First stop was a tour of the Boeing Everett factory to see the assembly lines making the 747, 777 and 787 (Dreamliner) The building covers over 100 acres, or 75 football fields, or the whole of California Disney World plus 10 acres of parking. In other words, the biggest footprint of any building in the world! Over 1,000,000 light fittings in the factory alone.
Unfortunately no pictures inside, we weren't allowed to take anything with us. Not so much because of security but someone dropped a camera once and put a million dollar dent in a new 747! The building consisted of 3 separate assembly lines, each operating in quite a different way. The photo's are all from outside.
Back into town to be dropped off to catch a public bus out to the Seattle Museum of Flight. This is one of the most significant plane museums in the world, but will let the photo's do the talking there. However the trip reinforced my personal view that public transport should be banned, quite disgusting and a waste of tax payers money!
Back to town and we had dinner at a restaurant on the waterfront at the bottom of town. It was fabulous.
Tomorrow is a very early wake up for the train trip to Vancouver. Just not enough time here.
4 of these modified 747's exist used to ferry completed sections of the 787 here for assembly
The 'nursery'. All new. The green is a protective plastic coating from the assembly line. "Yes sir, we will paint it any colour you like, once you make your second payment".
Museum of Flight. SR71 Blackbird
Blackbird. Fastest plane ever built.
A shrink wrapped fully restored B29 Super Fortress
B17 Flying Fortress. Smaller than I thought and one of the most elegant planes ever built
Air Force 1 - No1
Could only be 1 plane in the world - discounting the Russian copy
Concord. Actually quite small inside. Would be claustrophobic, good thing you weren't ever in it for too long. (if you were ever lucky enough to actually go in one)
Air Force 1
B747 No1
Another plane museum. Although at least this one looks like it has cool things like air force 1.
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