The gal I married..

[WarHorse47]

Last Monday the 14th was my birthday. Each year when I or my wife have a birthday we get to select an out-of-town trip. This year I wanted to do a tour of some of the air museums north of Seattle, and the wife agreed.

On Tuesday we headed up to the Skagit County Airport and visited the Heritage Flight Museum. I've been trying to get up there for the last couple of years, so this was my first visit. VAL HALLA was up in Bellingham for its annual, but there was still a lot of great aircraft to be seen.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a185/WarHorse47/Museums/2016%20Tours/DSC03134_zpsccdszwjq.jpg

Afterwards we headed down south to do some shopping, and stayed at a hotel near Paine Field.

Wednesday morning included three of my favorite places to visit. The first was the Museum of Flight Restoration Center where they restore aircraft for museum display.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a185/WarHorse47/Museums/2016%20Tours/DSC03210_zpsjulc7xxi.jpg

Then it was on to Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection. I had heard about their Mig-29 and hoped to see it.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a185/WarHorse47/Museums/2016%20Tours/DSC03261_zpsrm1zcvqt.jpg

And to round out the day before heading out to lunch we stopped by the Historic Flight Foundation just around the corner.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a185/WarHorse47/Museums/2016%20Tours/DSC03278_zpskemzqkny.jpg

...to be continued...

[WarHorse47]

..and so on the way back home yesterday, the wife suggested we swing by the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a185/WarHorse47/Museums/2016%20Tours/DSC03323_zpsbabm1tsi.jpg

I captured over 250 photos during our tour, and even the wife captured over 85 images with her camera. We're glad to be home.

We have been married for over 42 years and I am truly blessed with a wife who enjoys my pastimes as much as I do.

Cheers

[Daveroo]

thats an awesome trip,im glad you had a good time,and congrats on the 47 years.its things like your agreement on the birthday trip that shows how two are in love or dedicated to one another.my folks do that sort of thing as well,and in august they will have been married 59 years.
again,congrats on a wonderful marriage and a great partner.

[brad kaste]

Last Monday the 14th was my birthday. Each year when I or my wife have a birthday we get to select an out-of-town trip. This year I wanted to do a tour of some of the air museums north of Seattle, and the wife agreed.

On Tuesday we headed up to the Skagit County Airport and visited the Heritage Flight Museum. I've been trying to get up there for the last couple of years, so this was my first visit. VAL HALLA was up in Bellingham for its annual, but there was still a lot of great aircraft to be seen.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a185/WarHorse47/Museums/2016%20Tours/DSC03134_zpsccdszwjq.jpg

Afterwards we headed down south to do some shopping, and stayed at a hotel near Paine Field.

Wednesday morning included three of my favorite places to visit. The first was the Museum of Flight Restoration Center where they restore aircraft for museum display.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a185/WarHorse47/Museums/2016%20Tours/DSC03210_zpsjulc7xxi.jpg

Then it was on to Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection. I had heard about their Mig-29 and hoped to see it.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a185/WarHorse47/Museums/2016%20Tours/DSC03261_zpsrm1zcvqt.jpg

And to round out the day before heading out to lunch we stopped by the Historic Flight Foundation just around the corner.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a185/WarHorse47/Museums/2016%20Tours/DSC03278_zpskemzqkny.jpg

...to be continued...
Wonderful photos. Any idea how Paul Allen was able to get his hands on the Mig-29?

[WarHorse47]

Thanks, Brad.

Here are the details on the Mig-29 from their site (http://www.flyingheritage.com/TemplatePlane.aspx?contentId=60). :untroubled:

[Bomber_12th]

Paul Allen's Mig-29 was originally purchased, imported, and restored to fly by John Sessions, which owns the Historic Flight Foundation, also located at Paine Field. His intention was always to make a profit from it, in order to fund the restoration of the classics/WWII types he really enjoys (he sold it to Paul Allen shortly after the aircraft's test flights were completed). Here is a good article about it from 2011: http://www.theheraldbusinessjournal.com/article/20110303/SCBJ02/703029918

A great video here from a test flight in the aircraft, while still owned by John Sessions/HFF, together with commentary by the pilot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igmDq5btN-s

It is one of about 5 Mig-29's that are privately owned in the US.

[Bomber_12th]

WH, thank you for the report and the photos! I'm extremely envious! A trip to the Olympia/Seattle/Everett area is at the top of my list, because of the aircraft museums/collections all around there (from the Olympic Flight Museum at the southern end, to the Heritage Flight Museum at the northern end, and those in between).

I love that P-26, currently on display at the Museum of Flight (a superb reproduction from the San Diego Air & Space Museum).


(http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th001/12418838_903602836421571_5764737086676301707_o_zps loezraqo.jpg.html)