MUKILTEO – With the Boeing Co. touting the 787 as the future for commercial aviation, it’s fitting that the Future of Flight is on display just down the road from the assembly plant.
Since it opened in late 2005, the Future of Flight Aviation Center &Boeing Tour has had 787-related displays, including a mock-up of the airplane’s interior and a barrel section of the plane’s fuselage.
Visitors on the tour of Boeing’s assembly plant also have gotten occasional glimpses of the jetliner in recent months.
Tour visitors should be able to see much more of the 787 in the coming years as Boeing moves toward regular assembly of its newest model. That, and new displays about the plane, has helped boost attendance at the Future of Flight.
“We’re seeing higher numbers of visitors this year,” said Sandy Ward, the museum’s marketing director. “Some of that has to be from interest in the 787.”
More visits from Asian tourists and from groups coming to the museum either before or after taking cruise ships out of Seattle also have contributed to the increase, she added.
But the 787’s rollout and Everett’s central role as the airplane’s assembly site could bring more attention to the Future of Flight. The Boeing tour already is one of the region’s biggest single tourist attractions, but the museum itself has struggled last year to meet its goals in terms of visitor numbers.
There already have been encouraging signs. After Matt Lauer of “The Today Show” broadcast from the Everett factory and taped a segment in the museum, hits on the Future of Flight’s Web site soared.
At least one Saturday this spring, the museum had to turn away visitors because it was so busy. That hasn’t happened since, but it’s noticeably busier this year, Ward said.
“We are running at capacity right now,” she said, noting the facility plans to welcome its 250,000 visitor this summer.
The $23.5 million Future of Flight Aviation Center &Boeing Tour is a joint venture among Snohomish County, Boeing and the private Future of Flight Foundation. Instead of focusing on the past of aviation, it has focused from the start on the present and future – a perfect fit with the 787.
As home of the Boeing tour and Boeing’s expanded gift shop, the Future of Flight is heavily geared toward the hometown company. From the center’s rooftop observation deck, visitors can view Paine Field and Boeing’s delivery center for commercial airplanes.
Today, to celebrate the Dreamliner’s debut, the Future of Flight is holding special activities. Though those are open to the public, tickets were required in advance.
Ward said as more milestones arrive, including the 787’s first test flight in the near future, the museum will mark those and should continue to reap benefits as well.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
