Awesome Airplane Museum

[DavidTaylor]

It was raining here in Seattle today (go figure) so my brother and I went to the Museum of Flight. We figured we would blow a couple of hours there then go do other stuff. Well, 6.5 hours later we closed the place down; it is unbelievable! They have a huge number of planes on display, an SR-71 and F-14 cockpit you can get in, flight simulators, and it's attached to the original Boeing "Red Barn" where the company began. The presentation of the planes is great, and what's really cool is they give you a lot of information on the people who drove, innovated, and changed aviation over the years, not just the technical specs on the various things there. They also have one of the original Air Force One planes that Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Nixon used, as well as the last Concorde that flew, and you can get inside and tour them both. If you have even a passing interest in aircraft it's well worth a visit.

Here's a picture of my favorite plane on display there.

[meese]

Great pic.

On your way back south, don't forget the Evergreen Aviation Museum (http://www.sprucegoose.org/) in McMinnville, OR. They have the Spruce Goose there, as well as many other neat planes and attractions.

[DavidTaylor]

Great pic.

On your way back south, don't forget the Evergreen Aviation Museum (http://www.sprucegoose.org/) in McMinnville, OR. They have the Spruce Goose there, as well as many other neat planes and attractions.

I always wondered where that thing ended up. I'm planning on stopping in Tillamook for the night tomorrow (they have an aviation museum there, too, not that I'm thinking about going ;) ) and that's not too far from there. Maybe I'll swing by on Wednesday. Thanks!

[RSnyder]

Did the Tillamook and McMinnville Trip Last month had a blast. While in Tillamook went next door to the Museum and went for and hour and a half flight in a 1927 Travel Aire Biplane What A Kick.

[wilbar00c]

David,
Do you recall seeing the first Boeing 747 produced parked just outside the museum? That bird, know as Boeing # RA001 was used by Boeing Flight Test for many years. I heard they were going set up the interior in a flight test mode with water barrels (for CG changes) and flight test stations, etc. for a walk through. Pratt made up some dummy engines to hang on the wings for that display.
Barnett

[Londonlad]

If you get to middle Tennessee, try to see the museum at Tullahoma which is dedicated to the Beech Staggerwing, the Learjet of the 1930's. They also have started to restore some early examples of the Twin Beech. Great place to spend a couple of hours.

[ELKHNTR]

The Evergreen museum is unique in that many of the aircraft on display are still airworthy and are flown quite regularly. In the very near future, the museum will be opening their second bulding where an IMAX theater will be included. During the summer, the museum is host to MANY fly-ins, and cruise-ins.
Just as a note. I work at Evergreen Airlines in McMinnville Oregon, and I would be more than happy to play tour guide to anyone who stops by. So if you're ever in the area, you're more than welcome to drop me line.

[DavidTaylor]

David,
Do you recall seeing the first Boeing 747 produced parked just outside the museum? That bird, know as Boeing # RA001 was used by Boeing Flight Test for many years. I heard they were going set up the interior in a flight test mode with water barrels (for CG changes) and flight test stations, etc. for a walk through. Pratt made up some dummy engines to hang on the wings for that display.
Barnett

Yes, it was parked next to the Concorde and Air Force One that you could tour, but it wasn't open to the public.

[TandemCyclist]

Just as a note. I work at Evergreen Airlines in McMinnville Oregon, and I would be more than happy to play tour guide to anyone who stops by. So if you're ever in the area, you're more than welcome to drop me line.

So do you have a super dooper top secret clearance, working for the CIA airline.
You know what I mean.

Is Nick's Cafe still downtown McMinnville? Still top five food, in my book, in the country.

Expect a call from me next summer.

[sbrooten]

Happened to visit the air museum in Tucson when they were having "Open Cockpit Day" with some of the planes, including the SR-71. WOW! Just think that the plane would actually grow several inches during flight due to the heat buildup. (And the Yamaha riders think they have a problem!)

[hschisler]

Awesome.

Other places to see for those interested in these things are:

The US Air Force Museum near Dayton. Very comprehensive, from the earliest days through the latest technology; couldn't begin to list all the special planes and displays they have.
The Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita. Kind of rough (low-budget), but some very cool planes. Wichita bills itself as "the birthplace of aviation" because of their roots with Cessna, Stearman (?) and many others, plus major facilities of Boeing, Bombardier, and others.
Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson. A world-class space museum. You name it, they have it -- stuff you think could ONLY be at The Smithsonian.