W A S H I N G T O N   D . C .   -   D A Y   # 3

Thursday, October 28, 2004

Today will mark my third full day of touring the Capitol. Being a pilot, I'm feeling rather excited right now. Why? Because I have plans to visit the world famous Smithonian's National Air and Space Museum. The museum is a mecca for not only pilots, it's also a destination for anyone else who's interested in activities that fight gravity and do not require support from terra firma. If I have time afterwards, I'll try to squeeze in a tour of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

A carbon copy from yesterday, my route to the train station, College Park - University of MD Station, is short and sweet.

This is getting to be a regular routine, my trek into the Capitol. I'm starting to feel like I actually live here. Well, I suppose I actually do live here, albeit temporarily and in a home on 4 wheels.

Popping out of the subway station, I soon pass by Federal Aviation Administration. Established in 1958, according to their website, the FAA's mission is to:

• Regulating civil aviation to promote safety
• Encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology
• Developing and operating a system of air traffic control and navigation for both civil and military aircraft
• Researching and developing the National Airspace System and civil aeronautics
• Ensuring toy balsa wood airplanes actually fly, the rubberbands don't snap, and the wings don't break off during extreme maneuvers
• Developing and carrying out programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil aviation
• Regulating U.S. commercial space transportation

The National Air and Space Museum is just up yonder to the right. It's my understanding that the Spirit of St. Louis, the plane Charles Lindberg flew solo across the Atlantic Ocean so many years ago, hangs from the ceiling in the front entrance. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.