The past and future of flight

FLYING is so much more fun when you don’t have to park remotely or pass through security. That’s just part of the appeal of the new Future of Flight museum in Everett, Wash., near Seattle, a must-see attraction for aircraft enthusiasts and anyone else looking for a glimpse into aviation’s next chapter.

The opening, originally scheduled for late October, was delayed by a tail section that couldn’t be moved and a storm that couldn’t be stopped.

The delivery of a four-story-tall fin from Arizona, one of the centerpieces of the new hall’s main gallery, was postponed when a rail car needed for the job was marooned as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

The giant fin is now in place, and the $23-million museum is preparing to open Dec. 17, the 102nd anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ historic short hop at Kitty Hawk, N.C.

For kids, the museum will offer the XJ5 Flight Simulator, which lets riders soar at tree-top level in a supersonic mission with the world’s best pilots.

For adults, there will be one of the first looks at the 787 Dreamliner, a composite-skinned aircraft that promises to change the way we travel.

This is the first public display of the Dreamliner, built of carbon fiber and titanium and therefore lighter, quieter and smoother-riding than current aircraft. The double-aisle jumbo jet, which will be delivered for duty in 2008, will also feature larger windows and a cabin pressure system that feeds more oxygen and humidity into the plane.

Hands-on displays like the Dreamliner are the most appealing aspect of the new museum. At 12 kiosks, visitors also can create an aircraft with the same type of software used by professional designers, choosing from a variety of engines, wings, fuselages, even paint schemes, to craft their own plane.

The kiosks offer instructions in English, Japanese, Chinese, German, French, Spanish and Italian.

When finished, visitors can receive a free printout of their design or, for less than $20, have it printed on a T-shirt.

Other museum exhibits will include:

* A business-class section of a 767.

* Barrel and fuselage sections of 707 and 787 models, the past and future of airline flight.

* A children’s zone with exhibits and graphics aimed at school-age children, but also with displays for toddlers.

* A 9,000-square-foot rooftop observation deck overlooking Paine Field (Snohomish County airport).

Included in the $15 general admission price ($8 for children younger than 17) is a tour of the nearby Boeing plant, the largest building in the world and the only commercial jet assembly plant open for tours in North America. Children must be at least 4 feet, 2 inches tall to tour the Boeing plant.

A limited number of tickets will be available at the door, but visitors are encouraged to buy in advance. Information: (800) 464-1476 or www.futureofflight.org. Tours will be offered seven days a week, except major holidays.