Aviation buffs alert: the Grump is home

by Rob Howatson

Snohomish County Airport’s Paine Field continues to evolve as a kind of Disneyland for aviation buffs. Located in Everett, Washington, the airport has long housed the Boeing plant tour at the Future of Flight Aviation Centre — a Science World-like attraction filled with interactive exhibits of the latest commercial jet technology. Also onsite: the Seattle Museum of Flight Restoration Centre, where vintage warbirds are prepped for display  in Seattle, and which recently got new neighbours when Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen moved his collection of rare military aircraft down from Arlington.  And now Historic Flight at Kilo-6 is throwing open the hangar doors on its own winged jewels, including a flyable 1944 P-51 Mustang, 1954 Canadair T-33 Silverstar and 1943 B-25 Mitchell nicknamed Grumpy.

Fly-alongs for the public available within the year.

>>Meanwhile, check out this B-25 Bellingham-to-Everett cockpit footage of Grumpy’s return home