Air & Space Museum

So then we went over to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. When we entered the first thing I did was ask someone where the gift shop was. Julie didn't know why I wanted to go to the gift shop, but I had heard of a display they had there.  As I walked past the (rather cool) Star Wars merchandise in the gift shop, she was wondering, 'where is he going?' Then we saw it!...

Yes! This is the model of the U.S.S. Enterprise they used
in filming the original Star Trek series. If you're watching
the original Star Trek (untouched FX), then this is the model
you're seeing.

It is a very large model because they didn't have as good of
cameras then to be able to photograph smaller models and
still have them look huge.

I wanted to get several very close up shots since you don't
normally get a chance to see that much detail.

Note the 4-digit numbers near the back (left) and just under
the pilon (upper right). Interesting.

Note the small tabs and screws holding the bulb of the
Bussard collectors on. Even though this was likely just a
model anomaly, modern CG artists still include those in
their reproductions.

I got this angle specifically because it was a common
angle shot in the show.

Had to hold my camera as far over my head as I could to
get an overhead shot.

I had read of this and knew to expect it. The left (port) side
of the ship has no windows or details! It was never
completed because it was cheaper to just film the other
side and flip the film is a left-side shot was essential.

Ok, now on to the real things at the Air & Space Museum lol...

The Spirit of St. Louis, next to Space Ship One (the first
privately funded vehicle to take humans into space).

A replica of Skylab which we went inside of (the original
was allowed to burn up in the atmosphere when its mission
was complete).

Although several replicas have been made, this is the
actual plane the Wright Brothers originally flew for the first time.

We got to see two neat shows about the universe while there in the Einstein planetarium.

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