Traveler Description
Museum-goers can view all types of aircraft, walk through the first presidential jet, pilot an imaginary flight in the traffic-control tower or even ride in a NASA space flight simulator.

Address: 9404 East Marginal Way South
Phone: 206-764-5720

http://www.museumofflight.org/

Traveler Reviews

A must for aviation enthusiasts, and non enthusiasts
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Sep 25, 2008


My two sons are plane crazy, and I used to be a pilot, so the Museum of Flight was definitely on our list of places to visit in Seattle. We were certainly not disappointed - this is a must visit location for anyone - not just aviation enthusiasts. My wife would not consider herself an aviation fan, but even she enjoyed it tremendously. Be prepared to spend at least the whole day here. A big highlight for use was visiting the Air Park and walking through Air Force One and the Concorde. The space exhibition and the WWI and WWII galleries were also awesome so make sure you allocate time to spend in these. There are plenty of 'hands on' activities for you to do, such as a lunar lander and shuttle simulator etc. that you can do for free, and a couple such as the full motion simulator that costs a few dollars. Happy Tip: We found the model planes, books and souvenirs at the museum gift shop to be some of the *cheapest* that we could find around Seattle. This is probably the only place that you can buy Boeing licenced model planes. We spent hundreds in the gift shop with no regrets.

A Fabulous Museum
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Aug 25, 2008


I visited the Museum of Flight several days ago and found it to be incredibly fascinating and worthwhile seeing. There is a hall of very old planes including a model of the Wright's first plane. There is also a gallery with planes used during World War I and World War II by various countries, the barn used by Boeing to construct planes and an area across the street with several planes. You are able to board the Concorde and a former Air Force One plane. This museum is not in downtown Seattle. If you do not have a car with you in Seattle, you can take the #174 bus. I took that bus from 4th and Syewart in downtown Seattle (near Macys).

Fantastic Aviation Museum
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Aug 11, 2008


This is an excellent aviation museum. The main gallery is very well lit with natural lighting and the centerpiece is the M-21 Blackbird Mother Ship, one of two built. There are numerous civilian and military planes in this gallery. The space exhibit is very interesting with an Apollo Command Module, Lunar Rover and full size model of a Lunar Ascent Module. The Red Barn gallery is interesting and shows airplane construction as it once was. The best gallery is the Personal Courage Wing which features some really great restored WWI and WWII fighters with many really great interactive displays. Don't forget to visit the Airpark across the street to see the Concorde, Air Force 1 and the first 747. You can spend hours at this museum if you stop to read all the placards and displays.

Museum of Flight Delivers
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Jul 13, 2008


I've moved to Seattle, after traveling here part-time over the past year. I've fallen in love with the city, but had not visited ANY of it's museums until today. I figured I'll be hosting friends and relatives who come to visit over the coming years, and I should see which museums are worth a visit. Over the course of a weekend, I visited the Seattle Art Museum, the Experience Music Project, the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, the Museum of Flight, and the Pacific Science Museum. Of these, the Museum of Flight was easily the most impressive in terms of the robustness of the permanent exhibits and the creativity/quality of display. The WW II exhibit is outstanding, right up there with that at the National Air Museum at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton (by FAR the finest air museum in the country - if you are in the area, it's a MUST see). The main hall is also impressive with a nice array of military and civilian aircraft from the last century of flight. There are a number of interactive displays, and they are numerous enough you actually don't have to wait long to participate (unlike the participative exhibits at most museums). Another nice contextual note, the museum sits astride one of Boeings several airstrips in the Seattle region (on it's near south side, about 5 miles north of the Sea-Tac International Airport). Driving past row upon row of military and civilian aircraft on the Tukwila International Blvd. as you drive to and from the exhibit gets you in the mood ... They are a bit landlocked. In speaking with one of the plentiful volunteer guides, he said they would very much like to expand their exhibits in the hope of rivaling the museum in Dayton (would have to TRIPLE their exhibits), but can't find the land onto which to expand. The Concorde and 707 type Air Force One were enjoyable to tour, and were a no cost addition to the museum admission. I'd say it would be normal to spend between 2 and 3 hours here, although a serious air junkie could spend a whole day without running out of stuff to read, see, listen too, and participate with. A worthwhile place to check out in Seattle.

This will keep you busy all day!
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Jun 23, 2008


The Museum of Flight is located just 10 minutes south of downtown Seattle, and just off of the main highway. Parking is free, and an adult ticket will only set you back $14.00... not bad, considering that my husband and I were there for the whole seven hours and still weren't able to see it all. The museum is very interactive, with something for everyone, whatever the age. It includes a World War One and World War Two wing, a wing devoted to early flight, including the beginnings of Boeing, and the Wright brothers original flight (video footage of this is available for viewing). There is a space age/rocket wing, and a gallery that takes you from 1945 to the present. The gallery is something to behold... more than 25 planes in one room, including jets and commercial airliners, vintage planes, a couple of flight simulators, etc. Sit in the cockpit of a real fighter jet. View a car that converts into a plane. View an individual hovercraft. Laugh at TV commercials from the 1960s and 70s, view the history of the stewardess uniform, and chuckle at the interior decor of 70s aircraft, including wood panelling and shag carpet! In the War wings, walk through the trenches of WW1; Listen to old radio programs announcing events as they happened; Try "flying" a fighter plane (video simulation). And in the process, learn a lot of history. There is an area geared to young kids as well. And outside, you can actually tour an old Air Force One...the same that J.F. Kennedy and President Nixon flew. After that, take time to tour the Concorde. My husband and I enjoyed learning about the history of rockets and rocket fuel, but unfortunately ran out of time to tour the entire space wing. It is a place we would definitely visit again. One of the highlights of our visit to Seattle.