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Hot Topic: Seattle's World Renown Aviation Museum is Really a Great Value IN FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT     

There, I mentioned it. But this story is really about an aviation experience that many of our readers have heard about while visiting the Seattle area, but simply could not find the time to take it in. That was a mistake because the Museum of Flight (MoF) one of the 1000 places that aviation buffs must see before they die.

Question: What weighs more than 9 tons, flies, and hangs from the ceiling? Nope, its not a bat! Read on.

The MOF began as a historical society in the early sixties and later grew to provide the Seattle Worlds Fair goers with a glimpse of the aviation pioneers in the Northwest and grew, primarily with the help of Boeing CEO, "T" Wilson , to the world class aviation cathedral it is today. In 1987, the three million cubic foot Great Gallery was opened along side of the first Boeing airplane manufacturing plant, The Red Barn. It is noted as the oldest manufacturing plant in the US and now serves to show how the early wood and fabric planes were made.

And now for the wow factors - The museum has over 150 aircraft, about a dozen are outside on permanent display in 3 air parks, and some 90 more planes are on display inside their Boeing Field location. There are two aircraft levels (parked and "flying") in the Great Gallery, and two other halls called Personal Courage wings dedicated to the aircraft and fliers in WWI and WWII. There is a movie theater with continuous running aviation showings, a new Space exhibit and a very good eatery. All in all, this is the place for parents and kids who want to get up close and personal with planes. To give you an idea of the venue, here are a few of our favorites: The SR-71 Blackbird, the Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, German Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-13, and the North American P-51 Mustang.

Here are a few tips if you plan to go - At $14 for adults and $7.50 for kids (Seniors $13 and kids under 5 free) it is a bargain, however, admission is free the first Thursday of each month. Plan on a full day...there is a lot to see. Bring your lunch or enjoy the reasonable priced food in the eatery. Save your pennies and buy your aviation Christmas presents there too - what a wonderful gift shop. Do talk to one of the grey haired docents...these folks ARE aviation history and a great source of information about "the good old days". Take a break from all that walking in the theatre, and finally, take a camera and see the moon rock. As we noted earlier, the MoF is a great place for kids. During our visit, a particularly cranky 2 year old tired from a day of plane spotting howled on the coffee shop until one of the food workers came up to him and claimed, "This is not how we want our customers to enjoy the museum." and proceeded to fold up a paper airplane from a brochure on the table and flew it over his head with the challenge, "See how far you can fly it". He might still be there, flying his paper plane...in silence.

Answer: If you have not figured out the quiz question, check out the photo, it is a Douglas DC-3.
 

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