Boeing:  The Future of Flight Aviation Centre & Boeing Tour

In 1966, Boeing announced that it was going to build the world's largest jetliner-the 747.  Therefore, the need to build an equally impressive manufacturing plant arose.  Today the Boeing factory, in Everett, Washington, has a volume of 472 million cubic feet (13.3 million cubic meters) and covers an area of 98.3 acres (39.8 hectares).  It is recognised by the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest building in the world by volume.  Assembly for twin-aisled airplanes-747,767,777 and the 787 Dreamliner take place here.  In 1968, hte world's first 747 was rolled out and Boeing officially began conducting tours of the facility.

Today, visitors are taken on a tour of the factory and can watch these airplanes being built.  Located in Mukilteo, about 25 miles north of Seattle, tours are given seven days a week and are about 90 minutes long.  The tour begins with a brief introduction to the company and then you are taken by bus, to the factory.  The first stop is at the section where the 747s are being built, the most current of which is the new 747-8F.  There are balconies above the factory floor from where visitors can look down on the different processes involved in assembling the aircraft.  The guides are very well informed and can tell you anything you need to know about the different aircraft being built.

The second stop is further down where you can watch the 777 and the brand new 787 Dreamliner being built.  The 777 is Boeings' long-range carrier and can fly distances from 9,380 nautical miles with the 777-200LR Worldliner to 4,885 nautical miles with the Freighter.  The newest addition to the Boeing family is the 787 Dreamliner, which can fly a range of 2,500-3,050 nautical miles with the 787-3 Dreamliner and the 787-9 Dreamliner has a range of 8,000-8,500 nautical miles.

On the way back to the visitor centre, the guidew takes you along the first path that any aircraft takes once it is rolled out of the factory and taken to the paint hangar.  Here, the airplanes get painted in the livery of the company that has bought them.  Visitor can then go to the roof of the visitor centre and enjoy watching any take-offs and landings that might be happening at the Paine Field....who knows you might even see a huge converted 747-8F bringing in whole parts for the 777 and the 787 from around the world for final assembly!  And always remember to say, "If it's not Boeing, I'm not going!"