What is better than a collection of old war birds? A larger collection of old war birds. Recently, the Flying Heritage Collection (FHC), located at Paine Field in Everett, WA, expanded their facility to show off more of their collection and I was invited to check it out.
The 26,000 sq foot expansion is directly next to their facility that opened in 2008. The initial construction for the FHC started in 2004 by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and used a classic 51,000 sq foot hangar once used by Alaska Airlines.
Like the rest of the FHC, the new addition is not just about the planes, but about the technology behind the aircraft. One can of course learn about each of the aircraft, but also about their placement in history and how they helped to change the world.
BONUS: Aviation in Seattle: Exploring the Flying Heritage Collection at Paine Field
The FHC is not a typical war bird type museum. Each of the aircraft in the facility have been meticulously restored and every one of them is still flyable. During the summer, you can not only check out the facility, but also see these birds in action during their Free Fly days.
As of the time of this story, the Flying Heritage Collection is open 10am to 5pm seven days per week from Memorial Day to Labor day and open from Tues-Sun the rest of the year. It costs $12 for adults and less for children. Be sure to check their visit page for the most up to date information. It is surely worth the time and money to check out all the amazing machines.
You can also check out the expansion during Paine Field Aviation Day going on May 18th.
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This story written by…Brandon Farris, Correspondent.
Brandon is an avid aviation geek based in Seattle. He got started in Photography and Reporting back in 2010. He loves to travel where ever he has to to cover the story and try to get the best darn shot possible. |
I would love to visit this museum when I head out to Washington this summer. Thanks for the info!
If time is money you’ve made me a wetehailr woman.