We’ve been to several museums in the USA, Canada and even in Russia. Therefore, we can honestly say the following about The Museum of Flight in Seattle: it is a good place to visit if one is interested about the evolution of aircraft, learning about the birthplace of The Boeing Company, and also presents a good collection of aircraft. This actually should be, since in many way, the Museum is housing Boeing’s own collection of aircraft which are deemed for public display. We bet, the part of the collection which are not on public display, are probably a lot more interesting for a dedicated aircraft enthusiast.

The Museum is divided into several galleries on two levels inside the main building. There is also an outside Airpark display area, across the street from the main building that is accessible through a covered bridge.

The Great Gallery, named after T.A. Wilson, is a six-story high glass-and-steel atrium with abundant light. This is the main display area containing approximately 43 historic civilian, military and research aircraft. Here one can find hanging from the ceiling (aka “Cloud Level”) a very diverse selection from a Douglas DC-3, Piper J-3 Cub, Lear Fan 2100 to the Lockheed Martin/Boeing RQ-3A Darkstar. While on the ground level of the T.A. Wilson Great Gallery one can see a full scale replica of the Wright 1903 Flyer, and such rarities as the Lockheed M-21 Blackbird, a Goodyear F2G-1 Super Corsair, a Taylor Aerocar III. Ground level also has several post WWII fighters from the Korean to Vietnam era, including a Canadair CL-138 Sabre (a Canadian built and improved F-86 Sabre) MiG 15, MiG 21PFM and the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II

The J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing, houses on the ground level the WWII gallery, while on the second level one can find the WWI gallery. However, be warned, both of these display areas are way too dark even for proper viewing of the aircraft on display, never mind photography. While flash is allowed, one truly needs a camera with great high ISO performance such as the Nikon D3 with a fast lens, if one doesn’t want to use flash and wants to take photos in the ambient darkness. The WWI collection is made up of 18 aircraft with such rarities as the Astro-Hungarian Aviatik D.1 to the more common Fokker Dr. 1 Triplane. In the WWII section is made up of 10 aircraft where one can encounter a Messerschmitt BF 109E-3 hanging from the ceiling to a Nakajima Ki-43-IIb Hayabusa.

There are (3) aircraft displayed by the entrance to the parking lot; the Fiat G.91 Pan, Grumman F-14 Tomcat and the Grumman A-6 Intruder. Immediately in front of the museum’s main entrance there is a Boeing WB-47E Stratojet, a MiG 17 in North Vietnamese markings and a Harrier AV-8B Harrier II of the USM jump jet, although the available Visitors Guide brochure, at the time of our visit on August 5, 2009, erroneously indicates that there is a Douglas DC-2 in the place of the MiG 17 and Harrier.

At the AIRPARK one can get aboard the Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde and tour America’s first jet Air Force One, and one can see the very first Boeing 747 and 737.

There are several Flight Simulators, a Kid’s Flight Zone, a theater, and the William E. Boeing Red Barn, where one can learn about the Boeing Aircraft Company from 1916 to 1958. One can eat at the reasonably priced Wings Café, and shop at the Museum Store. Although interestingly enough, one cannot find a printed catalogue of the museum’s aircraft on display for purchase.

In conclusion our impression is that the Museum of Flight is worth the visit if one is in the Seattle area, but we would not specifically travel cross country just to visit this Museum. There are many other Museums in the USA which offer a greater variety of aircraft.