Viewing areas near Paine Field began to fill early as eager plane-spotters converge on the Everett-Mukilteo area for the first flight of Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner.
Media gathered on the berm facing Paine Field. Hundreds of employees lined up the end of the runway. With a little less than an hour to takeoff, the 787 is clear to go. Boeing has filed its flight plan with the FAA to take off at 10 a.m.
Boeing will webcast the 787’s first flight live at www.boeing.com. Several local television stations will broadcast from the event. And at HeraldNet.com, The Herald will have live video from KIRO TV.
Here are some parks that could serve as good viewing spots:
- Harborview Park: 1621 Mukilteo Blvd., Everett.
- Walter E. Hall Park: 1226 SW Casino Road, Everett.
- American Legion Memorial Park: 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett.
- 10th Street Marina Park and other sites along West Marine Drive in Everett: 10th Street and W. Marine View Drive, Everett.
A sea of Boeing employees stood along the runway at close to 10 a.m. Many who had been to other first flights said the crowd seemed more excited for this one. Others have been on weekends, but today workers were let off the job for the viewing.
Lisa Trainer, who had seen a previous first flight, saw people cry at the sight. Another worker on the supply chain, Tracy Armbruster, added, “and there will be a lot of tears shed today.”
– Amy Rolph, Herald writer
As the crowd at Paine Field grew to over 200 people waiting to see the 787 take wing, Roger Todd, 46, of Granite Falls said the first flight is “probably as big a milestone as the first transatlantic 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.”
At 9:45 a.m., a steady stream of people was moving toward the Paine Field holding area to witness history.
– Andy Rathbun, Herald writer
The Paine Field crowd awaiting the 787’s first flight roughly quadrupled between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., growing to about 160 people. Among viewers were children hoping to see a first flight ever and seasoned pilots who have witnessed other first flights and flown previous Boeing models.
Lots of people in the crowd carried cameras and some had tripods.
– Andy Rathbun, Herald writer
At 8 a.m., the gates at Paine Field were opened and about 20 people gathered in a fenced holding area near the aviation tower to view the 787’s first flight.
Among them were Boeing co-workers Sherry Snyder, of Everett, and Tyrone Newman, of Lake Stevens. “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,” Newman said.
“I’m very excited,” said aviation buff Matt Wong, 29, of Bellevue. “There’s a great feeling of anticipation, even on this hour, this early hour,” the 29-year-old said.
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,” said Darlington, with camera in hand. He saw history in the 1960s when he drove all the way from the Midwest to see the 747 take flight.
– Andy Rathbun, Herald writer
Ben Graham, 23, was the first person outside the Future of Flight in the wee hours today waiting to see the 787 take wing. The Seattle man arrived at 1:30 a.m. and parked across the street before the gates opened. “It’s a beautiful airplane and I want to see it fly,” the Seattle man said. Graham said a security guard offered him refuge from the cold inside the museum, but he chose to stay outside.
An aspiring pilot who works for Best Buy, Graham said, “I’m just a nerd in general.” He hopes to take flying lessons. “I want to be a pilot and I love the environment,” he said. “I don’t think those things are contradictory, or at least they shouldn’t be,” said Graham, who likes the 787’s fuel efficiency.
Also at the Future of Flight was Boeing worker Laura Roeder, 44, of Shoreline, who said delays and other problems don’t cloud this day. “I don’t take that into consideration,” she said. “It’s just a landmark, a historic moment. This is changing aviation history.”
Mary From, 44, of Bothell, said her husband is chief engineer for flight test engineering on the 787. “It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work over a lot of years,” From said. “This is the future of flight.”
Seventy-year-old Gary Labounty, of Edmonds, was recently laid off from his research and development job with Boeing, but hopes to go back. “Every airplane has its problems. This is a whole new plane with whole new materials,” Labounty said.
– Bill Sheets, Herald writer
Outside the Future of Flight Tuesday morning, Boeing worker Michael Palmer, 26, of Everett had come straight from ending his shift at 6 a.m. to see the first 787 flight.
“Normally I’d be asleep right now,” said Palmer, who said he painted the first three 787s. “This is worth it if it flies. Otherwise, it’s a day of no sleep.” His wife was bringing his 2-year-old to see the flight.
Palmer sees the flight as a morale-booster. “It’s a big job-security flight,” he said.
Boeing workers who start at 6 a.m. were allowed to be outside for the flight.
“I went to work at 6, then came out. It’s great, we’re excited,” said Staci Dohr, 42, of Bothell. Dohr works in engineering for the plane’s closets, partitions and class dividers.
Dohr said that despite delays and news of Boeing’s plan for another 787 line in South Carolina, “we just kept on going through all of it. We just kept on believing. There was a lot of frustration. Maybe that’s why this is so exciting,” she said.
She was with Andrea Gilbert, 40, a manufacturing planner. Not minding the early-morning chill, Gilbert said, “We’re born and raised here.
“We’re hoping to get this off the ground and get the planes delivered to customers.”
“It’s kind of a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this kind of game-changing aircraft,” said Eric Smith, 22, of Sammamish. Smith, also outside the Future of Flight, recently graduated from college in aeronautical engineering, but hasn’t yet found work.
– Bill Sheets, Herald writer
Retired pilot Floyd Johnson, 72, traveled Monday from Glen Ellyn, Ill., to see the first flight of Boeing’s 787. By 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, he was outside Paine Field awaiting a shuttle ride to a viewing spot.
“I’m a flier, I’m a pilot. I’m excited about it,” said Johnson, who has flown the 727, 707, 757 and 767 for American Airlines. The 787 Dreamliner, he said, is “slick, nice, really aerodynamic. It looks pure.”
– Andy Rathbun, Herald writer
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