Wings, Waves, a Spruce goose and a Concorde to
Boot!
These are just a very few, small smattering of
Aviation museums I know about, with a Waterpark thrown in for Fun!
WASHINGTON
Museum of Flight
Location: Seattle
If you’re an aviation buff, then this is
definitely a must see, as it has an impressive collection of various era
aircraft. With my personal favourite being the Lockeed YF-12A complete with
drone hanging from the ceiling! This was the forbearer to the vaunted SR-71.
As it pains me to admit it was over three
decades ago when I saw the YF-12A “spyplane” trucked into the museo on three
separate semi-truck trailers, before reassembly. Which I Arse-sume still
resides in the museum.
There was also an outstanding WWI & WWII
wing along with an Airpark across the street (Marginal Way) containing a
Concorde and Air Force 1 Presidential airplane that you can walk through. As
the Air Force One Aeroplane was used by Ike’, aka Dwight D. Eisenhower and
contained a pass-thru Doggie’ door. While it also served JFK, (Kennedy) LBJ’
)Linden Johnson) and “Tricky dick!” (Nixon)
While I believe these various Aeroplanes, including a DeHavilland Concorde and Boeing
747SP, are housed underneath “Open air” roofing.
Having just discovered that there’s now 19
“Jumbo” Jets parked on static display in the Aviation Pavillion. Including the
first Boeing 727, 737 and 747. Plus the only West coast Concorde and the
aforementioned Boeing 707, the first jet powered Air Force One.
Museum
of Flight: Aviation Pavillion
Whilst I’ll admit I haven’t been to the museo’
in decades, for which I believe its been massively renovated. Most notably now
housing one of the surviving Space Shuttles, the lone Trainer. Being housed in the
new Space wing, and celebrating its 60th Anniversary on September 13, 2025.
Museum Website
https://www.museumofflight.org/#main-content
Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum
Location: Everett
This excellent museo
was initially founded by the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. Being
sold to Stuart Walton, grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton in 2022…
The museum spans nine
acres nearby Paine Field in three Hangars amassing 110,000 square feet, with 26
vintage Airplanes and some 30 Armoured Combat machinery on display.
The museum hosts the
only flying Japanese Zero and Messerschmidt ME-262 Jet Fighter from WWII. As I
believe it was vintage fighters from the museo that used to pass overhead
during Seafair when I lived on the “flight-line”. As there’s nothing more
symphonic then the sound of a vintage WWII fighter Aeroplane’s engine rumbling
overhead!
Museum Website
Heritage Flight Museum
Location: Burlington
I first learned of
this museo accidently when reading Robert Kurson’s excellent 2018 book Rocket
Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man’s first
Journey to the Moon. And that Astronaut William Anders had created this flying
museum operating out of the Skagit Valley Airport.
Retired USAF major
General William Anders is best known for taking the iconic Earthrise photograph
during the 1968 Apollo 8 mission. The first Apollo mission to leave low Earth
orbit and circle the Moon ten times.
Unfortunately Anders,
at age 90, perished at the controls of His Beech A-45 in June, 2024. But the
museum lives on. With several flying Aeroplanes. Including a P-51 Mustang, A6M2
Tora Zero; which perhaps I’ve Corfuzed above with the late Paul Allen’s
exhibit? An A-1 Skyraider, MiG-21 and F-89 Scorpion to name just a few…
Museum Website
OREGON
Western Antique Aeroplane Automobile Museum
Location: Hood River
Like I previously
noted in my Northwest Automotive section. I first learned about the museo
Wayback’ when reading an Smithsonian Air & Space magazine article, about a glider
I’d never heard of before.
Best part of all about this museum is that they call themselves a living museum. Proclaiming that
everything is restored to fully functioning status. Along with either being
flown or driven!
Museum Website
Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum
Location: McMinnville
Having long known
about this museo being the home of the legendous’ Spruce goose. I finally got
the wonderful opportunity to visit it Wayback in Gory 2019! (Prior to COVID-19)
Having what
essentially turned into a private tour by the two museum volunteers,
proclaiming they’d never had a Blind person visit Messer Hughes “contraption”
before.
AVIATION:
My Long Awaited Trek to the Spruce Goose
Or Y’all may enjoy
my book review upon Howard Hughes in the following No fenders tome…
When
Howard Hughes Ruled the Roost
As I didn’t get the
chance to peruse the other portion of the expansive museum’s other Aeroplanes
and other items on exhibit. Reportedly still walking on clouds from my Spruce
goose experience.
Whilst I was then
able to vaguely “See” the F-15 Eagle fighter on static display outside as we
departed. In memory of Michael Smith, who’s tragedy is a sad tale for another
day…
Museum Website
https://www.evergreenmuseum.org/
Wings and Waves Waterpark
Location: McMinnville
Also read about this
a long time ago, albeit don’t know the specifics. But I believe you slide thru
an honest-to-goodness Boeing 747 Airplane’s fuselage! And something about it
being a sixty foot drop? As its something different to try. Although reputedly
not for the faint of Heart.
Museum Website
