Cherry Hill RV Resort, College Park, MD:  Off to I-Hop for breakfast this morning and then headed out on the Beltway to Dulles International Airport and the satellite Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  Again, no charge for the museum—just $15 to park.  Spent all afternoon in there.  Saw the Discovery shuttle and watched the IMAX movie, “Hubble.”  The Discovery shuttle flew several missions and the crew made repairs and improvements to this amazing telescope.  The movie was amazing.  We also saw the IMAX movie “Fighter Pilot” which was very good as well.  I bought a book from Col. Wolfgang W.E. Samuel, who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany at 16, didn’t speak English, and graduated from high school in Denver two years later.  Graduated from the U. of Colorado, spent 30 years in the Air Force, flew reconnaissance missions against the Soviet Union, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross three times and numerous Air Medals.  He wrote this book, “German Boy” about his life as a child during WWII.  Left at 5:00 to head back.  The temperature hovered between 97 and 100 on the drive back.  Took us over an hour, what with rush hour traffic.  The drive on the Beltway wasn’t bad though.  Actually, it’s kind of pretty—lush trees and all the noise abatement walls are covered with vines and other lush vegetation.

Smithsonian's satellite Air & Space Museum at Dulles Airport

SR-71A Blackbird
This plane still holds the world's air speed record.  They flew it to Washington from California in 1 hr. and 20 min.  The pilots actually wore space suits.

Space Shuttle Discovery

Space Shuttle Discovery

Gemini Space Capsule--Mike actually made all the titaniam plates for this capsule when he worked for McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis

Me and Wolfgang W. E. Samuel, the author of "German Boy"

Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay

Enola Gay