SBA, Day 7 - Better than Howard Wolowitz [And there's Sandy, Andy, and Pablo too!]

I've owned 41 airplanes. A few of them would talk with me. This little seaplane, though, we've had long conversations in flight. There's a spirit in anything, I think, into which we weave our soul. Not many pilots talk about it, but they think about it in the quiet dark of a night flight. Richard Bach
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/richardbac655328.html?src=t_flight

The human bird shall take his first flight, filling the world with amazement, all writings with his fame, and bringing eternal glory to the nest whence he sprang. Leonardo da Vinci
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/flight.html

I've owned 41 airplanes. A few of them would talk with me. This little seaplane, though, we've had long conversations in flight. There's a spirit in anything, I think, into which we weave our soul. Not many pilots talk about it, but they think about it in the quiet dark of a night flight. Richard Bach
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/richardbac655328.html?src=t_flig

I've owned 41 airplanes. 

A few of them would talk with me. 

This little seaplane, though, we've had long conversations in flight. 

There's a spirit in anything, I think, into which we weave our soul. 

Not many pilots talk about it, but they think about it in the quiet dark of a night flight.  

~Richard Bach

OK. Flying isn't my thing. I consider it unnatural, but a necessity. And there is history in those planes, you know. So, we skipped the Air and Space Museum on the Mall (Wright Brothers plane, some of the space stuff) to head to Virginia and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy* Center of the National Air and Space Museum. Why? Space Shuttle.

It was a simple as that for me.

To save time, we rented a car for the day (we would use it to escape to the airport as well) and drove down River Road to a couple of tollways and then to the museum.

The drive was actually prettier than this, but I was operating the GPS so its the only one I took.

Beautiful blooms in the parking lot.

Udvar-Hazy Center:

We decided a tour would probably be smart so we waited about 10 minutes until the next docent/guide gathered us for the tour. Roger C. Thompson was our guide. As he showed us the "high points" of the exhibit he shared the training docents go through (he was one of the first for this center). It was clear from his comments on the tour that he loves aviation and that he worked in the field. He would become very detailed and specific in explanations and then apologize, "Sorry, I am an engineer and we can be nerdy." Well, he was too humble. He is a PhD aerospace engineer and expert in space debris (and space debris impact/collision). Roger takes his vacation days to give tours at the center. What a treat - he was extraordinary!

An attempt at a panorama photo. That's the Blackbird, stealth recognizance aircraft. It was pretty cool.

Checking in at the tour desk.

We got SO LUCKY. Our docent was Roger Thompson**

Space shuttle tiles showing re-entry burn marks (and some replacement tiles).

Shuttle windows.

OK. I know I am supposed to know more about what all these planes/gliders are, but I don't. I am just sharing photos.

But I do know the Enola Gay - dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. Dr. Thompson shared the story of those bombing runs.

If you are so inclined, go early. Plan to spend the day. Do wear comfortable shoes. Plan to eat at McDonalds (the only concessionaire when we were there) or bring your lunch. TAKE THE TOUR first. And be amazed.


Chevy Chase Pavilion:

We stopped off at the hotel, parked the car and headed back to the Metro. I spied this poster for a restaurant in the mall where we stayed. This is one of the chefs from the tv shows Top Chef and Top Chef Masters. He was runner-up both times. We did not eat there, but I might have had I seen this poster earlier.

Anyway, I digress.

Once more on the Metro:

I had showed JRF that there are always Metro maps posted. It is hard to get lost once you figure out the way they work.

We were on the RED line.

DH was tired from the drive and excitement at the museum. We took a photo with the sleepy one.

We made it to the Smithsonian American Art Museum (with includes the National Portrait Gallery and more. There is an exhibit of presidential portraits and those of others - scientists, writers, artists, and such. There was also a portrait competition - the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition to be precise. Judging was complete except for viewers' choice. [Of course I voted. JRF and I agreed on the one we loved the best, but it was a close decision. See the exhibition below*** See if you can guess our "top three."]

Roy Lichtenstein's "Modern Head" is on display at the corner of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. JRF knew it was Lichtenstein. I am not always a Lichtenstein fan, but I love this work.

In the National Portrait Gallery we found  this terra-cotta sculpture of Gertrude Stein by Jo Davidson, 1922-23.

How often can you get "nose to nose" with a work by Alexander (Sandy) Calder?

Here's another view. See description below.

Once again I was reminded that I need to learn to weld.

Work by Louise Bourgeois

One of Christo's early "wrapped" works

Drawing/plans for part of "Running Fence" by Christo

The museum had a number of works by Nam June Paik

Another Calder stabile. Of course, had there been a breeze the top part would have rotated. I was in love. Then the guard shouted, "no photos." There weren't any signs.****

The building itself is gaudy and gorgeous. This is looking down the stairwell from the third floor.

A stained glass window in the stairwell.

More architectural details and stained glass in the stairwell.

The ceiling at the top of the stairwell.

Another Calder! This one was on the opposite side of the museum from the Lichtenstein.

I took views of three sides as Calder's works are so multidimensional.

This view is somewhat from below. We saw four or five works by Calder on this trip.

There were also works by Picasso (including some of his ceramics), Warhol, Hopper, and so many more. It was a rich and varied experience. We were glad JRF chose this as our last museum visit for the trip.

Chinatown:

Where there is a Chinatown you must go. And you must eat Chinese food.

Gate to Chinatown (there was construction all over the city, including here)

Our restaurant.

Wonton

Dumpling

You will have to imagine the rest. We were hungry and it disappeared fast!

<Sigh> Then we went back to the hotel to pack. We had one more adventure planned before the airport.

NOTES:

*Yeah, that's a mouthful. Mr. Udvar-Hazy is one of those immigrant success stories. And he's given back to America by funding this museum. Read more about him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_F._Udvar-H%C3%A1zy

** http://www.aerospace.org/wp-content/uploads/crosslink/Crosslink_Fall_2015.pdf [Go to page 4]
His biography for the article reads:  Roger C. Thompson, Senior Engineering Specialist, Mission Analysis and Operations Department, joined Aerospace in 1996. He works on a broad spectrum of space situational awareness projects, collision avoidance, orbital maneuvers, and analysis of satellite architectures. He has a B.S. in engineering science and mechanics from North Carolina State University, and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

***http://portraitcompetition.si.edu/ [Post your guess for our "top three." in the comments section.]

****This is an educational blog. No one makes any money on it. I suppose if I get any complaints I will remove the photos I am not supposed to have taken. SAAM allows photos in some galleries and not in others. The Smithsonian allows photos in some museums and not others. We tried to be compliant and look for signs. :-/