Media Inquiries Public Inquiries 202-633-1000 On October 25, 2000, ground was officially broken for the new Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport. The ceremony started with a fly-by of four F/A-18A's flown by pilots of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 321 (VMFA-321), known as the "Hell's Angels," a Marine Air Reserve unit located at the Naval Air Facility on Andrews AFB, MD. As the jets flew over, they closed their formation, symbolizing how supporters will close the gap between the money already received and that needed to complete construction.

John R. Dailey, Director of the National Air and Space Museum, explained the importance of the Center to the preservation of aviation and space history and the education of our youth. Joining him were: Lawrence M. Small, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; Chief Justice of the United States William H. Rehnquist, Chancellor of the Smithsonian; The Honorable John R. Hager, Lieutenant Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia; Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, for whom the Center was named in appreciation of his $60 million donation.