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Summer of Flight - III: Boeing Factory Tour

Boeing Everett Factory Originally uploaded by yisu79 My last aviation activity was a Boeing factory tour dubbed as "The Future of Flight" . We walked though the biggest room in the world and saw three different assembly lines, 747, 777 and 787. It was very interesting to see how the assembly procedure improved over the years: While it takes months to assemble a 747, only three days are needed for 787. Boeing 747 LCF Dreamlifter Originally uploaded by yisu79 How is it possible? Simply put, by using pre-wired parts. What makes it happen is Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter, nicknamed "Dreamlifter" . Boeing is betting big on its next generation of commercial jet, 787 Dreamliner . I like its wings. But my all-time favorite Boeing plane is 747 Jumbo Jet because it takes me home. The good news is that the latest version, 747-8, is going to use the wing design inspired by 787. Woo-hoo!

Summer of Flight - II: McChord Air Expo 2008

McChord AFB, Washington Originally uploaded by yisu79 My second aviation activity was the McChord Air Expo 2008 . It was the second time I went to an air show. Last time , I witnessed the amazing Blue Angels , the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron. Ever since then, I was wondering how Air Force's counterpart, Thunderbirds , would stand again them. So I checked their schedule and found that I could catch them at McChord AFB, Washington . From Inside of a C-17 Originally uploaded by yisu79 The scene was familiar. We first checked out some planes on the ground. C-17 Globemaster III Originally uploaded by yisu79 One of the highlights was the huge but impressively agile cargo aircraft C-17 Globemaster III . It was even cooler than Fat Albert, the C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft for Blue Angels. Thunderbirds! Originally uploaded by yisu79 The main attraction of the show was clearly the Thunderbirds. After a summer's exposure of No...

Summer of Flight - I: Museum of Flight

I had a lot of aviation-related activities this summer, which is not surprising given the world largest aircraft manufacturer, Boeing , is just around the corner. Inside Museum of Flight Originally uploaded by yisu79 First I visited the Museum of Flight , which is nonprofit organization independent of the Boeing Company. Nevertheless, it has a strong tie with the company. Coming from Baltimore-Washington area, I have no surprise seeing things like this because of the great Smithsonian Air and Space Museum . Blackbird M-21 Originally uploaded by yisu79 However, it was my first time to see a Blackbird , the fastest spy plane in the world, even though it was not exactly a SR-71, but a variant of its precursor. More Planes Originally uploaded by yisu79 The museum has a decent collection of planes. Blue Angels: A-4F Skyhawk Originally uploaded by yisu79 This Skyhawk was an early Blue Angel . Concorde 1 Originally uploaded by yisu79 I was ve...

I (heart) Jet Noise!

Blue Angels Originally uploaded by nuance1979 . Diamond Formation Originally uploaded by nuance1979 . I had a very nice Memorial Day weekend with my friends at the NAS JRB Willow Grove Air Fest 2005 featuring the dazzling Blue Angels and much more. Best Memorial Day weekend ever!