A Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter Is Now at the Smithsonian In Washington D.C.

Now the magic of Star Wars isn’t just limited to Galaxy’s Edge.  The nations museum – The Smithsonian in Washington DC has a very new arrival that has us pretty darn happy  

The Undvar-Hazy Center which is a Smithsonian Hangar located in Chantilly, Virginia has recently reopened and now features a X-Wing Starfighter. 

For those unfamiliar, this fiction spacecraft pays a pivotal role in the Star Wars films.  Fans can now watch as the X-Wing undergoes conservation work at the Restoration Hangar.  It looks perfectly in place amongst a World War II aircraft and other historic airplanes and spacecraft! 

Once restoration is complete, the space craft will be on display outside of the Albert Einstein Planetarium at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.  

(Richard Harbaugh/Disney Parks)

Margaret Weitekamp space history chair at the museum had this to say about their awesome acquisition: “We are thrilled to have an X-Wing on exhibit.” She continued,  .“It is a real screen-used vehicle from the 2019 film Rise of Skywalker. This display speaks to that crossover connection between people who are excited about space flight and have been inspired by the visions Star Wars has been putting out since 1977.”

For those wanting to see the spacecraft in the film, check out this clip below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXHUFxsv_kI

The movie prop has an impressive wingspan of 37 feet.  It is currently being cleaned and minor repair are being made.  The prop comes directly from Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic. 

According to a recent release by the Smithsonian, the model had to be shipped in piece and then be reeassembled in Virginia hangar.  The hope is that once the work is carried out the Starfighter will have pride of place suspended from the ceiling at the National Air and Space Museum. 

Weitekamps said the restoration work ahead is challenges as crews need to distinguish between the battle-worn scars of the X-Wing as made for the film and any bumps and scratches that happened in transit. 

This is not the first time that Star Wars memorabilia has been on Display at the Washington Museum.  Back in 1997, there was an exhibition titled Star Wars: The Magic of Myth that featured props and costumes from the films.