The small but mighty Paine Field airport in Everett has an intriguing past and a subculture of plane spotters. Its small size and location give spotters a phenomenal view of incoming and outgoing planes for photography and education. Paine Field is unique for many reasons.
Everett’s Paine Field Airport, officially titled Seattle Paine Field Air Terminal, was constructed in 1936 with big plans to become one of ten “super airports” in the United States at the time. The city was hoping to create jobs and economic growth in the area to boost the economy during the Great Depression. Super airports hold multiple runways and can handle tens of millions of passengers annually. Today, in 2026, the United States houses 30 super airports, Paine Field isn’t close to being one of them.
Time Had Other Plans for Everett’s Paine Field
Shortly after construction in 1939, WWII began, and Paine Field was needed in another capacity. It served as an important launch space for B-17 and B-29 bombers. The Army Air Corps utilized these planes to help protect the Bremerton Shipyards from potential bombardment. After WWII, the airport was needed once again during the Korean War. This time it was manned by the Air Force from 1951- 1961. During this time, the area previously set aside for the super airport was instead developed into businesses and industry.
After 15 years of occupation, in 1966, the Air Force was ready to vacate, leaving the airport and the land surrounding it open for new uses. At this point, Boeing was looking for a space to build 747s. They chose to use the land north of Paine Field after receiving approval from the FAA and the Everett government. They broke ground and became Paine Field’s largest partner.
Today, Paine Field is famous for Boeing manufacturing. It’s next door to Boeing’s largest building in the world, by volume. Here, Boeing manufactures the 767, 777, 787 Dreamliner, and 747-81. The latter is 225 feet long with a wingspan large enough to park 45 cars. Boeing tests its brand-new jets on the Paine Field runways, making it a unique place for plane spotters.
New Boeing jets, commercial flights, and private jets all fly out from the field and are accessible to watch from several public spaces.
The Boeing factory, combined with the compact airport size and a few hills by the runways, that create a unique and special place for self-proclaimed avgeeks or aviation nerds, as they are known. A subculture of plane watchers and photographers passionate about aircraft, airlines, and airports. Many listen to radios tracking day to day operations on the field.
Start a New Hobby as a Plane Spotter
Anyone can become a plane spotter, and kids love it too. A popular app called flightradar24 allows you to point your phone at an airplane and learn where it departed from and where it will arrive. You can track airline traffic around the world with pictures of the aircraft, and determine where that specific plane has flown in the past. You can use this data to determine when flights will take off and land at Paine Field.
There are plenty of places to view aircraft at Paine Field. If you stay in public places it is perfectly legal to take pictures of planes. Avoid restricted areas and don’t use drones or ladders, but lawn chairs are welcome.
Where to Spot Airplanes at Paine Field
The airport consists of three runways with runway 16R/34L being the host to every new Boeing jet’s first test run.
There are three mounds (hills) where you can stand next to the parking lot for the Boeing Future of Flight Museum. They give you a vantage point to see over the fenceline.
The Boeing Future of Flight Museum has a sky deck, where you can see the action unhindered from the roof. Tickets to the museum are required to enter the sky deck.
Next to the windsock by the old Historic Flight Foundation building, you will find another observation mound.
The Hilton Hotel has a parking lot that faces a runway with a great vantage point for aircraft viewing.
Park on Bernie Webber Drive and walk up the hill; you’ll find yourself mid-runway. It’s a good spot to see lots of airplanes.
More rules, details and locations can be found here and here.
More to Do With Paine Field
Flight Aware is a real-time website that gives arrival times and locations if you’re out waiting for a plane to arrive or depart.
Paineairport.com is a lovingly maintained blog by Matt Cawby with photo updates almost daily.
June 6, 2026, is the Paine Field Community Day. Come out for a free community day geared towards children, but fun for all airplane buffs. Visitors will learn about aviation, meet pilots, and get an up-close look at new, military, and vintage aircraft and equipment.
