Seattle Flight Museums
 

My family (6 people = grandparents, parents, 10 year old & 16 year old) are vacationing in Seattle in July. We are confused on the flight museums. There is the "Future of Flight/Boeing Tour" and the "Museum of Flight". 3 of our family members love planes. Do we need to visit both places. Which is best?

Well I'd say both, but am a confessed aviation nut.

MoF (Seattle, next to Boeing Field) is IMO only second to the Smithsonian A&S for proper museums. The Personal Courage wing (WW1 and WW2 fighters and stories) is superb, and the outside static displays (Concorde, former Air Force 1, etc.) are also wonderful. Plus there are simulators and other things for the kids to "fly" and many other attractions for all ages. Also the MoF has one of the best museum gift shops there is, and an okay cafe in which to watch the comings and goings on the runway right outdoors.

The FoF/Boeing tour is another animal altogether. It's located in Everett, around half an hour's drive north of downtown Seattle. The main attraction is a tour of Boeing's widebody assembly plant, where 747s, 777s, and soon 787s are assembled for customers. It's the biggest building (by volume) in the world and gives a great (if Boeing-canted) overview of airplane manufacturing. The FoF exhibits themselves are more about flying in general than anything terribly historic.

If you had to choose just one, I guess I'd pick the MoF, because it's got more going for it. Less walking and stairs than the factory tour too, if that's an issue.

My son, like Gardyloo, is an "aviation nut", so we've also done both, and loved both. If you want to choose one, it should be the Museum of Flight---it is world class. When the Concorde arrived here, my husband became a member so he could go as often as he likes. I'm not sure, but this may be the only Concorde in the world that you can actually "visit".

Have to chime in with a vote to visit both also. As mentioned, they are totally different. And to express my biased, I think the FoF was more exciting for me. I loved being in the plant and watching them put together these mammoth 747s. The Museum of Flight offers more of historical perspective (former Airforce One and Concord, as mentioned), but the Future of Flight touches on the history but speaks more on where flight is headed.

Make reservations for the Boeing Tour. It includes a cinema presentation in the theater (the sounds system is amazing) and the tour. The walking is not tremendous, I think it's 1/4 mile total, in under factory floor tunnels to get to the viewing deck. Everything else is by bus/shuttle.

Also, the F of F has a viewing deck that overlooks Paine Field's runway. They test flight all of the planes that roll out 3 times, prior to actually turning them over. Which means you'll see take offs/landings several times a day. You are so close to the runway, it's an awesome experience.

Honestly, I wasn't a plane buff until I visited the Future of Flight and the Boeing Tour.

And no, I don't work for Boeing! :)

I also vote for both. I am not an aviation nut, but when we lived up there we visited both on numerous occassions, and never tired of them. You might want to check and see if anything special is going on at the Museum of Flight during your visit. One time we were there, Fred Haise from Apollo 13 was there. We heard him speak, and got to chat with him afterward. We were surprised that we were able to, but were obviously thrilled about it!

Bonnie Dunbar, 5-time shuttle astronaut, is the executive director of the MoF.

mms- did you talk to Mr Haise about your friend, the real "aviation nut" ( the astronaut ) ? LOL

Scarlett--LOL, no:) I figured our friend was too young for Mr. Haise to know. But he is scheduled for a launch in just a couple months!

Tbdove, if you're in the area in early July (5-9) you could also take in the fly-in in Arlington.
http://www.nweaa.org/

April had a great idea. We went to the fly-in twice over the years and it is really fun.

Just back from a visit to the Museum of Flight. We had been some years ago but didnt' really remember much. It was a very well done museum. We enjoyed the Boeing history section. the Personal Courage section was the best I have seen on WWI and WWII. Children were enjoying the simulators. The indoor static displays were OK, but the volunteers sharing their experiences were wonderful there. Also enjoyed walking through AirForce 1. We didn't view any of the films except some of the shorts near the displays. Ate a decent salad outdoors at the small snack bar.

You can also walk through 2 Concordes in Paris at their Air/Space museum, which we did recently. The Museum of Flight was lightyears better than the museum near Paris in all sections except early flight--the Paris museum has great old documents, photos, posters, models, etc. from ballooning through early planes.

We too are just back and we would like to return and spend more time at the Museum of Flight. Whoever put together the outstanding WWI and WWII section deserves an award. (My trip report is on the thread called "Arlington, Washington area - where to stay?".)