When you are in the top 5 of international business travel partners, you get to go places. For instance, part of the team from GoMICE last month off to Seattle, with a large media company from the Netherlands, to visit the huge Boeing factory there. During the organising of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events do we often deal with aircraft produced in this factory. High time, therefore, to take a look behind the scenes ourselves. In this blog, we take you along on our trip to the world's largest aircraft manufacturer.
Flying in style
We soon agreed amongst ourselves. “We are going to the Boeing factory in Seattle, so we'll fly there on a Boeing too.” It was KLM's Boeing 777-200ER that took us across the ocean.
Vancouver
Following the perfectly executed flight, checking in at Vancouver International Airport went smoothly. Our previous experiences during Inspirational journeys to Vancouver were underlined once again: Canadians are extremely friendly people and you immediately feel at home in the country. Even the jet lag was forgotten for a moment. After some sightseeing in North Hollywood and a good meal, we decided to get ready for the 250-kilometre journey the next day.
Border Control
At goMICE, we travel frequently. Yet even we were somewhat taken aback by the inspection at the US border. Controls have been significantly tightened since the last time we made this trip. Following a thorough check, we were able to continue our journey to Everett, the town just under 50 kilometres north of Seattle where the Boeing factory is located.
The Boeing factory in Seattle
The Boeing factory in Seattle is the largest building in the world and this fact only becomes clearer when you arrive at the complex. The first time we stood there with our jaws dropping at the sheer size of the complex. The motto “If it's not a Boeing, you are not going” is not for nothing.
Following the friendly welcome by our guide and a brief introduction, the tour of the immense factory could begin. We took a whistle-stop tour along the walkway above the assembly hall, where aeroplanes could be seen in various stages of production. A 777 with wings, a 737-800 without wings, Boeings without engines, Boeings with engines, and aircraft with and without landing gear.
Meanwhile, the Boeing guide talked endlessly about Boeing's history, the various models and the different phases of construction. Impressive were the enormous engines in the Boeing 777. Along with the landing gear, a plane's engines are its most expensive component. Before the engine is fitted to an aircraft, tension is maintained on the wings by means of a concrete block. If this were not done, the wing would immediately snap upwards and tear off. So quite a lot of weight is required for that. Very impressive to see the precision work that Boeing delivers in the factory.
Have a look at the time-lapse video below as well.
The tour of the Boeing factory lasted about an hour and a half, after which there was time for questions and chatting while enjoying a bite to eat and a drink. Both the GoMICE team members, our client, and the staff were deeply impressed by the preceding hour and a half and peppered the Boeing guide with questions.
Want to take a closer look at a factory like that closer to home? Then why not visit the Airbus plant in Toulouse, southern France! A really great stopover or day out during your holiday to the south of Europe!
Quote from our client: “What a sensational stopover between two world cities! Perfectly organised and planned by goMICE!”