Historic Flight Foundation

re: Celebration of Life Event
If you are a fan of historic airplanes, this is worth checking out. They’ve got some really nice pieces here and although I wouldn’t make the trip just for this, but the flight simulator machine was fun. If you can catch them coordinating some kind of flight schedule, definitely arrange your schedule to witness it.
I was very fortunate to see an old WW2 fly by and it was really neat to see that. To think that there were hundreds of thousands of these planes flying during WW2 with their propelling engines. If I won the lottery or something, I would not mind buying some land, building an airport, and throwing some of these big toys in there.
I’m not sure what it would cost, but it’s definitely worth having a venue here. They have a lot of space.

This museum is a real gem hidden in plane sight — pun intended! The place looks small on the outside, but it houses a substantial amount of vintage aircraft in close quarters. You can really get up close and personal with these beauties. It is a rather eclectic collection with a mix of WWII and newer planes with a few jeeps and buses thrown in the mix. There is also a beautiful DC-​3 parked behind the hangar that is open for viewing. Just make sure to watch out for ice!
The admission fee is rather steep, but the opportunity to see so many up close is a real draw. It is really cramped in the hangar, so watch out for wings and propellers hitting you or your family. They also offer an enhanced annual membership which includes a ride in one of the vintage planes. That would be a real treat! The Historic Flight Foundation is a nice addition to the already nice Paine Field aviation experience and a real competitor to downtown Seattle.

This is a really cool flight museum out at Paine Field in Mukilteo. According to their website, «the HFF was established in 2003 as „John T. Sessions Historic Aircraft Foundation“ with the intention to collect, restore, and share significant aircraft from the period between the solo Atlantic crossing of Charles Lindbergh and the first test flight of the Boeing 707. Throughout the intervening years, Historic Flight has acquired at least two aircraft annually and engaged the best restoration resources available to return the collection to original splendor.»
We stopped in about twenty minutes before close and chatted with the pleasant volunteers at the front desk. There’s a handful of planes here and while not as staggering as our Museum of Flight in downtown, these beauties have been lovingly restored and can still FLY!
Parking was plentiful and if you check out their website, they seem to endeavour to host something each month. In February for example, a panel of Navy fighter pilots gathered together to tell stories and offer advice to new pilots. The event will be recorded to save eyewitness histories of those who flew between 1927 and 1957. Can you only imagine the stories they might tell? Wait. You don’t HAVE to imagine!

If you enjoy vintage /​historic airplanes — this is the best! If you appreciate beauty, craftsmanship, style and a good story — this also is a place for you!
Easy access off the Mukilteo Speedway, (turn near Henry’s Donuts) the blue and orange painting of a P51 Mustang used in the signage will guide you to the hangars.
If the planes are flying — that is simply awesome. One unique thing about this flight museum is that all their planes fly. They have all been meticulously restored, constantly maintained and often are in the air above Paine Field or at airshows around the Northwest.
You can get up close to the planes — touch them, walk around them — it’s pretty cool. The B-​25 Mitchell bomber is my favorite. Next would be the red Beechcraft Staggerwing — very classy. There’s a beautiful Supermarine Spitfire and a P51 Mustang that has a fascinating restoration history and flying history.
Good for adults and kids, not too big so you won’t get bored or overwhelmed.
I’ve been there 3 times so far and have sent out of town visitors there.