Planes, Trains, and Automobile are the hat-trick of transportation but in to Seattle Washington airplanes are the dominating courier and the reason for this is Boeing. A company created by William E. Boeing in the 1800’s has become a mass distributor of commercial and defense airplanes as well as space security and rotorcraft. The success of Boeing has allowed its company to hold warehouses in several states but Washington state boasts the heaviest populated employment with over 75,000 employees. Boeing is a family inside the borders of Washington and the benefit of having a prosperous company within city limits allows individuals to be exposed to the inner workings of the company. Here are a few opportunities the fans of flight are given amid Boeing aircraft company.

Boeing Plant Tour

A guided tour throughout the Boeing Plant, come here to witness planes being constructed right in front of you. On this tour, you have access to see 747’s, 777’s, and 787’s in their line of production. The tour is both walking and bus so be prepared to walk a good part on this 2-hour tour of the largest building by volume in the world.

The Boeing plant hosts the Future of Flight (access as part of the plant tour) an opportunity to get up close to plane parts and sit captain in fighter jets. An educational and impressive tour, the Boeing Plant is a remarkable testament to how far we have come in air travel. Come here to learn how planes are made and watch them in action on the runway in the middle of the factory.

Museum of Flight

A non-profit museum, the Museum of Flight is a walk through the history of aviation. The institution proudly stands behind the Red Barn, the barn where Boeing was created which in turn is an expected relationship since Boeing assists in many of the donations featured within the exhibitions. The museum has an entire gallery dedicated to the chronological development of aircraft, starting with basic mail carriers all the way to military drones.

Another wing (no pun intended) is solely World War I and World War II aircrafts that were used by both sides of each war. The wartime wing guides the visitor through the advancement of aircraft and warfare over 1918 until 1945. If you wander outside into the gallery’s Airpark you have the pleasure to see the first ever Boeing 747, the Concord (which are no longer in flight) and walk amongst Eisenhower’s Air Force One. Come here for a guided tour, or walk amongst the aircrafts yourself, either way you will experience a fantastic scene of aviation progression that would make the Wright Brothers proud.

Boeing Field Tour

An event run by the Museum of Flight, the Boeing Field Tour is an expedition of King County International Airport. This 1-hour, guided tour runs from May thru October each year. It’s an intimate way to see planes that are housed at this airport. As you take the bus around the active runway, guests can to see expensive, privately owned, one-of-a-kind planes up close.

The beauty of this tour is its unpredictability of which aircraft’s will be taking flight and which airplanes will be idled. The tour is guided by an employee of the Museum of Flight who informs guests of past events and answers any questions of those aboard the bus. A profound and firsthand look at the aircraft inhabiting the runway of King International is a must do for any aviation fan in the city of Seattle.

The museums of aircraft in Seattle are extraordinary; visually and informational, these tours are inspiring. Even those not interested in aviation, can learn and see its progression over the years. If you are visiting Seattle and are looking for more to do in the city check out other museums in Seattle, otherwise be a passenger along the journey  of aviation and remember if it’s not Boeing, we’re not going.