If you live in Seattle, as I do, there’s only one answer to that question – they come from Boeing.  As the saying around here goes, “If it’s not Boeing, I’m not going!”

While some of the Boeing plants have relocated elsewhere, the plant at Paine Field (about 30 miles north of Seattle) is still home to The Future of Flight & Boeing Tour,

This tour of the Boeing factory lets you see the flight line where the 747, 767, 777, and 787 are made.  This tour takes you through one of the largest buildings in the world (by volume), as you learn how much room it takes to build a jumbo jet.

There’s lot to see on the tour so don’t forget to look up (futuristic aircraft are flying), down (a painted runway on the floor), and around (the nose of an airplane getting ready to take off).  And that’s just in the lobby!

Here are some other exhibits that you’ll see:

• Airplane Design: Learn how and why airplanes fly, and look at the components that go into making a plane like the fuselage, wings, engines, etc.  Stop off at one of the computer stations and try your hand at designing a plane.  Then see if it will fly.  Don’t worry, you’ll get lots of chances to make modifications as you visit the rest of the exhibits.
• Materials: Compare the fuselage from an old 707 to the new 787,and see how modern materials have changed the way plans are built.
• Passenger Experience: You know how cramped and uncomfortable those seats are, but it hasn’t always been that way.  Take a look at the more spacious interiors as well as take a look at what’s being done to make flying more comfortable.
• Flight Simulator: This is not your at-home computer game simulator, this is big-time.  There’s an additional charge, but it’s worth it, to ride the multi-passenger XJ5 Flight Simulator.  Since I missed the opportunity to fly on the Concord, this is as close as I’m going to get to supersonic speeds.
• Flight Systems: All the important stuff that you never see, like avionics, navigational systems and hydraulics.
• Flight Deck: From dials and switches of years gone by to the computerized flight deck of today, these are the tools that are used by men and women who fly the plane.  In a post-911 world, this is the only chance most people will have to see the flight deck.
• Manufacturing: Yeah, sure, Boeing isn’t the only one who makes planes, and this does seem like one big long commercial.  But hey, it’s their plant and it’s got some pretty cool 3-D animation.
• Engines: These big noisy things are responsible for getting the plane off the ground, and you can learn why.
• The Future:  Although air travel seems common place today, it’s important to remember that it all started with a dream and the Wright Brothers.  And lots of other people and other dreams since then.  No matter how silly a dream might seem, when you look around you’ll realize that it may be the shape of the future.
• Future of Flight Store: If you made a plane as you’ve passed through the exhibits, you can pick up a personalized color print of your design along with a list of your specifications.  And, of course, like any gift store, there’s all sort of books, toys, and memorabilia to spend your money on.

Boeing has some very strict safety and security regulations in place regarding the tour.  There are no exceptions, so familiarize yourself with them so you aren’t disappointed.

Continue reading for tour restrictions and additional information

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Using your laptop while flying requires a little common sense, practical considerations, and some basic etiquette.  The competing interests are protecting your privacy, keeping your “stuff” contained within your personal space and not spilling out into other’s space, and making sure that you keep your laptop protected from damage.

Here are a few tips, most of which I’ve mentioned before, to keep in mind when whipping out your laptop onboard:

1. As you are boarding the plane, keep your laptop in its bag.  Don’t try to be working on something as your are locating your seat and getting settled it.  I have seen a passenger holding up the boarding process as he tried to turn on his laptop.
2. Watch your laptop bag as you proceed down the aisle.  Turning from side to side without giving thought to your surrounding may result in your bag hitting passengers that you are walking by.
3. Turn off your laptop when asked to do so.  That means power off, not just put into sleep mode.  I know that you think it doesn’t matter, and it may not, but the Flight Attendants are required to make sure that you comply before shutting the main cabin door.  Do them, yourself, and everyone else a favor — turn it off.
4. Your laptop is considered carry on baggage.  This means that it needs to be stowed for take off and landing.  So put it in the overhead or beneath the seat in front of you when requested to do so.
5. Don’t stuff you laptop into the seat pocket.  It’s too large and heavy to be restrained there, and it just rips up the seat pocket.
6. Protect personal and confidential information on your screen.  Whether your seat mates are intentionally peering at your work, or are just casually looking around and have to glance at your screen, keep your private stuff private.  The easiest option, in my opinion, is to use one of the many privacy screen guards that are on the market.  A friend also suggested doing your typing in a very small font so that it’s not as easily seen.  The only downside to this, however, is that you may not be able to see it yourself!
7. Keep your laptop out of the aisle.  I know that there isn’t much room at your seat, but letting it creep out into the aisle is a recipe for disaster.  It’s likely to get hit my someone walking by, or get thwacked by the beverage cart.
8. Close the top when the Flight Attendant is serving your row.  I continue to be amazed at how often I have to tell people to watch the keyboard as I hand something across.  We try very hard not to spill, but accidents and turbulence happen.
9. Use earplugs.  If you are watching a movie, playing a game with sound, or listening to music, most airlines require that you use earplugs.  It’s annoying to everyone around you, and we don’t need any more noise pollution in such a contained environment.
10. Leave the porn for another time.  Adult rated content is not acceptable for viewing in a public location, and that means its off limits for the airplane.  N one likes to be a tattler, but someone will mention it to the Flight Attendants, and you will be asked to turn it off.  Failure to comply may result in the police chatting with you about it upon arrival at your destination.

Sound like a lot of rules?  I travel with my laptop regularly, and have never found them that difficult to comply with.  Next time, give it a try!

Photo credit: morgueFile

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