Skagit Regional Airport, Burlington, Washington

The islands and waterways between Washington State and Canada’s Vancouver Island afford extensive boating, sailing, whale watching, and fishing opportunities, while the Cascades offer glaciers, forests, and mountains. It’s only 44 miles over the Puget Sound to the historic Canadian town of Victoria, and there are several airports in the San Juan Islands to visit, such as Orcas Island Airport (ORS) or Friday Harbor Airport (FHR). From altitude, the magnificent scenery stretches from ocean to mountains in every direction.

Aviation history buffs might rank the Pacific Northwest as the number three destination in America to visit, after Washington, D.C., and Dayton, Ohio. Aircraft gawkers should start with a visit to Skagit’s Heritage Flight Museum, then head to Everett to see how Boeing airliners are built, and continue to the largest private aviation museum at Boeing Field (BFI) in Seattle.

Heritage Flight Museum

Pilots can taxi up and park their aircraft outside the Heritage Flight Museum at Skagit. Founded by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders, the museum exhibits both flying and static aircraft. Check the museum’s website for its monthly Fly Days, held on select Saturdays from April to September when the museum flies several of its historic aircraft, such as Anders’ P–51 Mustang.

One exhibition gallery tells the story of Cornelia Fort. On December 7, 1941, Cornelia was conducting a flight lesson in an Interstate Cadet over Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attack began. Naturally, she took the controls from her student and landed them safely while avoiding strafing attacks. After walking through the gallery, you can see the Cadet, now called the “Pearl,” in the museum’s hangar.

In the “Earthrise Gallery,” learn about the Apollo 8 mission when Frank Borman, James Lovell, and Anders became the first men to fly to the moon. The famous “Earthrise” photograph, snapped by Anders, became one of Life magazine’s “100 most influential photographs.” Many items from Anders’ NASA career are on display, plus a moon rock.

On June 7, at age 90, Anders died while flying aerobatics in a Beechcraft T–34 Mentor, a vintage military trainer. His death was especially hard for the people of Skagit Regional Airport. Anders made his home in the Pacific Northwest for 30 years and was well known in the aviation community.

Boeing Factory Tours, Everett

Head 35 miles south to Boeing’s Everett Factory, housed in the world’s largest building by volume, 472 million cubic feet. There, you’ll see Boeing 777 airliners being assembled in the facility built specifically for the first jumbo jet, the 747. Thursdays through Mondays, guided tours with views of the assembly line are offered. The tours are popular, so book in advance.

The Museum of Flight at Boeing Field

It’s worth the drive (or flight) to the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Tukwila, six miles south of Seattle. The largest private air and space museum in the world exhibits some unique aircraft that pilots will want to see, including the first flying Boeing 747, the City of Everett, which is open to walk through. Also displayed are a British de Havilland Comet, the world’s first jet airliner; a Caproni Ca.20, the first aircraft built as a fighter airplane; and a Boeing VC–137B that was the first presidential jet. Across the street is the “Red Barn,” a 1909 wooden building that was Boeing’s original factory.

Canadian Museum of Flight

If that’s not enough American metal for you, fly or drive 45 miles north from Burlington to the Canadian Museum of Flight to view British and Canadian aircraft. The museum exhibits more than 25 civilian and military aircraft and a large selection of engines. The collection includes such British aircraft as the Handley Page Hampden, de Havilland DH 100 Vampire, and the Avro CF–100 Canuck. The museum is located at Langley Regional Airport (CYNJ), 25 miles east of Vancouver.