Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection Announces Move to Paine Field.

Rare Vintage Aircraft Attraction to Open New Facility Summer of 2007

SEATTLE -- The Flying Heritage Collection, featuring rare World War II and Cold War-era aircraft acquired and restored to flying condition by investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen, announced today it will move its facility to Paine Field.

The Collection has signed a lease with the Snohomish County Airport to locate its rare aircraft and artifacts to a 51,000 square-foot hanger on the Southeast side of the airport. Renovation to the hanger, which in part will allow for more of the Collection to be displayed at once, will take place over the next six months. The Collection is slated to open its doors at Paine Field in the summer of 2007.

The new 10-year lease with Snohomish County at Paine Field will allow future growth for the Flying Heritage Collection and meet increased demands for public viewing. The Collection will continue its "flying day" program at its new facility at Paine Field, allowing the public to watch these vintage aircraft in action.

"There has always been an interest on the part of Paul Allen to keep the Collection in Snohomish County," said Gary Hoffman, project manager, Flying Heritage Collection. "The new location will allow us to share the Collection and its mission with many more people - making Paine Field a prime aviation destination to local and visiting aviation enthusiasts in the Northwest."

The airstrip at Paine Field is also home to the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour.

"We are so happy to welcome our new neighbors to Everett and are looking forward to working with the Flying Heritage Collection to deliver a complete aviation experience to our audience," said Sandy Ward, spokesperson for the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour. "Now visitors can conveniently experience the past, present and future of aviation right here at Paine Field," added Barry Smith, executive director of the Future of Flight. "The Strato Deck at the Future of Flight will be a great place to watch these beautifully restored aircraft on days when they take flight. And, it is a real pleasure to continue our long working relationship with the management of the Flying Heritage Collection."

In 1998, Allen began acquiring and preserving rare aircraft of 20th-century military aviation, many of which are the last of their kind. The Collection's purpose is to preserve and highlight the increasing rarity of original vintage aircraft, to restore these artifacts to the highest standard of authenticity, and to share them with the public.

In 2004, Allen opened up the Flying Heritage Collection in a temporary facility located at the Arlington, Washington airfield. Since the opening, thousands of aviation enthusiasts have toured the facility and witnessed the iconic war birds return to the sky during regularly scheduled spring and summer "flying days."

Flying Heritage Collection's new facility at Paine Field is slated to open in the summer of 2007. Until that time, public tours will continue to be offered on Fridays and Saturdays at its current facility in Arlington.

In addition to the Flying Heritage Collection, Allen is involved in several dynamic and multifaceted museums which entertain and engage visitors in the creative process. Allen is the founder of the Experience Music Project (EMP), Seattle's critically-acclaimed interactive music museum, and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Currently on exhibit at EMP is a one-of-a-kind art exhibition, DoubleTake: From Monet to Lichtenstein, which features 28 works of art on loan from Allen's private collection. Most recently Allen opened STARTUP: Albuquerque and the Personal Computer Revolution at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (NMMNHS). Allen conceived and generously funded STARTUP which is now a permanent gallery at NMMNHS.

ABOUT THE FLYING HERITAGE COLLECTION

The Flying Heritage Collection mission is to collect, restore, fly and preserve combat aircraft and artifacts representing technological, ideological, political, and economic views of aerial conflict in the 20th century, with emphasis on World War II and the Cold War era. The collection is at the Arlington Airport, 17622 49th Place N.E. in Arlington. Tours of the Collection are available by reservation only and may be made by calling 360-435-2172. Information also is available on the Internet at www.flyingheritage.com.