Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour
Encyclopedia
Aviation museum
An aviation museum, air museum or aerospace museum is a museum exhibiting the history and artifacts of aviation. In addition to actual or replica aircraft, exhibits can include photographs, maps, models, dioramas, clothing and equipment used by aviators.Aviation museums vary in size from housing...
and education center located at the northwest corner of Paine Field
Paine Field
Paine Field, also known as Snohomish County Airport is a public airport located in unincorporated Snohomish County, between Mukilteo and Everett, Washington...
in Mukilteo, Washington
Mukilteo, Washington
Mukilteo , which means "good camping ground", is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 20,254 at the 2010 census. It is on the shore of the Puget Sound, and is the site of a Washington State Ferries terminal linking it to Clinton, on Whidbey Island.Mukilteo is...
. It is the starting point for the Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
Tour, a tour of a portion of Boeing's Everett
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, Washington production facility
Boeing Everett Factory
The Boeing Everett Factory, in Everett, Washington, is an airplane assembly building owned by Boeing. Located on the northeast corner of Paine Field, it is the largest building in the world by volume at 13,385,378 m3 and covers 399,480 m2...
in which the models 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
, 767
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
, 777
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
and 787
Boeing 787
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It seats 210 to 290 passengers, depending on the variant. Boeing states that it is the company's most fuel-efficient airliner and the world's first major airliner to use...
are built. It is also home of the Future of Flight Foundation, a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that owns the museum's collection
Collection (museum)
A museum is distinguished by a collection of often unique objects that forms the core of its activities for exhibitions, education, research, etc. This differentiates it from an archive or library, where the contents may be more paper-based, replaceable and less exhibition oriented...
and engages in worldwide education outreach
Education outreach
Education outreach is a variation of Cause Marketing and/or Strategic Philanthropy and other focused Public Affairs activities that are specific to education...
.
The museum includes a 28000 square feet (2,601.3 m²) gallery containing static and interactive exhibits and displays as well as a 240-seat theater, café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
and shops
Retailing
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
.
Origins
The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour is the result of a partnership between The Boeing Company, Future of Flight Foundation, Snohomish County Public Facilities District and Snohomish County Airport. The $23-million dollar project debuted in December 2005 with the opening of the museum. The Future of Flight Foundation is a 501-3(c) nonprofit organization. The Foundation operates the Center and owns the Center's collection. The Foundation's mission is "to educate, entertain and engage our global community to inspire innovation."Exhibits
Exhibits at the Future of Flight Aviation Center include:- A comparison between the Boeing 707 fuselage and the Boeing 787 fuselage.
- Videos, presentations, and mock-ups illustrating the history of the passeneger experience in Boeing aircraft from the 707 to the 787.
- A genuine 727 cockpit in which visitors can sit and operate switches and controls.
- Various full-size airplanes suspended from the exhibit area ceiling.
- Displays of jet aircraft components, including engines, landing gear, and sections of tail and fuselage from several manufacturers.
- An X-15 flight simulator (additional charge).
- A learning area covering the inner workings of aircraft.
- Videos and information about flight decks in a variety of Boeing aircraft.
- Displays and videos on the history of jet airplanes and the airlines that have used them.
- An area for visitors to design and print their own airplane image.
- A children's play area.
- A rooftop observation deck, with views of the Boeing factory, Paine Field, and parked aircraft outside.
Boeing Tour
The BoeingBoeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
Tour covers the Boeing Everett Factory
Boeing Everett Factory
The Boeing Everett Factory, in Everett, Washington, is an airplane assembly building owned by Boeing. Located on the northeast corner of Paine Field, it is the largest building in the world by volume at 13,385,378 m3 and covers 399,480 m2...
, where guests can view airplanes in all stages of construction and testing. The factory is the location for production of the Boeing 747, 767, 777, and 787. The tour also includes the main assembly building, which holds the record in Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for the largest building in the world by volume. It is 472 million cu. ft (13.3 million m³) and covers 98.3 acres (398,000 m²).
The former Boeing Tour Center was located next to the factory and now is abandoned, after closing in December 2005 when the Future of Flight Aviation Center opened.
Retail Outlets
The Boeing StoreBoeing Store
The Boeing Store is a chain of stores that sells Boeing merchandise. It is based in Seattle, Washington and is owned and operated by the Boeing Company. There are 18 stores across the United States.- Locations :...
is located at the front of the tour. It is a store that features items that relate to the Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
Company. There is a separate Future of Flight store next to it, selling many more traditional Pacific Northwest gift shop items, including foodstuffs. The center also includes a small cafeteria across the lobby.