Current Bid: Awaiting Bid
Re: Washington DC vacation planespotting
That's great. Me, my wife and son went down to see the SASM a few weeks back. I love the Airbus cockpit sim at the very front by the 747 display. My son is addicted to aircraft and much to my wife's dismay we watched all the approaching aircraft on the Mt Vernon visual for quite a while one afternoon while walking back from Arlington. She was not so enthused by we had a blast!
- Michael Blakely
- Screenshot Contest Winner x7
- Posts: 3781
- Joined: 07-21-2003 01:14 PM
- Position: CEO
- Rank: Commander
- Hub: KDCA
- Residence: San Diego (North County)
- AAV Total Hours: 3485.5
- Previous VA Hours: 0
- Current Bid: COMPLETED KJFK-KDFW
COMPLETED KDFW-KIAD
COMPLETED KIAD-KDFW
AAL2248 KDFW-KSFO
ASA915 KSFO-KSEA
ASA672 KSEA-KDEN
AAL2771 KDEN-KORD
AAL1918 KORD-KPHX
AAL1945 KPHX-KDFW
AAL2437 KDFW-KLAX - Contact:
Re: Washington DC vacation planespotting
My son and I took my wife over to the airbus cockpit mock-up/sim and told her we were going to build one in our game room. She said something like, "OK, but then I get the whole first floor for ....." I forget what she claimed it for. After the "OK" I started dreaming and tuned out. Sorry honeyMichael Natale wrote:That's great. Me, my wife and son went down to see the SASM a few weeks back. I love the Airbus cockpit sim at the very front by the 747 display. My son is addicted to aircraft and much to my wife's dismay we watched all the approaching aircraft on the Mt Vernon visual for quite a while one afternoon while walking back from Arlington. She was not so enthused by we had a blast!
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Mike
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/ceo_757.jpg)
Bid Theme: Back in the USA
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/map.gif)
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/ceo_757.jpg)
Bid Theme: Back in the USA
![Image](https://www.blakelyhome.com/aavirtual/map.gif)