1. I N T E R N AT I O N A L A S S O C I AT I O N O F M U S E U M FA C I L I T Y A D M I N I S T R AT O R S
VOLUME 3
NUMBER 2 PAPYRUS SPRING
2002
The National Air and Space Museum Goes to Dulles
with its Second Facility
by Lin Ezell
Even as the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space floor. Some key aircraft destined for Dulles include an
Museum (NASM) staff were moving aircraft and spacecraft SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft; the Boeing B-29 Enola Gay,
into the facility on the Mall in Washington, D.C. for its 1976 which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima; the proto-
opening, they recognized that this grand three-block-long type Boeing 707 airliner; a B-17; a B-25; an F-4 and a C-130
facility would not be large enough. For more than two which saw service in Vietnam; aerobatic aircraft; business
decades, the Museum has been dreaming of a second facility, jets, and general aviation classics. The space hangar was
with access to a runway. This dream is now coming true, designed to preserve the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the first
with the construction of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at orbiter off the assembly line.
Washington Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. Aircraft restoration will be performed in full view of the
Designed by Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK), the public. Visitors will be able to keep track of airport arrivals
Center will provide 760,000 square feet of environmentally- and departures from an observation tower, and they can
controlled space in which the Museum can protect some watch the latest large-format films at the IMAX® theatre.
80 per cent of the National Collection, which is not routinely Researchers and modelers will use the archives as they
enjoyed by the public. More than 200 aircraft and more than search blueprints, technical records, and photo collections.
100 spacecraft, as well as thousands of smaller artifacts, will Classrooms will provide educators and students with formal
be on display. The complex includes a huge aviation hangar, learning opportunities.
nearly 1,000 feet long, 250 feet wide, and more than 100 feet Congress approved the design of this project in 1993,
tall. Its arched roof will provide height enough to hang along with $8 million for design. Three years later, law-
aircraft at two levels, in addition to those on the concrete makers told the Institution that they could proceed with
continued on page 2
INSIDE
Letter from the President . . 5
Regional Chapters . . . . . . 6
Security Challenges . . . . . 8
Preserving the Australian
War Memorial . . . . . . . . 10
New Members . . . . . . . . 12
Developing Your
Evacuation Plan . . . . . . . 14
From the Editor’s Desk . . . 18
Large aircraft, like the Enola Gay B-29 bomber (right foreground), will fit easily in the
aviation hangar, where some 200 aircraft will be displayed.