787 an exciting experience for those gathered to watch
Published 10:06 pm Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Outside the Future of Flight when the 787 took off were Herb Brayton, 60, and James Timyan, 23. The two men left the Tri-Cities at 3 a.m. and arrived in Everett by 9 a.m. “We fought the snow just for this moment. It’s pretty cool,” said Brayton, of Pasco, who had tears in his eyes as the plane took off. Both are self-described airplane enthusiasts. “The whole country should be excited over this,” Brayton said.
Jana Runnels, 27, and her husband decided after seeing early news today to drive to the Future of Flight from Sedro-Woolley with their two children. “We just wanted to be part of something,” Runnels said.
“It’s actually in the air. It’s so exciting, beyond words,” said Mary From, 44, of Bothell, whose husband is chief engineer for flight test engineering on the 787.
“I’m just so thrilled,” said Boeing worker Nicole Johnson, 39, of Stanwood. “Now we can start rolling them out and start selling them to customers and get more paychecks.”
Roger Todd of Granite Falls said the first flight is “probably as big a milestone as the first trans-Atlantic flight.” Todd, a Boeing employee who has trained people on manufacturing the 787, said his excitement level is “beyond that of a kid on Christmas morning.”
Boeing co-workers Sherry Snyder of Everett and Tyrone Newman of Lake Stevens were among the onlookers. “We’re just so glad to be in the air. It’s going to be a huge boost to morale,” Snyder said. “It’s going to be tomorrow’s future,” added Newman.
Thomas Darlington drove to Paine Field from Seattle to see the flight. “I’m cold,” he said, then laughed and added, “No, but besides that I’m excited. It’s a part of history.”
