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The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum began the delicate work of hanging historic aircraft today at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, its new companion facility at Washington Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia. The center opens to the public Dec. 15.

The Loudenslager Stephens Akro Laser 200 was lifted by crane and hung by cable from one of the aviation hangar's 10-story-high arched trusses. The aviation hangar - with a length of three football fields - will ultimately display some 200 aircraft. On opening day, 70 will be in place including 38 suspended at two levels and the remainder at floor level. For visitors to experience the sensation of soaring, elevated walkways in the aviation hangar will run parallel to the two tiers of suspended airplanes.

With the Laser 200 - which he built - pilot Leo Loudenslager performed innovative tumbling and twisting routines, winning an unprecedented seven U.S. National Aerobatic Champion titles and the 1980 World Champion title.

The Udvar-Hazy (pronounced OOD-var HAH-zee) Center will eventually house some 80 percent of the museum's aircraft and large space artifacts, many stored away for decades. The museum's flagship building on the National Mall displays about 10 percent of the collection.

Artifact deliveries for the center began March 17 and will continue on an almost-daily basis leading up to the opening.

The first layer of roofing is nearly complete on the center's James S. McDonnell Space Hangar, which will house America's first space shuttle, Enterprise. The space hangar will be finished by opening day with the Enterprise installed and visible, however the structure will not be accessible to the public until 2004 while Enterprise undergoes refurbishment. During the interim, some 50 large space artifacts will be previewed in the aviation hangar. The space hangar will ultimately house some 135 large space artifacts.

The National Air and Space Museum, comprised of the Udvar-Hazy Center and the museum's building on the National Mall, will be the largest air and space museum complex in the world. The Mall building is the most popular museum in the world, attracting more than 9 million visitors each year. Attendance at the Udvar-Hazy Center is projected at 3 million people a year.

 Hanging of aircraft continues at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, May, 2003. Pictured aircraft include: Grumman G-22, Schweizer 2-22 EK, Bucker Bu-133C Jungmeister, DeHavilland-Canada DHC-1A Chipmunk, Monocoupe 110 Special, Arrow Sport A2-60, Loudenslager Laser 200.