End of an Era

Today, they loaded the space shuttle Discovery onto a 747 and flew it from Kennedy Space Center, around the nation's capital, and landed at Dulles International Airport, where it will soon be on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly VA.

The aircraft flew over my office building, which is directly under the Dulles flight path, three times this morning. The first was a bit unexpected because they were ahead of schedule. We all gathered outside waiting for the second flyover, and the third was their landing maneuver.

It was an awesome sight! I'm really glad I got to witness Discovery in the air, even if not under her own power. This video was shot on my iPod from the top of our tiny office parking garage. It's a little shaky at the beginning.





There are some neat things already at the Udvar-Hazy Center: the Enterprise, the Enola Gay, an SR71 Blackbird. If you ever get a chance to go, it is well worth it. Pack a car full of people because parking is $15 but there is no admission fee to get in the center.

I wonder if they'll remove the Enterprise and put Discovery in her place.