Design Your Own Airliner, Watch The Real Ones Take Flight
Who among our readers
hasn't dreamed of designing their own aircraft? Okay, so a few of
you have actually done it... but what about a commercial airliner?
Visitors to the new Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing
Tour in Everett, WA now have the opportunity to do just that... and
take a (computer generated) picture of their aircraft home.
The new 73,000 square-foot facility, located at Everett's Paine
Field, celebrated its grand opening Friday. Dignitaries attending
the ceremony included Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire,
and Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon.
“The Future of Flight is expected to generate $3.5 million
annually in tourism dollars for the state and that’s great
news, but I’m also excited about the opportunities for
education that this Aviation Center offers,” said Governor
Gregoire. "This is the perfect place for young people to get
excited about a career in science and engineering."
The Future of Flight
Aviation Center features a 28,000-square-foot aviation gallery, a
new tour center for the nearby manufacturing plant in which Boeing
assembles its 747, 767 and 777 airplanes, and a 9,000-square-foot
observation deck allowing crowds to watch day-to-day operations at
Payne Field... where they might even see a brand-new Boeing jet
take flight.
Several meeting rooms, a theater, restaurant, and gift shops are
some of the other highlights of the new center. A 102-room Hilton
Garden Inn, which opened in October, was built adjacent to the
center.
The Center is designed so visitors can create their own jet,
then take a print of it home. Visitors may also experience the next
generation of in-flight entertainment systems, touch the
high-tech of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and learn how
technology and aviation will be used in the future to connect
people and cultures across the globe.
"This facility offers significant value to the County and the
world," said Snohomish County's Reardon. "Future technological
innovations will come from the children and young adults inspired
by what they see here today."
Boeing joined with the
Future of Flight Foundation and other partners because it allowed
the jet manufacturer to expand its tour operations. Since opening
in 1968, the Boeing Tour Center has hosted more than two million
visitors from around the globe. Annually more than 100,000 people
take its factory tour. The Future of Flight expects that number to
double to more than 200,000 visitors per year.
The center is open daily -- except Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Year’s Day -- from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. General admission
is $15, $14 for seniors and active Military with ID, and $8 for
children ages 6-15. Children younger than 6 years old are admitted
free, although they must be at least 4 feet tall to take the
factory tour.