New Aviation Pavilion Opens at Museum of Flight

New Exhibit Takes Flight

The Museum of Flight is kind of a big deal--in fact, it's the largest non-profit air and space museum in the world.

Located in Seattle, Washington, the museum features over 175 different aircraft and spacecraft, tens of thousands of aviation artifacts, millions of rare photographs, dozens of exhibits, a world class library... Stop. Breathe. There's a lot.

Suffice it to say, the Museum of Flight is simply out of this world for aviation enthusiasts.

About the Museum

The Museum of Flight aims to conserve, educate, and entertain the public at large, regardless of how young, novice, or professional you might be. There's something for everyone. Their vision? To be "the foremost educational air and space museum in the world."

Established in 1964, the Pacific Northwest Aviation Historical Foundation began to save important aviation-related artifacts and educate the public about the importance and the benefits of saving such historically relevant artifacts. Only a year later, the first "official" Museum of Flight exhibits were displayed in a 10,000 square-foot space at the Seattle Center.

In 1975, the concept for a complex began to take flight, starting with leasing the land where The Red Barn is now located (The Red Barn is the birthplace of the Boeing Company, saved from demolition). The Red Barn was restored in 1983 and became the first permanent location for the museum.

The Great Gallery joined the Complex in 1987, the Library and Archives Building in 2002, and the J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing and Airpark in 2002.

The Museum of Flight hasn't stopped expanding since the idea first gained altitude half a century ago--most recently, the Museum of Flight celebrates the opening of their newest gallery, the Aviation Pavilion.

Aviation Pavilion

Officially opened June 25, 2016, The Aviation Pavilion is a covered, 3-acre outside gallery exhibiting 19 rare and unique commercial and military airplanes. The gallery focuses on "the dramatic development of large aircraft and commercial airliners from the 1930s to present." Many of the planes on display cannot be seen anywhere else, making this a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many.

One exhibit, The FedEx Air Cargo exhibit, was built from the fuselage of a (former FedEx) Boeing 727 freighter, offers a highly interactive, behind-the-scenes exploration into the world of air deliveries.

The airliner exhibit features the following aircraft:

• The first Boeing 727*, 737, and 747 jets


• The first jet Air Force One*


• 1930s Boeing 247D*


• 1930s Douglas DC-2


• The only Concord on the West Coast


• New Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The military aircraft lineup includes the following:

• WWII B-17F Flying Fortress (We wrote about the B-17 here)


• WWII B-29 Superfortress


• Cold War-era B-47 Stratojet


• Various jet fighters spanning from Korean to Persian Gulf wars

The Aviation Pavilion exhibit offers daily tours, a caf, and a children's play area (there's a mini airport terminal under the wings of the 747!), all under one roof.

*These aircraft will be exhibited outside of the Pavilion, next to the Museum entrance, until fall 2016 

Check it out

Want to be one of the 560,00+ annual visitors? Tickets can be purchased in-person or online here.

As of June 25, the Museum offers new summer hours for their Museum, Airpark, and Aviation Pavilion.

Can't make it to Seattle anytime soon? There's plenty of cool stuff to explore on their website, too!

 

We'd love to hear from you!

Have you ever visited the Museum of Flight before? Or are you planning a trip in the near future? Let us know!