The Museum of Flight

Introduction

The Museum of Flight, situated just south of downtown Seattle, Washington, is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world. Boasting a collection of over 175 aircraft and spacecraft, along with numerous other artifacts and exhibits, this museum is a must-visit for aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Since its inception in 1965, the museum has grown significantly, continuously adding new exhibition space to accommodate its expanding collection.

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet

The museum consists of multiple galleries spread across two campuses, which are connected by a modern bridge over the main local thoroughfare. We invite you to join us on a tour of this fascinating museum, but fair warning: don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes, as there will be plenty of walking involved!

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Red Barn – Birthplace of Boeing

Let’s begin our museum tour at the Red Barn, also known as Building No. 105. This historic structure is the birthplace of the Boeing Company. Built in 1909 on the banks of the Duwamish River, it was acquired a year later by 28-year-old William Boeing. A few years later, the Red Barn witnessed the construction of the first Boeing aircraft, the Model 1, also known as the B & W Seaplane. Saved from demolition in the 1970s, the Red Barn was placed on the national historic register and carefully relocated to become the first building of the Museum of Flight.

Boeing Airplane Co Red Barn

Inside the Red Barn

As we step inside, the rustic wood rafters and beams create an authentic atmosphere, transporting us back to the early years of aircraft manufacturing. We can marvel at exhibits showcasing the history of Boeing and dawn of aviation. Historic photographs, films, and dioramas provide a vivid depiction of aviation’s formative years. The original factory floor features recreated workstations, complete with early tools and machinery used to build aircraft at the beginning of the last century. Don’t miss the original drafting room on the second floor, where some of these pioneering planes were designed.

Boeing Model C in the Red Barn workshop

The Great Gallery

First opening in 1987, the Great Gallery houses around 50 aircraft, with over half suspended from the ceiling, creating the illusion of their flight. Among these suspended marvels is a Douglas DC-3 passenger plane, which weighs over nine tons. In striking contrast, also hanging from the ceiling is the pedal-powered Gossamer Albatross II, weighing in at only 71 pounds (32 kg). In 1979, powered and piloted by Bryan Allen, it made a historic flight across the English Channel.

Douglas DC-3

Noteworthy Aircraft in the Great Gallery

Other noteworthy aircraft in the Great Gallery include a Northrop YF-5A, the prototype version of the Freedom Fighter and the sole surviving two-seat Lockheed M-21, designed to launch a Lockheed D-21 reconnaissance drone. Also on display is a Lockheed Model 10-E Electra, which initially served as a Northwest Airlines aircraft before World War II and a military transport during the war. Aviator Linda Finch later acquired and restored this aircraft, using it to circumnavigate the world in 1997, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance while following her original flight path.

Lockheed M-21 Blackbird

World War II Aircraft

The Personal Courage Wing gallery is dedicated to aircraft and stories from World War I and World War II. Visitors can immerse themselves in these tales while watching historical footage in two theaters, learning about the bravery and sacrifice of wartime aviators. Ten World War II era aircraft are displayed on the first floor, showcasing the aerial combat capabilities of both Allied and Axis powers. Notable aircraft include a Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3, Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX, Yakovlev Yak-9U, Nakajima Ki-43-III Hayabusa “Oscar” reproduction, Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, and North American P-51D Mustang.

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt

Aviation during the Great War

The second floor predominantly features reproductions of World War I aircraft, some also hanging in the air. Among these is the original Caproni Ca.20, the world’s first fighter plane. This unique historic prototype was stored in a barn in Italy for 85 years before being acquired by the Museum of Flight in 1999. Other original World War I aircraft on display include an Aviatik D.I, Nieuport 28 C1, and Pfalz D.XII. Some of the reproductions include Curtiss JN-4D Jenny, Sopwith Triplane, Nieuport 24bis and Albatros D.Va (L24).

Caproni Ca.20

Space Gallery

After crossing the futuristic T. Evans Wyckoff Memorial Bridge to the West Campus, our first stop is the Space Gallery. Initially built with the hopes of receiving one of the Space Shuttles, the museum instead acquired the Full Fuselage Trainer (FFT). This Shuttle mockup was used to train all Space Shuttle astronauts. We can walk inside and around the FFT and explore other exhibits dedicated to space exploration, delving into humanity’s quest to conquer the final frontier.

NASA Full Fuselage Trainer

Boeing 247D in the Aviation Pavilion

The newest addition to the museum, the Aviation Pavilion, is dominated by Boeing-manufactured aircraft, whose main factory is located just about 35 miles to the north of the museum. It showcases rare and unique commercial and military airplanes from the 1930s to the present day. One particularly rare exhibit is one of the only four remaining Boeing 247D airliners. Despite its innovative features, such as a fully cantilevered wing and retractable landing gear, only 75 were constructed mostly due to its limited passenger capacity compared to the larger Douglas DC-2 and DC-3.

Boeing 247D

Boeing 747 “City of Everett”

Another iconic aircraft on display is the Boeing 747 “City of Everett,” the first 747 ever built. It served as a company testbed for many years before being donated to the museum after its final flight in 1995. Visitors can walk through this historic Queen of the Skies and explore exhibits related to its test configuration.

Boeing 747-121 “City of Everett” – the first Boeing 747

Boeing Prototypes and Concord

The pavilion also features other notable aircraft, many of which are open for walkthroughs. These include one of the only two airworthy Douglas DC-2s, Boeing VC-137B (SAM 970 – the first presidential jet), Boeing 727-100 prototype, Boeing 737 prototype (used by NASA as NASA 515), the third Boeing 787 Dreamliner prototype, and British Airways Concorde G-BOAG.

Douglas DC-2

Military Aircraft in the Pavilion

Military aviation enthusiasts will appreciate the pavilion’s collection of former military aircraft, including a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress used for training pilots during WW2 and later featured in three movies: The Thousand Plane Raid in 1968, Tora! Tora! Tora! in 1970 and Memphis Belle in 1989. Other military planes displayed include a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, a veteran of World War II’s Pacific theater during World War II, a Boeing WB-47E Stratojet, McDonnell Douglas AV-8C Harrier, Grumman A-6E Intruder, Grumman F-14A Tomcat and several others.

Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress

Outdoor Exhibits

While visiting the museum, be sure to step outside to see the Lockheed 1049G Super Constellation on the East Lawn and the Boeing B-52G Stratofortress, that’s part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park. Additionally, the Tower on Boeing Field offers exhibits about flight and air traffic control. It also provides visitors with an opportunity to view the King County International Airport (KCIA) runway and listen to air traffic controllers and pilots as they approach and land.

Boeing B-52G Stratofortress – Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park

Exhibits and More

The museum has a lot of other interesting exhibits, including Apollo missions and many other unique aircraft that we didn’t have the chance to even mention. We will come back to some of these aircraft in the future and look at them in more detail. The museum also has a separate Restoration Center in Everett, WA, which we had a chance to tour before it was closed to the public and we will post about it separately. As always, more photos are in the gallery section below.

Columbia – Apollo 11’s historic command module

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