Marlene's First Field Trip

Today Marlene's class went on a field trip to the "Museum of Future Flight" in Mukeltio. Everyone was very excited because for many children it was their first field trip and the first time to ride in a schoolbus (it was my first time in an American schoolbus, as well). I went along as a chaperone, which gave Jason the chance to spent the morning alone with Amelia. The museum opened last December and is basically a big promotion for Boeing's newest airplanes. Right now that is the 787, the"dreamliner", which will enter the testflight phase in 2007. We started by watching a 3D introduction to airplane construction. It was done so well that the children started to grab for the objects that seemed to hover over our heads. We got to enter the cockpit of a 727 and the kids got to touch and press all the buttons. We saw an empty cross section piece of a 747 and we got to enter into a section of the new dreamliner. We learned about the range and energy efficiency of the 787 as well as the new cabin layout and seating. Finally we took a class picture in front of one of the engines. Some of the children were quite worried that it would suddenly start. While we were waiting for our schoolbus to pick us up, one of the guides suggested, we watch a short 10 minute movie about Boeing. It contained a fascinating 5 minute time-elapsed construction of a 747-400, a process that usually takes between 7 and 10 months. It is hard to believe that less than a quarter mile away is this world largest building, where they can built 6 of these planes at the same time. The museum offered as well many computer stations where everyone is able to design their own airplane, but due to time limitations and the fact that we were there with 25 4-year olds made this impossible for us. By noon we were back at the Shoreline children Center. Marlene was especially happy to have participated in the field trip, since she had spent the previous evening an night, every throwing up every 15 minutes after contracting a stomach virus. Through the ordeal she was very worried that she might not be able to go, but by 7 am she jumped out of bed and seemed fine again.