Community Corner
Going Back in Time at Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection
Learn about Paul Allen's WWI and WWII aircraft collection, find out where to view the planes, and when to watch them fly.
Editor's note: This edited article is from Maresa and Scott Gocanhour, who write the blog Around Puget Sound and Beyond.
My grandfather came into town from Minnesota last week to visit; he's been a pilot for over 50 years. My husband Scott and I always like taking Grandpa on flying-related outings whenever he's in town. Last year we explored the Future of Flight together, and he's visited the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in the past. This year we needed something different. Lucky for us, we recently heard about Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection at Paine Field in Everett. When we arrived at the Flying Heritage Collection, it was like being escorted back through history and it has now become one of our favorite museums.
The Flying Heritage Collection
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Next to all of the giant Boeing hangers, Paul Allen's hanger doesn't appear very big. But once inside the museum hanger, you'll find they have fit 16 aircraft—mostly from the World War II era—two WWII army tanks and two missiles. They also have a replica of SpaceShipOne, the first private-venture rocket ship.
State of the art restoration techniques have been used to refurbish these vintage airplanes and other artifacts. Many of the planes have stories. For example, the Messerschmitt BF 109 E-3 (Emil), was found in several pieces buried in sand along the English Channel by a man walking the beach in the late 1980s. With time and the right replacement parts, plus liberal funding, it has been returned to its original form. The planes look as sharp as they did when they were manufactured over 70 years ago.
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Our tour was lead by a docent, Jack, who was extremely well-prepared and superbly informed about each exhibit in the museum. One of the first things Jack told us was that all of the planes were in flying condition and the all tanks could still be driven and fire ammunition, making this more of a functional collection than simply a museum. As we walked around, mechanics were working on several of the planes, ensuring that they would be in good operating condition for the yearly Free Fly Days that happen every summer.
Plane Stories
Thanks to our docent we learned a great deal about the story behind each plane. Jack offered not only information about the make and model of the plane, but the history of the individual aircraft that stood before us. Every plane narrative was unique—from how the plane was used in the war, to what each country wanted to accomplish with their aircraft, to when and how the plane was found and eventually bought by Paul Allen to be restored.
Tour guides helpful
We highly recommend asking for a tour guide when you arrive. Your docent will make the history of the airplanes come to life in a way that they may not otherwise. My grandfather, who has studied and known WWII aircraft for many years, said that he learned a great deal from our docent. We are looking forward to returning to the Flying Heritage Collection for their Free Fly Days to hear the planes' motors roar and watch history soar.
Aircrafts in the Collection
Things To Know
- Hours: Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- This is a great outing to take your kids on, especially if they're studying WWII history in school
- Free parking on-site
- Admission fees: Adults $12, Seniors/Military $10, Youth (6-15 years) $8, Children (5 and under) Free
- Free Fly Days: There's usually one in June and July, and a couple in August and in September—they take out different planes on different days