Museum of Flight

Right next door to Boeing Field, at an active airport 15 minutes south of downtown Seattle, this museum will have aviation buffs walking on air. Housed inside the six-story glass-and-steel repository are some of history's most famous planes.

The collection of planes starts with a replica of the Wright brothers' 1903 plane and continues through to the present state of flight. Suspended in the Great Hall are more than 20 planes, including a 1935 DC-3, the first Air Force F-5 supersonic fighter, and the Gossamer Albatross, a human-powered airplane. The Personal Courage Wing houses 28 World War I and World War II fighter planes. You'll also see one of the famous Blackbird spy planes, which at one time were the world's fastest jets (you can even sit in the cockpit of one of these babies), as well as a rare World War II Corsair fighter that was rescued from Lake Washington and restored to its original glory. Visitors also get to board a retired British Airways Concorde supersonic airliner. An exhibit on the U.S. space program features an Apollo command module. Of course, you'll also see plenty of Boeing planes, including a reproduction of Boeing's first plane, which was built in 1916. The museum also incorporates part of Boeing's old wooden factory building, a remnant from the company's earliest years.

While any air-and-space museum lets you look at mothballed planes, not many have their own air-traffic control tower and let you watch aircraft taking off and landing at an active airfield. You can even take to the air here during the summer, when biplane rides are usually offered from in front of the museum.

The Museum of Flight Restoration Center, 2909 100th St. SW, Everett (tel. 425/745-5150) is 30 minutes north of Seattle at Paine Field. Here you'll see planes in various stages of restoration. The center is open Tuesday through Thursday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Call for directions. Paine Field is also where you'll find the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour . Together, these two make a fascinating half-day outing.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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