As we packed up we chatted to the guy next door to us. His RV
was a big “A Class” and it was just huge. We took a pic of our little “C Class”
next to it…
We headed over the road for some parts for the RV, but
turned out we needed to pick up a bracket from another shop further North.
It took us about 10 mins to get to Everett and the Boeing
factory. Unfortunately when we arrived there was a sign telling us that the “future
of flight” museum was closed for a function – that wasn’t mentioned on the web site
when we booked, and when we asked for a refund we were given 2 vouchers for $5
off at the Boeing shop or café. Pretty ordinary!
However, we were still able to do the factory tour which was
very impressive. After a brief intro film we headed onto a bus that took us
over to the factory. The factory is just huge. 13000000cubic meters, 2.1 miles
around, 11 stories high and the area of 800 hockey fields, all under one roof.
It takes them 30 days to build a 777 jet. We walked around viewing platforms
above the factory looking down at the manufacturing process. The sections of
jet are built elsewhere and delivered by modified 787’s called Dream Lifters.
The parts are put together like a giant meccano set using gantry cranes that
run on 31 miles of track. There are 38000 employees at the plant, working 3
shifts, 24/7. It really is something else to see manufacturing on such a grand
scale.
Once the planes are completed, they are tested at the
airfield. While we were there, there were several taking off and landing.
Finally the planes are painted out in the colours of the airline that ordered
them and they are flown off to their new homes.
After the tour we headed off to the next RV parts place to
get the missing bracket. While we were there we had a poke around the RV sales
yard and got to see the insides of some of the big “A Class” RVs. The biggest
was 40 foot long and lots of bling inside. Pretty ostentatious! You can pick up
a 2006 model for a cool $65,000US.
Out of the city finally and headed towards the Cascade Mountains.
The countryside was green and lush (cos it never stops raining!) and must be
volcanic as there are big flat plains with very steep mountains jutting out of
them. Finally parked up by a river at Bakers Creek. Very pretty spot.
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