The Museum of Flight, located in Seattle, recently opened their new three-acre Aviation Pavilion. The new 9 story, 3-acre pavilion doubles the museum’s exhibit space and marks the biggest expansion of the museum in its 51-year history. Although the museum already boasts having more than 160 airplanes and spacecraft on display, this already great number will increase more thanks to this pavilion, with 15 new airplanes unique airplanes being added.
The Pavilion Exhibit will be focused on large aircraft and commercial airliners, following their progress and development from the 1930s to the present. According to museum officials, the exhibit will include some planes that you won’t be able to see anywhere else.
Aircraft on Display at the Museum of Flight’s Aviation Pavillion
The pavilion includes a first-ever exhibit centered around the air freight and cargo business and includes an interactive FedEx Air Cargo exhibit housed in the fuselage of a former FedEx Boeing 727 aircraft. Visitors will be able to see the world’s only presentation of the first Boeing 737 and 747 jets and a rare Douglas DC-2 airliner from the 1930s. Also on display are a Boeing 747 prototype, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and an iconic Concorde, the only one currently on the West Coast.
When it comes to military aircraft, the pavilion houses three bombers, the World War II era B-17F Flying Fortress, a B-29 Superfortress, and the Cold War era B-47 Stratojet. The pavilion will also feature numerous fighter jets.
The Museum of Flight already receives 560,000 visitors per year, and this expansion is sure to increase that number. After all, who wouldn’t want to see all these amazing exhibits and end the day by drinking coffee under the wings of the first 747 Jumbo Jet at the Museum’s café? Also, if you’re paying a visit to the Museum of Flight, you should consider taking the Boeing Factory Tour as well. It’s pretty incredible.
Featured Image: Museum of Flight
