Commercial plane watching / tour for adult son's birthday?
Posted by YoJimGo@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 12 comments
My son (24) has recently taken a keen interest in commercial airplanes. He watches all of the disaster shows and NTSB breakdowns and has started collecting diecast models of them.
For his birthday, he asked if we could go to the top of the garage at PDX and watch planes take off and land. While I'm sure we can do that casually, could we bring binoculars or would security hassle us?
I'd also love to level up his experience. Anyone know how we might get a tour of a commercial plane, or maybe a museum, or a flight? Open to any ideas that might level up his experience! I'm willing to pay for a good experience, but I'm not rich. :)
Birthday is around Halloween and we're in the PDX area if that helps.
Bradyj23@reddit
Have you reached out to the airport directly? A lot of places will do tours. I haven’t heard no idea if PDX will or not. I’ve done ATC tower tours before. You might be able to reach out to them as well. It never hurts to ask.
dangerbot666@reddit
Take the day trip to Seattle and hit the Museum of Flight.
YoJimGo@reddit (OP)
Good call. Might do this and the Boeing factory tour.
Silly_Primary_3393@reddit
Assuming your around Portland…there’s also some cool aviation museums in your area.
Pearson Airfield in Vancouver WA - national park and have old planes from WW1 and they focus on the PNW, specifically Portland’s impact to early aviation. $10 if you don’t have a national park pass
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum - McMinnville - Has the wood airplane Spruce Goose plus a bunch of other misc stuff some military some commercial and some missiles- $24
Tillamook Air Museum - Tillamook - housed in an old WW1 blimp hanger with bunch of military and small civilian aircraft - $14
Boeing Manufacturing Plant Tour - Everett WA - this is a bit of a drive but really cool to see them build the 737, but is a bit expensive at $42
Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum - Everett WA - ww2 aircraft and other military related stuff… Free
Silly_Primary_3393@reddit
Yes, its totally amazing since the’ve done the remodel.
shiftyjku@reddit
You should check out the Evergreen facility in McMinville sometime.
https://www.wingsandwaveswaterpark.com/
YoJimGo@reddit (OP)
Been many times! Thanks.
qwazzy92@reddit
You could go to the Museum of Flight up here in Seattle and/or do a factory tour of the Boeing factory in Everett as well.
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jakerepp15@reddit
https://www.spotterguide.net/planespotting/north-america/united-states-of-america/portland-pdx-kpdx/
YoJimGo@reddit (OP)
Super helpful, thanks amigo!
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