13 July - Mukilteo Light and Boeing Tour

13 July
Several days ago we bought tickets online for the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Factory Tour for 1130 today.  Because of the unpredictable delays in the traffic up here, we allowed 2 hrs 45 minutes for a 57 mile trip leaving here at 0845 hrs for an 1130 hrs tour.  We made fairly descent time getting there, so we had time to drive a few miles west to briefly see the Mukilteo Light.  

Doreen standing in front of the very well preserved Mukilteo Light

The Mukileo Light was built in 1905 and opened in 1906.  In 1927 the station was converted to electricity and in 1979 it was automated.  In 1987 the facilities were renovated and in 2001 it was deeded over to the city of Mukilteo WA.  Unfortunately it is only open on weekends, but the grounds were accessible so we could walk around and take some pictures.

The Keepers House

The Assistant Keeper's House which serves as the gift shop today

A couple well-preserved outbuildings

 After a brief visit there, we drove to the Boeing tour, parked in the adjacent parking lot. and made our way to the Future of Flight building for the tour.

There were two 52-person groups at the 1130 time slot.  We were briefed in advance there were no cameras, cell phone, bags, purses, food or drinks allowed on the tour.  Also, children must be at least 48 inches tall to go on the tour.  We did not understand this at first, but it made more sense later..They provided secured lockers free of charge, so we locked everything up and reported to the starting point.  Both groups watched an introductory video and then boarded separate buses and headed to the main assembly building.

We first toured the building where the 747's are built.  Words cannot describe how massive these buildings are.  Unbelievable!

The main assembly building from a distance.  Each of the hangar door you see are massive, large enough to pass a completed Boeing jet

There were 747's in there in various stages of assembly.  We entered through an underground tunnel where the utilities are routed and using a massive elevator the entire group traveled up to the third floor where a balcony area provides a great overlook of the entire assembly area.  There is a four foot tall barrier that prevents visitors from leaning over too far, but yet allows everyone to see.  This is why children must be four feet tall to go on the tour.  They cannot have parents lifting children up to see where they might fall over the balcony.  Also, the tour guide said that is why they prohibit cameras, etc.  They cannot take the chance of a camera or cell phone falling over the balcony and landing on someone on the assembly floor below.

We then headed to another area in the same assembly building to see the final 747 assembly portion.  Incredible.  I could have stayed there for literally hours and watched.  Then we boarded the bus and traveled to a different assembly building, where they were assembling the newest Boeing commercial jet, the 787.  It is not larger that the 777 or even the 747 just because it has a higher number.  But it is the most technically advanced jet they make.  The fuselage is made of composites rather than aluminum, making it lighter and more fuel efficient, and of course it includes all the latest technical advancements.  A while back Boeing made the decision to out-source more of their work, and this really holds true with the 787.  The composite wings, composite fuselage, etc are all made elsewhere, flown here and assembled.   They even modified a special 747, called the 'Dreamlifter" to fly in the parts.  While we were on the tour, the Dreamlifter landed and a pair of 787 wings were unloaded.  Awesome!!

The odd-looking Dreamlifter, modified 747, with the tail open after unloading the 787 wings, below

A pair of 787 wings just unloaded from the Dreamlifter.  The same Dreamlifter can transport entire 787 composite fuselage assemblies.

  We finished up in the 787 assembly building and the bus took us past the three paint facilities, capable of housing their largest aircraft.  Each jet gets a custom paint job based on the customer (Virgin Airline, Dubai Airlines, New Zealand Airlines, etc etc)  Our tour guide said the paint itself can add as much as 1200 lbs.

The three paint facilities

New aircraft sitting on the ramp in various stages of final testing

New aircraft are completely tested by Boeing and test-flown by Boeing test pilots, then the customer  brings in their own test pilots who validate every test done by Boeing and do their own test flights before final payment is made by the customer.

The tour wrapped up back at the Future of Flight building where we started.  We were unloaded at the gift shop where anything and everything imaginable relating to Boeing was for sale.  We made our way up to the roof where photography was allowed, so we took some of the pictures used above, plus a selfie of course!!

 

We then headed back down to the main level where Boeing has many interactive displays especially for children.  

As we left Liberty back at the RV, we needed to head back, again not knowing for sure how traffic was going to be, and it was not good.  It took us right at two hours to get back to the campground.  One our way back we did get a view of the Space Needle and Safeco Field where we watched the Seattle Mariners play last Sunday.

Tomorrow we have rented a canoe for the day and plan to enjoy a day on the water relaxing.