The Boeing Everett Factory Tour and Future of Flight Experience in Everett, Washington, Inspires Generations to Understand the Importance of Today’s Boeing Story and Its Future.

By Jennifer Ferrero

Building airplanes is a massive endeavor, which is why the Boeing Everett factory, opened in 1967, is the largest building in the world, with 98.3 acres and 472,370,319 cubic feet.

Boeing Future of Flight, the brand’s home, offers tours, hands-on activities, and engagement for all ages.

The facility is a massive workplace for more than 30,000 employees. There are tens of thousands who design, build, and directly support the production of: the air-to-air refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force – the 767 Freightliner; the 777 family; the 777-9; and the 737 MAX aircraft, with about 6,800 produced annually (per current orders). The recently opened North Line inside the Everett factory will be capable of producing all 737 MAX models. The workforce also includes storytellers who communicate with and inspire visitors, such as public relations and communications staff, tour guides, exhibit designers, and builders. The facility is open to anyone mystified by the building’s massive scale and its aircraft. The public accounts for the largest share of visitors to the Boeing Everett Factory Tour and the Future of Flight experience, both domestically and internationally.

Helping to illustrate the value and impact of the tours are two of their storytellers — Future of Flight Exhibit Designer Tim Detweiler and Boeing Factory Tour Guide Christopher Summitt — as well as key contributor Aiden Sesnic, a 737-flight deck engineer. Sesnic works on the 777 program and is one of the hundreds of engineers presenting the 100-plus year-old story. Together, their stories show passion for Boeing and why this is much more than a job. The future of flight worldwide depends on a steady stream of new aviation adventurers who are passionate about the industry and eager to work in it. Be inspired!

Designing the Exhibits at the Boeing Future of Flight

Tim Detweiler is a museum guy, wired to teach creatively and visually understand how to create impact with exhibits at the Future of Flight. Detweiler has followed a focused path through the world of art, museums, and history. When he joined Boeing Future of Flight three and a half years ago, exhibits were being redesigned, making it a perfect time to examine how to engage all ages with the Boeing story — from children to senior citizens.

One concept Detweiler wanted to capture was how best to communicate the volume of jobs spanning the aerospace industry, including those held by Boeing employees, from designers, engineers, and mechanics to safety managers, human resources, assemblers, and more. Demonstrating these opportunities to visitors is intended to encourage both youth and adults to consider pursuing careers in aerospace. He said, “Targeting age groups through exhibit development enhances our connection through all ages, from toddlers to older kids; dynamic subject matter draws people into our exhibits.”

He said they have flight simulators, an engineering zone, the lettuce lab, a sustainable aviation fuel exhibit, and a gallery showcasing over one hundred years of Boeing history. They also have the Boeing Studio, where a film titled “747: Queen of the Skies” is playing.

Ultimately, Detweiler has put his money where his mouth is, engaging his son to consider an aerospace career. He shared, “It’s Boeing, the only place like this where you can really hear the Boeing story told by Boeing through the tour, which is very unique; seeing the context for what you’ve learned. The unique opportunity is to peek behind the scenes at Boeing’s manufacturing and its 100-plus year history.”

He commented that those in the Boeing supply chain could also benefit from the tour, as they may not end up working at Boeing but at a Tier 1 or 2 supplier. He hopes students who tour are inspired to pursue careers in STEM and aerospace at Boeing.

“We need really good people – the best asset Boeing has is its people. They are always looking for good people who care deeply about the work they do; it’s wonderful to see how much they care; it makes me happy.”

Boeing Everett Factory Tours Inspiring Generations

Christopher Summitt has led thousands of well-rounded, engaging tours of the Boeing Factory each year. Summitt grew up in Everett and watched his father’s career as a flight deck engineer at Boeing. As a narrative enthusiast, he enjoys sharing information and providing tours filled with facts about the facility, visual stories, and aerospace-related poems.

On the 80-minute Boeing Everett Factory Tour, Summitt queues up a busload of 52 tourists about three times per day. The Future of Flight consists of 10 to 12 tour guides, depending on the time of year, with summer being the busiest. He said attributes of tour guides include, “Being educated people who love language with the storyteller’s art; (they) cast a spell on the audience.” Before setting out, all attendees store their valuables in the locker, take a bathroom break, and then board a bus.

Summitt said he starts the tour group with a 10-minute film before boarding a bus to the Everett factory, where they take an elevator up to the balcony to observe the assembly of the 777 and 777X. From there, they view the final assembly of the planes. He also enjoys the Sky Deck, especially late in the afternoon.

Summitt’s favorite parts of the Future of Flight experience include robots, simulators, and the mock-up of the International Space Station Destiny Module. He said, “Each guide has a different way of introducing them.” He shows off the aluminum tail of a 747 compared to the composite tail of the 787, which is much lighter. He also explains the differences between the aluminum construction of yesteryear and the composite construction of today, including the types of engineers involved, such as electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineers.

He hopes, ultimately, that the tours encourage people to consider careers in aerospace. “By showing the importance of this, you are a part of a great thing.”

One Man’s Story Behind Engineering Future Boeing Aircraft

Aiden Sesnic, flight deck and certification engineer, was inspired early to love the aerospace industry, but the Boeing Everett Factory Tour and Future of Flight visit following high school sealed his fate. Sesnic’s interest in aviation started with an RC plane at age 13. At age 18, he became a pilot and then attended his hometown school, the University of Colorado at Boulder, to study aerospace engineering. He completed his education with a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering. In fact, while in school, he was recruited by Boeing, which also paid for his master’s degree. He added that he didn’t need to be convinced: “The museum and tour sealed the deal; this is what I wanted to do.”

Now that he’s in his career, he said he often reflects on the fascination of aviation, “There’s something magical about what we’ve been able to achieve as a human species.”

His initial and ongoing impressions of the tour were memorable: “I remember one of the big things I wanted to see was the 747, being able to see one built out on the flight line, was definitely up there.” He also cited the sheer size of the campus and facility, and the “importance of what we do in Everett.” Finally, he was very impressed by a brand-new airplane, the 787, flying in, which was exciting. While the salary is nice, he is here because of his passion for aviation, declaring, “It’s been my whole life for a long time now.”

The Sky Deck, Café, and Boeing Store

Go up to the Sky Deck to check out views of daily flights from Paine Field, which may include test flights of Boeing airplanes, and the Dreamlifter, a modified 747-400 used for transporting oversized airplane parts. Hungry after the tour? Check out the Paper Plane Café. If you want flight keepsakes, including STEM toys and Boeing memorabilia, visit the Boeing Store.

In Summary

Our three companion Boeing storytellers describe the Boeing Everett Factory Tour and innovative Future of Flight as leaving a lifelong impression on those who visit. The sheer scale of the facility, the number of employees, the massive aircraft under construction, and hands-on exhibits inspire young and old alike to consider careers in aerospace. Opportunities in Washington State, through both Boeing and the broader aerospace manufacturing supply chain, inspire thousands to explore their future careers, while helping the flying public to better understand the heart of the aerospace industry.