Did they ever switch to a live ATC feed? When I was there three years back (actually exactly three years ago this weekend :eek:) the feed was a 15 minute loop and pretty boring. If you're without a car there is also a bus option from the Mall downtown, which is what we used. It is a pity that you can't go in the Concorde, but I would guess that the wear on it would render it no longer tour worthy pretty quickly.

The 707 is actually labeled a 367-80 on the map, which is interesting to me. They also have a bunch of little stunt planes and gliders and such on display. Plus a Pan Am Clipper (Boeing 307 Stratoliner), an SR-71A Blackbird, the first FedEx delivery plane and the Enola Gay (B-29 SuperFortress). Definitely fun for plane lovers, and my wife actually enjoyed it, too.

I realized this morning that I never did anything with the pictures I took, so I finally got around to uploading them to my site. Have a peek if you're interested... http://gallery.millerworks.net/keyword/udvarhazy

We were able to get into a Concorde in Toulouse last year. I think that can be made part of the Airbus Factory Tour.

I have home videos taken inside a Concorde, from when my mother did a JFK-BDA-JFK with some friends. The crew was really easygoing because it was an industry crowd, and one of my mother's friends stood behind the FA and shadowed her movements during the safety lecture. I never had a chance to join my mother on any of the 4 Concorde trips she took, but I did get her a quite nice Concorde coffee-table book this past Christmas....maybe ssullivan can pick that up for the new ATL coffee table. (I only browsed thru the text, but I don't recall a discussion of lav size. :p)

367-80 was Boeing's internal project designation. "707" came later, and that -80 airframe in the museum was a testbed for the KC-135 and the 727, among others. The airplane got taken apart somewhat so as to be plumbed with fuel tanks and lines when researching the feasibility of the -135, and when Boeing wanted to know how a tail-mounted engine would hypothetically behave on their 727, they attached a fifth engine to a rear section of the -80. The Smithsonian calls the 367-80 "one of the twelve most significant aircraft in history".

LINK

Partial synopsis from Barnes & Noble.com: Photos of the iconic plane's exteriors, engineering, specs, interiors, details - even an oversized photo of the place setting served in first class - are reproduced on the highest quality paper to pay tribute to the plane synonymous with speed, luxury, and style. A must-have collectible edition for anyone who flew on the Concorde or for any serious civil aviation enthusiast's library.

I agree with others that the Udvar-Hazy Center is well worth the visit. I enjoyed much more than the main building on the Mall. If anyone is interested in additional photos of the center.

Neat! Thanks for sharing. ^

Has anyone ever been to the Farnborough Airshow? Thoughts? Worth the trip? Pictures to share? I've been thinking about checking it out sometime in the next few years...

Thanks for the suggestion! We can use more airplane geek crap, to help balance out the boyfriend's car geek crap. :)

As for the Concorde lav, I have seen one. Boeing's Museum of Flight in Seattle has a Concorde on display and open for walk-throughs. I toured it in 2005, and must say that the interior dimensions of the plane rank someplace between the CRJ and EMB-170. It's about the size of a DHC-8 inside. Maybe a little wider, but the ceiling is certainly no higher. And the lav? Tiny. But not CRJ-900 first class lav tiny.

The dimensions of the 367-80 are somewhat different from those of the production 707 too. The 707 is a little wider, and the wings are a little different.

Arg, CarpGirl is sitting at her computer working and what do I hear playing? Rhapsody in Blue.

We can send someone over to throw a can of Coca Cola at you and tell you that if you want a snack you have to pay for it (but only on flights over 3 hours) and lay down some dirty brown carpet around your feet if you want. Then it would be just like UA. Or we could also do the budget version of the experience: a cup of Coca Cola instead of a can, and no snack box. It's called "Ted."

You're very welcome - I would highly suggest picking it up. There's even photos from the time when Concorde carried sponsored paint jobs.

And re 367-80: there are numerous little tweaks and things that are different from a production 707, and I think even the engine type was a little bit different, but I can't remember.

In true aerogeek news, I was playing golf at Seaview Marriott the other day when I heard a radial engine off in the distance. I came to the 2nd green, which has a view of the north end of Atlantic City...this area is also around the approach for Rwy 13 @ ACY. I could be wrong, but I doubt that I am, when I say that I saw a B-29 flying into ACY. Wikipedia says that there's only one that's airwrothy and it's currently grounded for lack of engine parts, but there was no mistaking that big vertical stabilizer and that sound.

It could have been the CAF B-29 http://www.commemorativeairforce.org.../acdisplay.php or perhaps the EAA B-17G http://www.eaa.org/b17/ both are flying and doing the airshow circuit this time of year.

I think we're talking about one and the same aircraft, because the CAF bird's name is "Fifi", as is the supposedly grounded one on Wikipedia. More reason to trust but verify. It would certainly be nice if the CAF was there scouting for the ACY Airshow over the Boardwalk in August. I wouldn't mind seeing a B-29 buzz the beach. Which reminds me, I really should make a gallery of my airshow photos.

Udvar-Hazy Center
 

I was there almost 2 years ago. There was live ATC in the tower. It is definitely worth the trip. Then again, it was only a 2 1/2 hour drive down from PHL. Plus, we stayed in nearby DC (parking is free on city streets on the weekend) and drove over, just to visit that museum. I was thoroughly impressed! ^

Funny that you should make that comparison today. Just about an hour after that post, I walked up to the FC lav on a CR-9 and actually was able to use it (after much consideration of logistics) :rolleyes:. When I returned to my seat (1C) and turned to sit down, I cracked my skull on the overhead and was rewarded with a headache for the rest of the trip to CVG. :(:o

By the way, Wednesday night is still going to be a few beers for some of the Box denizens at George Keeleys on Amsterdam and 83rd in Manhattan. I think that shell nyc arranged for a table at 8.