Seattle’s Museum of Flight is a prime aviation attraction and a must-see for all aircraft enthusiasts. Chris Gilson reports
MUSEUMS
The distinctive and beautiful shape of a Lockheed L1049G Super Constellation is the first aircraft to catch your eye as you walk across the car park to the entrance of the sprawling Museum of Flight. Resplendent in its bright Trans-Canada colours, it’s an indication of the delights and multitude of exhibits that lie inside, ranging from the iconic Concorde to a Boeing B-29 Superfortress restoration project that has to be seen to be fully appreciated.
In fact, there’s a strong Boeing influence to the collection, as the museum is situated on the edge of the mighty Boeing Field/ King County International Airport complex that takes up the majority of land on East Marginal Way South. The Museum of Flight also incorporates the Red Barn, the Boeing Company’s original factory, which was floated as a complete structure up the Duwamish River to its new home for preservation. Restored in 1983 it became the first permanent location for the fledgling museum.
The roots of the museum stretch back 53 years to 1964, when a group of aviation enthusiasts became concerned that artefacts and a…
