The FBO we utilize at Boeing Field provides us free passes to the Boeing Museum of Flight. However, it was going to be a rushed first experience since we only had Friday morning to do it. When Terry discovered that it was free to the public and open until 9:00 PM the first Thursday of every month, we jumped in the car and spent five hours looking at a lot of neat, original airplanes late into the night. We even sweet-talked a Docent, or museum tour guide, into walking us around and talking, though he kept insisting that tours are not offered on free nights. All you have to do is say you are a pilot and start asking questions and they take over from there. Finally, someone who likes airplanes as much as me! Our Docent was a retired Air Force Colonel and even flew several battle missions into Korea and Vietnam. I felt like I was in the presence of greatness, and he certainly knew a thing or two about the airplanes in the museum. He was only able to walk us through the World War I exhibit, but I learned so much in the hour we followed him around like lost puppies. We are so blessed to live in a free country made possible by great men like him.
This was my first visit to the Boeing Museum of Flight, though I have dreamed of going for years. The exhibits were so nice and informative. And lots of airplanes were present! An original airplane costs around $1.5 million, and upwards of $5 million if it's restored. The bigger airplanes cost way more than that. We saw hundreds of every kind and loved every second! The only downside: because it was free night, there were tons of screaming kids every where. I was screaming and running around inside my head but managed to keep a calm, excited look on the outside. I would time it differently next time to avoid the crowds. Despite the thirty-million visitors to the museum that evening, I still managed to see some incredible flying machines. I now plan to visit every time we go to Seattle! I am sure I will never get bored in a building full of airplanes.
Well, almost new.