Geer explores Boeing museum, manufacturing plant

Retired United Airlines Pilot Ron Geer shows an Army MP on leave from her military post in Texas the controls of a 727 in the Future of Flight Aviation Center at Paine field in Mukilteo

by Special to Herald & DENNIS. L. CLAY
| May 6, 2011 6:00 AM

This is the first of a three-part series about a week on the coast of Washington State.

It is especially fulfilling and educational to see the displays at the Future of Flight Aviation Center, which is located along Paine Field in Mukilteo. Taking the hands on tour is particularly rewarding when accompanied by a retired United Airlines pilot, who flew many of the Boeing models on display.

Carrying the scenario one step further is a chance to take the tour with fellow classmate of Moses Lake High School Class of 1965, Ron Geer, now of Stanwood, who was a United Airlines pilot for 37 years.

My wife, Garnet, and I left Moses Lake just before 9 a.m. for the suspected three hour drive to our destination in Everett, the Inn at Port Gardner. Our plans were to meet Ron and his wife, Rachel Morgan Geer, at the Inn at noon. We were five minutes late, but so were they. We arrived at the front door at the same time.

We then split with Ron and me heading to the museum and Rachel and Garnet heading to the tulip fields.

The Future of Flight Aviation Center features interactive learning zones, including airplane design, materials, passenger experience, flight systems, flight deck, manufacturing, engines and future concepts.

The first item we encountered was the tail of a 747, an aircraft which Ron has spent many hours flying.

"How tall is this?" I asked.

"63 Feet," Ron said. "Notice there are two sections on the back side which can be operated independently for various reasons."

Next there was an entire flight deck of a 727, with two people seated in the pilot and co-pilot seats.

"Sure wish we had someone who could show us what all of these things are for?" the man said.

"Well you are at the right place at the right time," I said. "This is Ron, a retired United pilot."

The young couple, both military police, were on leave from their military post in Texas. The man jumped up and offered Ron his seat. Ron sat down and then went through the instruments showing them what this one was for and so on until the number and functions seemed to run together.

He explained how the pilot could maintain level flight with one instrument and the control used to taxi the aircraft, which I though was too small and flimsy for the task.

The couple left with a feeling of receiving a special facet of the Future of Flight Center, because of Ron's explanation of the cockpit.

Next it was time for the Boeing assembly plant tour. No electronics of any kind are allowed on the tour, including cell phones and cameras. A bank of lockers is available at a nominal fee to secure valuables during the tour.

The tour begins with a short video about the man, Boeing, and what has transpired since the beginning of the company. Next we boarded a bus and headed to the assembly plant, which is a short distance from the museum.

Saying the building is huge is an understatement. It is billed as the largest building in the world by volume at 472,370,319 cubic feet and covers 98.3 acres. This is the building where 747, 767, 777 and the new 787 Dreamliner aircraft are built.

The building is large enough to house 911 NBA basketball courts or 2,142 average-size homes of 2,000 square feet, plus 75 NFL football fields would fit inside. The four hangar doors measure 300 by 87 feet and two doors measure 350 by 87 feet.

Transporting wings, tails and other large parts are 26 overhead bridge cranes which are 90 feet above the floor on 31 miles of track. Also there are more than 100 forklifts, 18 cranes for the 747 and 767 assembly, plan eight more cranes are used for 777 production.

Accommodating the Boeing employees includes a Boeing Employee Credit Union branch, several coffee stands and cafes are available for meals.

After exiting the bus, we walked through a long underground tunnel to a freight elevator, then up the elevator to a platform which overlooks one of the assembly areas.

"It may look as if the workers aren't doing much, but they are indeed working," the tour guide said.

Looking as if they were ants, the workers might go from a computer in a cubical at the edge of the assembly area to a partially-built airplane and disappear inside. Another would exit the airplane and go to another cubical and access a computer.

The planes are either in a straight line in the plant, one behind the other, or at a 45-degree tilt, which allows more planes inside the building. We observed the 747 and 767 assembly area and then transferred to another area to view the 777 and 787 Dreamliner being built. All of these airplanes, I suspect, will someday fly over Moses Lake and the Columbia Basin.

As we were walking back to the Jeep, I asked Ron if he had ever landed at the Grant County International Airport"

"In fact, I did," he said. "Do you remember when a United aircraft couldn't land at Sea-Tac and was diverted to Moses Lake because of weather a few years ago? Well I was the captain on the flight."

Next week: Whale watching and lunch with high school classmates.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: The Future of Flight Aviation Center is located at 8415 Paine Field Blvd, Mukilteo, WA 98275, approximately 30 miles north of Seattle via I-5.

It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. year-round, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Boeing Tours: on the hour from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission, including the Boeing Tour is Adult Reserved $18; Adult Walk-up $20; Youth Reserved, 15 and under, $12, Youth Walk-up, 15 and under, $14. Must be four feet tall or taller to take the Boeing tour.

Contact: 425-438-8100 or, toll free, 888-467-4777. E-mail: info@futureofflight.org.