Few airports in the world have such a cluster of air and technology museums, making the collection of rare planes an historic treasure for the airport and coiunty tourism.
And, the airport’s growing stature continues to grow as more facilities are added and others are expanded.
The Flying Heritage Collection, one of the world’s great collections of rare World War II-era fighter planes in flying condition, celebrated its first anniversary June 6, 2009 at its new Paine Field location, after three years of operating from much small facilities with limited public access at Arlington Airport.
Located in a restored, working hangar at the southeast corner of Paine Field, the Flying Heritage Collection has seen more than 25,000 visitors in the past year and hosted more than 7,500 attendees at its 2008 free summer Fly Day events.
The aviation day program launches this summer’s schedule of Fly Days on June 6, with the entire schedule posted on the FHC Web site, www.flyingheritage.com.
Free summer Fly Days offer rare opportunities for the public to see historic aircraft return to the sky. The remaining summer Fly Days are scheduled for June 6, June 20, June 27, July 18, July 25, August 8, August 22, September 12 and September 19.
In the past year, the Flying Heritage Collection has hosted special events on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, hosted the 2009 Paine Field General Aviation Day and performed a “Missing Man” flight formation at a Fly Day event to honor U.S. Captain Bud Tordoff, the pilot of the FHC’s P-51 Mustang, who passed away last summer.
The Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour facility attracts thousands of visitors annually to view the latest in aviation technology, particularly in the airliner industry.
Visitors can learn more about Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and see it under construction on the plant tour. People can also design their own airliner on computers on the floor of the display area, watch aviation videos and touch and feel a composite fuselage section for the 787.
More information is available at www.futureofflight.org
The Museum of Flight Aircraft Restoration Center at Paine Field is the main site for restoring historic aircraft before they’re displayed at Seattle’s Museum of Flight.
Although its cramped space limits the size of visiting groups, the center offers a fascinating venue for those with deeper levels of interest in historic aircraft and the science and technology of restoring them to display condition.
Presently, the center’s staff and volunteers are restoring a British Comet, the world’s first jet airliner, and several military fighter planes.
For more information, visit www..museumofflight.org/restoration-center
The Legend Flyers’ Me-262 Project is also a small tour venue, requiring prior arrangements with owner Bob Hammer. But the historic value of his project makes the project in the former USAF F-102 alert hangars at Paine Field a prized visit for serious aviation and history enthusiasts. It’s a rare opportunity to see exact, flying replicas of an extinct World War II phenomenon, the world’s first jet fighter plane involved in aerial combat.
For more information visit www.stormbirds.com
The Historic Aircraft Foundation opens at Paine Field in the fall of 2009, making it the fifth major aviation venue at the airport. John Session’s Historic Aircraft Foundation-Kilo 6 air museum will be located on the Southwest corner of Paine Field.
Details have not been publicized yet but displays in Session’s three hangars will include his P-51s, a rare Tiger Cat, a military de Havilland Beaver and many other aircraft, all of them maintained in flight condition.
For more information, visit www.http://www.kilo6.org/about.html and www.flickr.com/photos/mitrebuad/sets/72157606929428006/
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