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The Museum of Flight
Rating Details »
9404 E Marginal Way S
Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 764-5720
Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 764-5720
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
63 reviews for The Museum of Flight
I work in aviation in my day job, so going to the Museum of Flight was a must. Incredible. They have the most spectacular displays of aircraft I have ever seen. It was a blast hopping on the original Air Force One and the Concorde (Boy would I have loved to have been a passanger on that plane when it was still in service.... SIGH)
The space program displays were awesome. My wife and I took a real interest in the exhibits around Cold War and WW2/Nazi era. We sat and watched several free documentaries, The bombing of Pearl Harbor... So much amazing stuff for people of all ages.
I'm a big fan of this museum! I would suggest that kids under 6 might be too young to really grasp the history of flight and understand the airplane's history in relation to world history ... but hey, planes are cool to look at, right?
It's amazing to see the collection of planes here because it's hard to believe they can fit them all into a big building like this. From WWI to modern day planes to space crafts, there's a little bit of everything here. I really loved the planes that had accessible cockpits for you to sit in. I also liked the time line of airline employee wardrobes (they were hilarious in the 60s-70s), and I especially liked the airplane exhibit from WW1-WW2. Did you know that the entire propeller on the airplane used to spin? Not just the blades but the WHOLE front (nose part) of the plane! Really interesting.
There's a lot to be learned here and even if you're not actually a big fan of airplanes it's still quite interesting.
Outside they have a Concord, an Air force one and a 747 to board. Really spectacular exhibits!
THEY HAVE ONE OF CARL SAGAN'S TURTLENECKS!
Omgwtfbbq
Hardcore Sagan-ists will understand my glee. I had to immediately force my camera upon a fellow attendee to get my photo taken with it.
So aside from that, this place is awesome. Even more awesome is that it participates in Seattle's Free First Thursdays. When you've exhausted the lot of art museums in town, head out here and allow yourself plenty of time because it is humongous. Or better yet, spread it out over two visits to make the fun last.
Obviously I'd recommend it for those that have at least some elementary interest in flight, but I really think that there's something here for everyone. I've been to the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy hangar in Washington DC and would even say Seattle's Museum of Flight rivals their collection. Seattle at least wins the Best Layout prize.
My buddies and I spent at least 2 hours going through the room (I feel weird to referring to it as a "room"...what do you call a super-huge space with a roof?) closest to the entrance as well as the slightly-hidden space exploration area upstairs. Then as we were leaving noticed that there is an additional enormous wing dedicated to WWI - WWII era aircraft, as well as a building that appeared to be associated with the Boeing factory. Holy cow. I guess that I'll have to save that for my next visit.
Useful notes:
-Talk to the folks who work there. REALLY. Talk to them. I often just keep to myself and read the placards, but after accidentally beginning a conversation with one man (who bis a volunteer btw, as they all are), I was extremely glad that I did. Incredibly kind and knowledgable.
-There is a pretty nifty children's play area when the kiddos start getting antsy. I was kind of jealous of the cool stuff in there, actually.
-It seems that Air Force One is closed at some times of day or on certain days, but no worries because there's plenty more to see
-The gift store has some really rad items. I almost splurged on the costume goggles and helmet.
Today I channeled my Inner Six-Year-Old Boy and went to the museum of flight. He was pretty stoked.
Some of his favorite things:
1. Watch tower where you can pretend you're an air traffic controller and watch the planes land and take off.
2. Space exploration wing--he thinks he wants to be an astronaut when he grows up.
3. Air Force One--because if he can't be an astronaut he wants to be president.
4. World War II exhibit--cuz there's weapons and stuff.
He got a little cranky toward the end because there was too much to see. But after a nap on the car ride home, he was really glad he went.
I only wished for more time!
So many planes inside and out! Awesomeness. We loved seeing them fly outside and hanging inside. Lots of information and interactive displays for all ages. We didn't get to everything, but we're planning a follow-up visit.
For being the same price as the Boeing attraction, this is a much better deal. They do take Microsoft Prime cards, so it was $3/person. ($14 normally)
While we were there we got to see a visiting NASA exhibit which was ok. The museum was much better.
We went to the cafe while we were there, but it was a little pricey. The hot dog was yummy and one of the cheapest things on the menu.
For people who get bored by history (like myself at times), this was still very interesting and I didn't find myself drifting aimlessly around like at some places.
Minus 1 star for rudeness from the guy at the counter.
Checked this place out today with my 2 kids. My son was uber excited entering this place since he loves airplanes, he went through the whole place skipping his nap (that's how much absorbed he was) and at the end of it all, he was pooped from all the various displays of fighter jets, planes, and spaceships. Great place for learning about the history of airplanes, world war I and II, Boeing, which were all supported with real images and original vintage mementos (space suits, jet suits, engines, guns, etc), informative touchscreen displays and descriptions. Get ready to get your reading on, lots of intel on each display. There was also a fairly decent size kiddie play area that included tiny airplanes and helicopters for the kids to get in to and enjoy. There were kiosks in this play area that showcased the different types of materials used for plane production and creation. Flight simulations were a choice, additional funds required. Huge place (open and spacious floor plan) with so many types of planes hanging from the ceiling and displayed on the floors. Very educational and fulfilling. You can smell the antique and history from the displays in the museum, which adds more to the experience if you ask me. Highly recommended for airplane lovers and those that are completely oblivious for soaking up some new knowledge. Family enjoyment for the whole day, may require an extra day to get everything in. Visited on October 24, 2009.
Whether you're looking for history, interaction, a great activity for a rainy Seattle day, or just like really big planes, the Museum of Flight is guaranteed to entertain. If you're young, old, young at heart, old at heart, alone, with family, with loved ones, with friends(....you get the point) and have ever had even a slight interest in flight, hop on METRO Bus 174 from downtown Seattle and head to the museum.
What not to miss (which could be easily passed over):
-Memorial Bridge
-Airpark (across the bridge) where you can walk through one of the earlier Air Force Ones as well as the Concorde and check out the first ever 747 built in Everett, WA
-WW1 and WW2 exhibits
This place is huge! I found myself wandering and re-wandering the space exhibit for about an hour. The World War II memorial was especially interesting as I found perspectives on WWII presented from such a wide variety of groups. Having gone with an amateur photographer, apparently the place is chock full of interesting photo ops. I had a great time in the flight simulator, but a word to the wise: consider your most recent meal before riding.
Kids will love this place. Adults with a sense of wonder with love this place. I am still amazed that we've figured out how to get those things up in the air!
On my daily get the son and myself out of the house, we found ourselves at the museum of flight. What a great time we had. Like many other yelpers, I dont have a strong interest in airplanes. But after spending a good 90 min there...I do now.
This place caters to all ages..my son had a blast flying the mini blue angel plane. He also loved the play area for kids, which consist of 4-6 other smaller planes that they can jump in and out of.
I loved going on the concord and air force one..mighty impressive. Both planes had me appreciate how these big birds get into the sky, and stay up in the clouds. I would love to go back and peruse the history wing and the first females to fly, but my son would not give me the time to do it.
The price is good..there is a cafe on the grounds..prices were fair, and the gift shop is another place where you could spend 30 min easily. A great place to take relatives...imo
I really didn't want to go here today. I am tired as hell and my manager wanted to drag me here because another guy I work with loves planes. There was no way that I could have been dropped off at the hotel either.
So we went and thankfully I didn't have to pay. I probably would have had a better time if I really wanted to be in Seattle on my own and if I was with my husband or something. I just wasn't in the mood. I'm TIRED OK!
There was some pretty cool stuff and I did get teary eyed looking at the plane from Vietnam. (Don't even get me started on that) I also fell in love with the old man who volunteers at the museum. He was so cute I almost took a picture with him.
We also were only there for a half hour. We got there kind of late and the woman at the counter to pay was really rude and pretty much tried to not let us in for the 30 minutes like we were a bunch of assholes because it takes 2 hours to go through the whole museum. We just wanted to check it out for how ever long we had. God, its like our money was no good hear in a bad way.
I bought my father-in-law a P-51 Mustang small metal die cast for his birthday. I also bought myself a Rosie the Riveter plaque for my new office. I could not wait to get the hell out of there though. 30 minutes couldn't be fast enough.
The cute old men giving the tours are the best.
I wasn't totally fired up about going to The Museum of Flight , but I was so glad I went. It was amazing! We didn't have nearly enough time to get through all of the exhibits, and we were there for 1 1/2 hours. The outdoor exhibits close at 3:30 (the Concorde, Air Force One), and you'll want to dedicate an hour or so just for those - we had about 10 minutes. Just to see the WWI and WWII exhibits took over an hour. We hardly touched any other part of the museum.
The WWI and WWII exhibits were awesome! Those planes were SO small - it's hard to believe that people were flying around in those things! There are tons and tons of planes on display, and it's really neat to see all of the different styles and symbols on each of them.
I think the thing that most struck me was the size of the Concord. It was SO small!! Granted, this chick's got some wide hips, and I could hardly walk up the aisle without turning a little to the side. It almost felt like you're walking on a miniature plane!
The Air Force One plane on display was put out of commission in '72. It's so Charlie's Angels fabulous! I loved it!
Read what Brad F wrote - I would just be repeating what he said.
Where else are you going to get to step into a supersonic Concorde? Jeff Goldblum may have pretended to ride on Air Force One, but you and I can actually walk through the airplane where Presidents and world leaders flew, sat, and talked.
Seriously, excellent exhibits. If you are a war fan, a military fan, an airplane fan, or just want to learn something about why America still is the best country in the world (despite recent administration's attempts to undermine that fact) then go spend a day - yeah, it is a big place and you need a lot of time - here. Parking is (usually) convenient, and admission, while not cheap, is worth the expense.
I spent half of the weekend here over Memorial Day and had the privilege of meeting three of the remaining Tuskegee Airmen. These guys are HEROS - you know it because they brush off any suggestion of the kind and joke about what alcohol they drank to ensure their longevity. If you believe in America, you can go to this museum and have your faith renewed.
My only suggestion - eat before you go, because the snack bar is overpriced and often out of stock.
I have been here several times over the years and thoroughly enjoy each trip through it. My first visit was for a clients Christmas Party, many years ago. It is hard to make it all the way through in one visit, but is worth every minute of your time.
I find flying about as appealing as going to my dreaded day job. My husband, however, loves planes, aviation history, etc. We went over the weekend with my sister and 7-year old nephew, and I had such a good time that I insisted we become members.
What changed my opinion? The museum has so much to offer. The planes are restored and displayed beautifully, there are many hands-on exhibits, and the WWI and WWII collections are incredible.
Viewing the Museum of Flight through the eyes of my nephew was also fun. There were planes he could climb in, bombs, engines, and many a squished penny machine to keep him engaged and excited.
There's a lot to do here and we weren't able to do it all. I can't wait to come back and spend another afternoon here. Sure, I still hate to fly, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the Museum of Flight!
Other stuff to know: if you're a AAA member, you'll get a discount. And if you want to become a member, they'll apply what you spent on the day's admission to your membership costs. Nice!
This place is AMAZING!
Even if you're not the science type who wants to know about the space program or aeronautical engineering, come here for the wonderful history lessons. The WW1 and WW2 exhibits are breathtaking.
Did you know that 40% of those who lost their lives in World War II were still alive on January 1st, 1945?
I didn't! And it blew my frickin' mind.
How about the fact that America had some twenty aircraft carriers before we entered the war, and had A HUNDRED by the end? That's a military industry that means business. No one messes with us and gets away with it.
These are just some of the many great moments you'll experience here. Also, try out a basic simulator game and take control of a biplane and land it safely. My father (who is as egotistical as I am, if not more so) crashed and burned twice, and I took it for a nice landing. He hated me, and I basked in glory. It was a nice father-son bonding moment.
I still can't distinguish an Axis plane from an Allied plane, despite the museum's several attempts to teach me, but then again, I sucked royally at the memory card game as a child, so there you are...
Fellow Microsofties: Show your Prime card here and get admission for just $3 a person, and you can get a friend in for that price as well! Amazing.
Went to Seattle early (arrived at 8:45am) on a Monday with my son. We had breakfast at The Hanger Cafe (great) and then went straight to the MOF. It is an incredibily impressive buiding and has the greatest aircraft in and out. I really don't know how it could be done better ! There is an SR71 in the middle that you get to walk underneath, and a cockpit you get to sit inside. How does it get better than that ? The moon exihibit, the WWI & WWII planes, the red barn, the simulator, the concorde and presidents planes that you get to walk through, how could it get better ? All of this for $22. What a great way to start our time in Seattle. Very enjoyable. Great time. Also, good staff, and well run. 5 out of 5.
Flight is not really my interest, but I have to admit this is a great museum (thus the 4 stars). They've invested a lot in their collections and have top notch exhibits. Their WWI collection is amazing as well.
They also have great holiday programming (e.g. Father's Day, Veteran's Day, 4th of July). Check them out then as well. I'll bring my dad when he visits me.
The Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Some of the highlights of my visit included boarding a retired Air Force One plane (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and a Concorde. There are also countless other historical planes (and replicas) displayed in the museum (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I fly fairly often, so it was interesting to see how air travel has developed over the years.
Museum admission is free during the first Thursday evening of every month, 5-9pm.
Being only slightly interested in airplanes and the history of flight, I didn't have very high hopes for this place. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised!
My family and I were here for four hours, and left only because it was closing time. There was SO MUCH to see. We first started with going in the Concorde and Air Force One - VERY cool. We then checked out to two levels of WWI and WWII exhibits. The number of planes and extensive information about each and the wars themselves was quite impressive. In the WWII exhibit, there was a display of the uniforms worn by pilots for each country in the war. We stood next to a couple our age visiting from Japan, and together admired the uniforms worn by our countries - kinda touching.
The Museum also included the original Boeing plant. Being there felt like stepping back in time.
My favorite was the building with the airplane suspended from the ceiling. My hubby especially loved having his pictures taken in the fighter jets.
This place might get a little boring for little kids, but for the big kids it's great!
I visited The Museum of Flight this week and I was absolutely impressed! If you're hesitant to pay the $16 or so, well DONT BE. It is worth it.
The museum itself is very well layed out and every display seems to have had alot of thought put into it.
For the regular admission price you can
-walk inside one of the ORIGINAL Air Force One planes (very impressive)
-walk inside a Concorde plane (also very impressive)
-walk through the original Boeing barn where they built planes. Inside -they have audio and video and really impressive models, photographs, and actual tools.
-The Personal Courage Wing was my favorite because everything that was displayed had so much depth.
Usually when you think of museums, you think of artifacts and priceless items that are off limits and encased by some glass box. Alot of the things on display at The Museum of Flight are NOT encased, so its almost 'interactive' if thats the right word.
All in all, a GREAT museum to visit. Take the docent tours and make The Personal Courage Wing a must visit.
Really cool! We totally enjoyed our day trip. I would say the highlight was being able to see inside Air Force 1. The inside of the Concorse was cool too. There are sooo many exhibits to see so definitely wear your walking shoes...and prepare to take a break in their cafeteria or what ever you want to call it. The planes are so neat! We thought of riding in one of the simulators, but after listening to a couple of people after a good minute...then all of a sudden silence...I assumed they were getting sick of flipping upside down and all around. Ya, didn't feel like losing my lunch that day. We've been to other air museums and by far this one takes the cake. Kinda one of the those been there done that places though, so we probably won't go back for a long time...but we will definitely recommend it to people visiting Seattle.
I'm far from an airplane enthusiast, and even though many, many people have told me how awesome the Museum of Flight is, it never sounded that interesting to me. I only went because they're currently (through June 2008) having a temporary exhibition on vintage stewardess uniforms, and some visiting friends from out of town wanted to go. We were blown away by the museum and agreed that it was WAY cooler than we thought it would be.
The first thing you'll want to do is head across the street to the Airpark, where you can walk through a Concorde, an Air Force One, and check out some other planes on the ground. The airpark closes before the main museum, and closes during bad weather (they closed it right behind us because it was POURING rain), so check it out first. The fake-wood-paneled luxury (in-cabin doggie doors?) and cutting-edge 1960s technology (a copier mounted on a filing cabinet IN THE PLANE!) are not to be missed.
Next, head to the Great Gallery, a huge, spacious, naturally lit hall chock-full of planes of every kind. You can hop into a few of the planes and pose for pictures, or pay a few bucks extra for the flight simulators scattered around. Don't miss the side galleries about space exploration, which feature some scary displays about space food and a Magic Planet globe that gives a rotating, 3D image of each of the planets.
The "Style in the Aisle" temporary exhibit is also located in the Great Gallery, nestled under the wing of a plane. It's not huge, but you can check out about a dozen stewardess uniforms from over the decades, plus crazy matching accessories, training materials and photographs, and other ephemera. A small interactive viewing station features a row of airplane seats where you can sit down, buckle in, and watch vintage airline commercials and video advertising these super-foxy ladies of the skies.
We weren't as interested in the Red Barn, which covers the olde tyme history of aviation and the Boeing family (though there are some interesting artifacts to look at). The Personal Courage wing covers WWI and WWII, and although we were pretty pooped by then from looking at all the stuff, there were interesting displays there too. Fun interactive stuff included the faux-Bakelite "radios" with sample broadcasts from previous eras, plenty of uniforms and medals from various countries, and a small section dedicated to the WAFs, the Women's Auxiliary Force from WWII.
The gift shop is big and busy, with equal parts air and space stuff. I was especially excited that they have astronaut ice cream on the cheap ($2.50 a package). Don't miss the adorable Pan Am retro bags and accessories to accompany the stewardess exhibit, or the rad tote bags made from recycled vintage airplane upholstery fabric and seatbelt buckles.
The Museum Cafe is surprisingly good - we were expecting a tiny cafeteria with chicken fingers and soft pretzels, but it's actually a nicely maintained cafe that not only offers soups and sandwiches, but also tasty-looking salads and pastas and hot dishes. I had the soup-and-sandwich combo ($5.20), which comes with a bag of chips and a pickle and is plenty of food. One wall of the cafe is all windows, so it's nicely lit and you can look outside at yet more planes while you eat.
At $14 per adult admission, this is one of the pricier museums in the area (although the 2008 Entertainment Book costs $15 and has a buy-one-get-one coupon, so you'll make your money back instantly if you get the book), but it's well worth it for the unique displays, interactive fun, and sheer density of things to look at. You can easily spend half a day here, and we spent almost a full day looking around and still didn't see everything. Who knew an airplane museum would be so much fun?
My friend and I did the airpark first - Great to see the 707 that was used as Air Force One and the vintage top secret electronics inside. The first 747 is in the yard as well. Also terribly impressive to see the Concorde up close, particularly the other-worldly Olympus engines.
The rest of the museum is great as well. 3 sections: main gallery (lots of great vintage stuff (mail planes, older passenger planes) ; and more conventional military. (F4, A4, SR-71, Sabre, etc.). The Red Barn is the original Boeing workshop and they've got a bunch of the original hardware that was used for assembly, and some great old film footage of props being hewn by hand; amazing.
The most affecting section is the WWI and WW2 area. It surrounds each aircraft with the stories of the pilots that flew in the wars. Not just interesting, but moving.
This museum is a treasure, and Seattle is fortunate to have it. A MUST SEE.
Today I stood inside the International Space Station, stood in the President's conference room on Air Force One and topped it off with a tour of the flight deck of Concorde.
Where else could you do this other than the Museum of Flight in Seattle? A lot of their exhibits are interactive including the phenomenal flight simulator that takes you on a white knuckle ride in a fighter jet.
The museum is right next to Boeing Field "International" Airport so you can see brand new aircraft being prepared for delivery or take a sneaky look at the AWACS 737s sitting in the military division factory next door. I was given a rare treat as the 747-200 that Rolls Royce uses as a testbed for the new Trent 1000 (Dreamliner 787) engines plane took off just as I was walking back to my car. Sadly I'd already put my camera back in its bag.
Heck, even the cafe is worth a mention as it served up a pretty decent BBQ beef sandwich for my empty stomach!
great place to visit, but they close at 5 an they will escort you out the place allow about 3 to 4 hours. I wish I had more time, but well worth it
The place rocks! I can say it is the best airplane museum I've seen, and I have visited a few over the years with the kiddos. First of all, the Great Hall is filled from floor to ceiling with historical planes (from a replica of the Wright Brothers' first glider to some of the stealth spy planes). There are a couple where you can climb inside the cockpit and they have a little Blue Angels simulator/ride for the little kids on the main floor. There is also a separate flight simulator ride for the big kids (aka moms and dads).
Great space exhibit that follows the career of one astronaut, Pete Conrad. I thought it was a nice personal touch.
This museum is located at the site of the original Boeing Field, so they have a lot of historical artifacts from the company and early days of flight in the Red Barn. Lots of personal stories about the pioneers of flight and their heroism and development of the industry.
One section of the museum focuses on World Wars I and II. They even have a simulator so you can have a dogfight. I think I did this five or six times, myself. I am fascinated by war museums and the collection here was outstanding. I should also add that many of the people that work in this museum worked in the industry or are military vets, and they are fascinating! I could talk to them all day! They also had a nice section for women who served in those wars.
If you cross the street, you can go on board Air Force One (in service from Eisenhower to Nixon), the last Concorde in service (man is it narrow!) and the Boeing prototypes for the 737 and 747 jets.
Boeing Field is still an active airport, so you can go out to the tower and listen to the conversations between the tower and planes as they take off and land. In addition, they have a children's wing with more hands on exhibits for the kiddos.
Finally the Wings Cafe on site was outstanding. So much better than the food at other museums.
This is an expensive place to visit (and I don't think I could get any discounts through AAA or Entertainment), but I was absolutely blown away by the quality of the exhibits. We had originally planned to take the Boeing plant tour, but they have a minimum height requirement of 50 inches, and one of my guys is too little. So this was our back-up plan and it couldn't have worked out better. A must see with the kids when you are in the area.
I was really looking forward to visiting the Museum of Flight. A lot of people recommended hitting up the Boeing Manufacture Tour as well but my time in Seattle was limited so Museum of Flight fit right in!
Not renting a car, my traveling partner and I decided to take the bus from Downtown Seattle to the Museum of Flight. I commend Seattle for their convenient public transportation! $1.50 fair for a Round Trip fair is unbelievable and It only took 30 minutes to get there!http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Ticket Prices $14 / Adult (AAA members get a $2 discount) which isn't too steep. That day wasn't too crowded with kids or other tourist. Had a chance to sit in the cockpit of the SR-71 which was pretty sweet! They have a couple flight simulators landing a space shuttle, which I failed miserably, WWII Dog Fight, and a Flight tower where you could see actual planes taking off! http://static.px.yelp....
I was really impressed with the WWII exhibit they had. They showcased a lot of old war planes as well as stories and video exhibits that documented the Second World War. http://static.px.yelp....
After your done with the indoor exhibit make sure you cross the street and check out Reagan-Era Air Force One as well as the Concord!
http://static.px.yelp....
Great place to take kids and just to see the modern on-going achievements in flight! Oh yeah..bring comfy shoes you're in for a walk-a-thon.
Be it ignorance or be it fact, I know of know no other Museum of Flight.
Sure, we've gone here on field trips as kids, but The Museum of Flight impresses the first, fifth or fiftieth time. They have planes that you've only read about or seen in movies, planes with a lot of history, planes that made history, and planes that are just plain fun. The Museum has flight simulators, a great glass hall with some planes poised in mid-flight, and mock up planes to explore. Fascinating! Fun for everyone.
You don't have to be a nerd to enjoy this place. It just helps. *grin*
Plus, if you're in the mood for astronaut food (re: freeze dried ice cream!), check out the souvenir shop.
review 3/29/2008
I.M.Y.
I've never been to a better museum in my life, it's about 10 times better than the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC ( I went there last month) ...the World War I and II rooms are so well done, every last detail has been thought of, just go, you won't regret it!
give yourself about 5 or 6 hours to see everything there's a ton to read and check out!
I feel the need...The need for speed.
She's breaking up I can't hold her.
Houston. We have a problem.
You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around any more.
All those movie lines swirl around my head when I go here. It's a big shiny museum with big shiny planes. The space exhibit has some pretty interesting photos and hands on activities. Since things are hanging from the cieling it's cool that there are several floors of access to get a view from all sides.
I especially like the old Air Force One that can be visited. It was used by presidents like Johnson and Nixon.I was joking about doing my impression of Nixon's famous victory sign pose, but some older guy ahead of me in line beat me to it. The woman in front of me joked that maybe I could do a Gerald Ford impression and fall down the stairs instead.
The husband is a flight (and all things military) junkie. I'm not. So every air show, any place devoted to flights (NASA included), bases, I've been for moral support. That's marriage for you. ;)
Hence, if your arms are being twisted to head over here, here're a few things to look forward to to make the visit a memorable one:
1) Stand in line and go inside the Kennedy-era Air Force One. We went in, expecting massive opulence at taxpayer's expense, and were we shocked. Who knows how much was converted for the public, right?
And I cannot forgive our friend who managed to pull me away from the Concord line, thinking we wouldn't have time to explore the rest of the museum and that we would be separated (that's what cell phones are for, Joel !!!!) He owes me a ticket to go up the Concord when I next visit! I just want to know how the rich travels, is that so wrong?
I digress.
2) Even if you're not a flight fancier, the museum's WW 2 exhibit is the most interesting. The audio visual room and reels are engaging. But the best part of the entire exhibit for me was one doctor's contribution of miniature air planes. He built everyone from every era and they were all beautifully detailed and painted. Furthermore, when there were no parts or models, he made them singlehandedly.
3) If there weren't a bunch of kids (spring break! phhhttt), I would've lingered longer at the control tower simulators. I always wondered how to read the radar and pin points.
4) There are about 3 simulators where you can try to land planes and the rover (?). Again, if there weren't anybody around, I would not have minded embarassing myself by crashlanding.
So there, 3 to 4 attractions to keep the non-enthusiast occupied.
It's hard to avoid trite hyperbole when discussing The Museum of Flight. The museum is an absolute treasure. For an aviation nerd like myself, the experience is simply orgasmic; anyone, though, will enjoy the Museum's superb layout, awesome aircraft, and careful description of historical context. Assuming, of course, that "anyone" includes the set of people with inquisitive minds and imagination in their hearts.
The Museum of Flight is truly a whole-day experience, or a multiple-return-visit affair. With many exhibits ranging from important military aircraft from multiple periods through an actual, honest-to-jeebus, you-can-walk-through-it Concorde!!! There's even an exhibit on air traffic control with live audio from the Boeing Field tower.
The gift shop rules as well, with resources for kids, scale modellers, and souvenir hunters. I'm lusting after the little German scale aircraft and airport facilities they carry in the store...
Oh, and while you never know what museum food will be like, rest assured the snacks are tasty, with a gorgeous view of the runway at Boeing Field.
This is a no-brainer for out-of-town visitors, kids, school groups, and anyone else, really.
Live a little, learn a little. This is one of the finest air museums in the country. It's a step below the air force museum (Dayton, OH) and the Smithsonian Air & Space (DC.), but it's far more human scale and enjoyable for the afternoon then either of the above two and the local docents and old farts add much more character.
There's the expected slant towards Boeing aircraft and the big Bs devouring of merged company histories, yet the museum is still fairly neutral in its selections.
As others have pointed out, the tours are often excellently led with plenty of time for questions. If you can, invite a WWII, Korea or Vietnam era flying vet in to enjoy the displays. You may be pleasantly surprised at how many avenues of communication will open.
In the summer there's plenty of free fun during memorial day, July 4th and other holidays with the vintage planes coming and going. Spend $6 and take a tour of a B17 or B24 when they show up. (Set aside any notions that these are evil devices and speak to the old gents who flew in them -they're almost all gone so time is fairly short.)
If you really want to splurge purchase a ride in one of the available biplanes. The Stearman takes 1 passenger, the Travel air (1927) takes two squeezed up front. Best birthday present I've ever had.
The Museum of Flight is a fantastic museum that keeps getting better as the years go by.
I first visited the Museum of Flight as a child when the entire museum consisted of the Red Barn that was part of the original Boeing Aircraft factory. Since that time, the museum has made several additions including the Great Gallery, which holds a prototype Blackbird, F4 Phantom, a replica of the Wright Flyer and many more recognizable and significant aircraft. After the Great Gallery came Air Park across the street which houses prototypes of the 727, 737 and 747 as well as a Concorde and the first jet powered version of Air Force 1 that carried Nixon, Kennedy and LBJ.
Most recently, the museum added the Personal Courage Wing to its north end. This two level exhibit hall features WWI war birds upstairs (including the very first fighter aircraft ever created) and WWII fighters downstairs. The docents who lead the PCW tours are mostly old veterans who really know their stuff and spin a good yarn to boot.
The Red Barn is still at the museum as well, having been revamped in 2004-05 as a tribute to the early years of the Boeing Company. It is interesting to see how the museum's exhibition styles have evolved over the years from the encyclopedic, object centered displays of the old Red Barn and the Great Gallery, to the more story driven and immersive environment of the PCW.
The museum continues to evolve, grow and improve today. Most recently, TMoF managed to secure a contract putting them in line to receive a space shuttle once the fleet is decommissioned early in the next decade. In order to accommodate the new addition, the museum has plans to build a new space wing across the street next to Air Park. This much needed addition will replace the diminutive collection of space artifacts currently on display in the Great Gallery. Furthermore, upon completion of the new wing, The Museum of Flight will rival The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in size.
If you're an fly buff, this is a great stop. The only better air museum I've seen is at the Smithsonian. It really makes me want to finish up my license.
They have lots of (mostly Boeing) planes including fighters and old planes. They also have Air Force one and the Concorde you can tour across the street.
The weekend I went, they had the military and police helicopters out front for the kids to sit in. My son had a blast. He didn't shut up for the rest of the afternoon.
As far as bang for your buck, this museum does not disappoint. I thought the price of admission was steep but this place is HUGE and well worth it. If you are a fan of flight (or not) this museum is as good as it gets. Allow for at least 3+hrs to just "see" everything. If you read all the history good luck. You might need a couple days to read every piece of info. The outside section of the museum is cool with Air Force One, the Concorde plus other big aircraft. My fave was the WWI and WWII exhibits. Ton of stuff I could put in this review but just go to the website.
The Museum of Flight is a must-see to anyone visiting Seattle. This museum represents more than a century of taking to the air in some sort of bird whether commercial, private, experimental or for the purposes of war. The museum is absolutely loaded with collections inside and out and it is a blast to see no matter what age you are. I spent hours touring the museum and taking 3D pictures of select aircraft, some of which you can tour the inside. It was really cool to see the inside and outside of The Concord SST up close and touring Air Force One, I couldn't help but feel a ghostly imprint of communications between JFK to the pentagon regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis lingering from the comm. station. That must have been a heavy feeling of urgency for any president to carry.
There is a lot to see at The Museum of Flight so come early and make a day of it. If you have any kids, they'll love the control tower with its gadgets and phones with real air traffic to listen to. If they are old enough to like neat machines, they'll absolutely love the place like this kid did.
Not being an aviation/airplane enthusiast, I wasn't excited about going to the Museum of Flight, but I was blown away by this museum when I visited with some out-of-town guests. The museum is so comprehensive that I didn't get through all of the exhibits in the 4 hours I spent exploring. If you have a sense of curiosity, you will find yourself asking a multitude of questions and being inspired in the process.
I HIGHLY recommend taking the free tour. The tour guides all have extensive knowledge about the history of aviation as well as the actual planes on display.
One final note - admission is FREE on the first Thursday evening of every month from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Wanna step into Air Force One - without having to win an election or, alternatively, slave away for the President to see it?
Wanna step into the Concorde - without paying $10,000 to see it?
Go here. This museum far, far surpasses the Air and Space museum. The very fact that it's right smack next to Boeing Field is even cooler. What a great contrast between history and current innovations!
The Museum of Flight of flight is equivalent to a candy store for kids. I came here with some colleagues for a Boeing event and we had the entire place to ourselves. I could see in my fellow male colleagues' eyes that they were in heaven. I tried to play it cool, but almost lost it when I entered the "outer space" area. I went ga-ga for the history of astronauts, their space shuttles and everything in between. Nerd alert: when I continuously exclaimed "oh so cool!".
A truly unique experience for kids and adults who would like to learn more about aviation. Or a great place for folks who have trouble planning a Valentine's day outing with your honey - I'm sure your man will appreciate a visit to the Musem of Flight.
