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Yvonne Pipkin
Guest
For our son, who has devoted his life to aviation as a pilot and started learning to fly at the age of twelve, turning forty-five is a significant milestone. Celebrating this special birthday calls for a unique approach that honors his passion for flying while creating treasured memories.
Author-generated images on Canva
How should we celebrate our sonโs birthday? He is an airline pilot and a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), so he likes, noโฆhe loves flying.
First things, first. Shad informed us that he wanted to have breakfast at an Irish restaurant because he enjoys eating Irish food. After all, he is approximately 1/3 Irish. Shad, his father, and I hopped in the car and off we went from Renton, WA, to the Shawn OโDonnells in Everett, WA.
We settled into a booth by the window. We chatted and looked around at the various posters tacked on the walls while we waited to order. Oh yes, all three of us ordered a typical Irish breakfastโฆyum.
Whatโs next? Since the Seattle area is the coffee capital of the U.S., itโs only fitting that Shad wanted a coffee-based beverage, but not just any coffee shop. We headed to Victorโs Coffee Co. in Redmond, WA. It is a Celtic coffee shop serving fresh roasted, organically grown coffee beans. โTheir flavors are born from the heart of their weekly roast.โ Needless to say, sipping coffee was a delight.
Itโs near noon. What to do, what to do? Why of course, the car seems to instinctively head toward Boeing Field in Seattle, where the Museum of Flight is located. The museum is divided into multiple galleries. Let our journey begin.
The Museum of FlightโโโHeart of Aviation
ยท Off to the left of the main entrance is the T.A. Wilson Gallery, a general display of 39 various historic airplanes, drones, and helicopters. Some hang from the ceilings and others are exhibited on the floor.
The authorโs photo of the T.A. Wilson Gallery
ยท There is an interesting history about the Red Barn. It was originally part of the Heath Shipyard, purchased by William Boeing in 1910. In 1917, this shipyard was transformed into The Boeing Companyโs first factory to manufacture the first Boeing airplane. The Red Barn structure was later moved in 1975 to become part of the Museum of Flight.
As we entered the Red Barn, we were attracted to the MiG-21 Project.
We learned that it was a five-year art project led by Ralph Ziman, a South African artist. Ziman transformed a decommissioned Soviet-designed MiG-21 fighter jet from the Cold War into an unusual piece of art.
The fighter jet is completely covered in tens of millions of colorful glass beads. It certainly got my attention, but โbeauty is in the eye of the beholder.โ
The authorโs photo of the actual MiG-21 exhibited in the Aviation Pavilion
ยท The J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing features the history of World War I and World War II. Here, history comes to life in videos that relay stories. There are displays of weapons, uniforms, maps, photos, and restored fighters from WWI and WWII.
ยท Across the street is the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery, where the Space Shuttle, a full-scale, wingless mockup used by astronauts from 1979 to 2011 for training rather than an actual flight-capable orbiter, is displayed.
ยท Outside the Space Gallery, under shelter, is the Aviation Pavilion, where visitors can explore inside some of the aircraft.
The collection of airplanes on exhibit includes: Boeing 707โ153 Air Force One, Boeing 727 United Air Lines, Douglas DC2 TWA, Boeing 737, Boeing 747 City of Everett, Boeing 787โ8 prototype Dreamliner, and Concorde.
The authorโs photo of the Aviation Pavilion
My favorite exhibit this time is Air Force One, the Presidentโs airplane. I am impressed by the comfy interior, with seating for informal meetings (bottom left photo). It is intriguing to see the communication station, which was the latest and greatest for the day and is now so outdated (bottom right photo).
Air Force One transported eight U.S. presidents, from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton, and was retired in 1998.
The authorโs photos of Air Force One at the Museum of Flight
We spent over two hours in the museum. Even though Iโve visited the museum multiple times, I am always fascinated by aviation history. I am curious and always want to spend more time at specific exhibits that catch my eye, as well as view the new exhibits.
Cheers to the Memories and Soaring Higher
How to top off the day? Why, of course, a dinner in a restaurant overlooking Puget Sound in Des Moines, WA. We three each had a glass of wine to toast to a year filled with high-flying adventures and joy.
Did I forget to mention Shadโs birthday gift? Hmm, what did he want? Why of course, a telescope to gaze up at the night sky, mesmerized by the twinkling stars and the vastness of the universe.
As we bid adieu to Shad, I feel happy. Birthdays are not just a reminder of the passage of time; theyโre an opportunity to celebrate life, love, and the connections we share with those who matter most.
Soaring High: A Birthday Celebration for My Aviation-Loving Son was originally published in Long. Sweet. Valuable. on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
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