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Outside of the Museum of Flying, Seattle WA.

Outside of the Museum of Flying, Seattle WA.

A Must See Museum at the Home of Boeing

Located at Boeing Field (King County International Airport) in Seattle, WA., The Museum of Flight is a complete flight and space interactive experience. You will find an array of historical aircrafts on display,  watch as planes fly in and take off and visit the “Tower at Boeing Field” to hear the air traffic controllers in real-time. This non-profit operation has been around since 1965 and, thanks to grants and donations, has amassed an array of popular, rare and unique aircrafts.

The Museum is made up of six galleries and exhibition spaces and is growing. Be sure to plan for plenty of time to take in all of the offerings. Go fly in the 4D-X simulator, take a docent tour or choose an audio guide as you make your way around the Museum. Grab a bite at the the Wings Cafe and pick up some memorabilia at the Museum Store.

1. William E. Boeing Red Barn:
Although the Red Barn was moved from its original location, its presence recounts the fascinating Boeing story of how its founder resigned back in 1932 due to an antitrust ruling. You’ll also be able to explore the birth of aviation with the Wright brothers exhibit and see some of the first airplanes in various stages of construction.


2. T.A.Wilson Great Gallery:
Walk through the great gallery and gaze at static displays, on the ground and suspended in mid-air, of fabulous aircrafts through the times. From an early “air mail” aircraft via a GeeBee racer, to the penta-supersonic M-21 Blackbird and many more, travel through time with the pioneers of flight.

3. Bill and Moya Lear Gallery:
See how early Russian astronauts flew in the Vostok capsule and climb aboard the research lab of the Space Station to pilot a lunar module.

4. J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing:
You could spend an entire day alone visiting this two-story wing; World War II aircrafts and exhibits on the first floor and older counterparts of World War I upstairs, including the unique Caproni Ca.20 dubbed the world’s first fighter aircraft. With its ultra-modern looks and 110 horsepower engine, it’s hard to imagine that Giovanni Battista Caproni built it back in 1914. You will also find a gorgeous North American P51D Mustang with a round of machine-gun belt ammunition showing on the wing, which will clue you in on the origin of the expression, “the whole nine yards.”

5. Charles Simonyi Space Gallery:
Board the life-sized replica of the Space Shuttle and see how the seven astronauts lived on their missions. Take a peek inside the Russian Soyuz space capsule which carried space tourist and Microsoft Office Suite creator Charles Simonyi back to earth.

6. Airpark:
Since the meteorological conditions of Seattle are not the best for parking aircraft outdoors, The Museum of Flight hopes someday to have these history-making aircrafts covered. For now, you may walk within the first Boeing 747 ever built, and observe the Air Force One (Boeing 707) that served presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon, the early airliner Lockheed Constellation, the successful Boeing 727, the first Boeing 737 and the magnificent supersonic transport Concorde.

The main entrance is actually on the field where large bomber aircrafts are there to greet you. To reach the Space Gallery and Airpark, y
ou’ll need to cross the T. Evans Wyckoff Memorial Bridge, a process that will immerse you in the stories and sounds of aviation. Be sure to report to The Museum of Flight to experience in person how aviation has made our world what it is today.

For more information visit The Museum of Flight Official Website
Going to Seattle?


Related Articles:
Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kitty Hawk Photo Gallery
Evergreen Aviation Space Museum Photo Gallery
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Tuskegee Airmen at Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Palm Springs Air Museum Photo Gallery


You can click on each photo to enlarge.



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