Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:24:37 -0500
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
From: Judith Newton <jnewton at ashcomp.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Air & Space trip report ...?
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

At 09:38 AM 1/12/2009, you wrote:
>So, how was the trip to Dulles?  Adventures? Did all survive?
>
>mjw

The trip to Dulles was lots of fun.  We Marylanders met at Erica's (Barry
and Judy Newton, Sam L. and Cathy Green) loaded ourselves into Erica's
Volvo and proceeded into the wilds of Virginia.  Brian Lewis met us in the=

lobby of the museum.

It is one huge hanger, stuffed with man-made things that fly.  We were in
time for a docent-led tour, so we took advantage.  We had a choice of three=

docents: the "airplane guy," the "military guy," and the "space
guy."  Guess which one we picked??

Turned out he worked for a space contractor.  He had a lot of additional
interesting information, both in stories and a folder full of
pictures.  Highlights: the space shuttle Enterprise (he had a pic of all
the Star Trek crew who turned up for the dedication) and the Concorde.  We=

peppered him with questions, only some of which he could answer.  Turns
out, though, he is interested in WSFA, so we gave him a card.  He may turn=

up a meeting.

In the interest of time and convenience, we had lunch at the "McCafe" =96
yes, McDonald's is the food concession.  Nothing you wouldn't find in any
other MickyD's, but the wall of windows was nice.  We finished up with a
trip to the observatory on the 7th floor.  Nice view of the Virginia
countryside, and if we squinted we could just make out Sugarloaf.

Souvenir highlight for me? Pressed penny machines! A total of 4 machines
with 4 different designs in each one, but I settled for 2 pennies and a
penny folder to keep them in =96 which I was delighted with, as the folders=

are hard to find.  The penny machines cost $1.00 for each penny (PLUS the
penny); twice as pricey as any other I have ever seen in the U.S.  I also
sprang for a float pen with the "blackbird" spy plane in it and a magnet
with the Enterprise.

All told, a lovely trip.  Thanks, Erica, for driving!

Judy Newton