The Flying Heritage Collection showcases the spectacular warbirds and technologies from 1935-1945, with exhibits that shine a light on the humanity at the homefronts of the warring nations. Set a midst a restored working hangar, visitors of all ages can get up close and personal to these treasures of the sky, and learn how innovators and innovations of the past led the way to modern aviation and aerospace technologies.
The Flying Heritage Collection facility is located at the southeast corner of Paine Field in Everett, Wash. Set in an 51,000 square foot hangar, FHC is a private collection of great rarity, rather than a formal museum. The aircraft are displayed alongside engaging, comprehensive exhibits. We suggest you allow yourself one to two hours to enjoy the collection and exhibit components. Your visit will include a self-guided tour throughout the facility, with the opportunity to interact with our knowledgeable volunteers and staff along the way.
The painstaking process of restoring the Flying Heritage Collection's aircraft sets them apart from all other aviation artifacts, each restored to a level of authenticity never attempted before. FHC's team exhaustively researches and seeks out original vendors to reconstruct materials and components that have become obsolete. From cotton-coated wiring and lacquer and enamel paint to vintage cockpit furnishings and original radios that still operate, these planes are as authentic as is possible.
Careful examination of long-lost or overlooked factory drawings and specifications have also been resurrected for Flying Heritage Collection restorations, resulting in highly accurate specimens. FHC also explores more ephemeral historical elements that are easily lost to time, such as the innovation, manufacturing techniques, and teamwork that went into each aircraft.
Finally, each plane's individual history – manufacturing, deployment, combat, post-war activities, locations and repairs – is also comprehensively researched and archived, so that the artifact's story is left to posterity as well as its airframe.
The planes within the Flying Heritage Collection were created at a time when aeronautical discovery had evolved to aviation mastery. Finely crafted by distinguished design bureaus with leading technologies of the 1930s and 1940s, the main emphasis of the collection includes combat aircraft from World War II. Examples include U.S., British, German, Russian and Japanese types, which were often pitted against each other in great air battles. These rare survivors were researched, hunted down and sometimes recovered from former battlegrounds and airfields. While a few specimens were rebuilt by previous owners, the majority on display have received restoration of the highest authenticity.
In 1998, Paul G. Allen began acquiring and preserving these iconic warriors and workhorses, many of which are the last of their kind. Allen's passion for aviation and history, and his awareness of the increasing rarity of original WWII aircraft, motivated him to restore these artifacts to the highest standard of authenticity and share them with the public.
While the education they provide is significant, we hope you take special pleasure in knowing that these historic aircraft are not meant simply for display in a static museum environment. As part of the Flying Heritage Collection, their destiny is to return once more to the sky, where they were always meant to be.
The Flying Heritage Collection is operated by Friends of Flying Heritage, a 501 (c)(3) organization committed to educating the public about these rare, historic aircraft.
Our gift shop features quality gifts and apparel for you or the aircraft aficionado in your life! Check it out after you finish your tour of the collection and take home a memento of your visit.
Group Tour Operators are invited to call (877) FHC-3404 between 9 a.m. or 5 p.m. (PST).