At 4.5 million square feet, Boeing's Everett plant, located north of Seattle, is the largest building in the world.

The Boeing Tour, a great tour if you're plane crazy

EVERETT, Wash. — Boeing's Everett facility is a marvel to behold, just like the Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover Dam and other man-made wonders of the Western U.S.

The gi-normous aircraft assembly plant is certainly impressive, if not for its size alone. It's the largest building in the world, roughly 4.5 million square feet and 472 million cubic feet. That's enough room to cover all of Disneyland with 12 acres left over for parking.

Boeing assembles all of its large commerical jets here. Located 30 miles north of Seattle, The Future of Flight Aviation Center conducts 90-minute tours of this colossal facility. The tour walks you through a series of observation decks where you witness all stages of aircraft assembly. Each of the six bays holds up to five aircraft, each presided over by an enormous yellow crane that's capable of lifting huge sections of aircraft.

Our tour guide was quite interesting and knew his Boeing history. However, as someone with a life-long love of airplanes (I used to want to be an commercial airline pilot), I was easy to please. So, I'm not so sure the tour packs as many "oohs" and "ahhs" for someone who's not as plane crazy.

My main criticism of the tour was the security. You're not allowed to bring cameras, cell phones, purses, bags or even a notepad on the tour. This is partly due to Boeing's desire to protect company secrets, but also due to past butter-fingered tourists who dropped their belonging over the railing, creating some headaches for Boeing employees down below. So, while you may find the tour interesting, there's not much to show for it.

Photography is allowed in the aviation gallery, which has a flight simulator, authentic 727 cockpit, life-sized replica of a Pratt & Whitney 777 engine, and an interactive display where you can digitally design your own aircraft.

Tours are available on the hour between 9 a.m. with final tour leaving at 3 p.m. and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. During summer months, tickets can sell out before noon. Call ahead for availability. Reservations accepted. Booking available online.

• 1,300 bicycles enable 29,000 employees to get around the maze of underground tunnels.
• A 787 Dreamliner requires 600 pounds of paint
• Evertt Plant size equal: 900-plus basketball courts, 74 football fields, 2,100 average sized homes
• It takes 3 days of employees working in 24 hour shifts to produce a commercial jet
• Everett plant orginally designed and built in the early 1970s to accommodate the assembly of 747 jets.
• Everett plant is nine-stories high

More info
Admission: $15.50 adult; $14 senior (65+) and active military (with I.D.); $8 children to age 15. No one under 48 inches allowed on the tour. Gallery only (no tour): $10 adults, $5 children, ages 6-15. Children under 6, free.

Location: 8415 Paine Field Blvd., Mukilteo, WA, 98275. From Seattle, take I-5 N. Take exit 189 to State Highway 526 West. After four miles, turn left at intersection of Paine Field Blvd. and 84th St. SW. This is the facility's entry drive.

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily (closed Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's days).

Check the Future of Flight Museum web site or call toll-free (800) 464-1476.