• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
General Aviation News

General Aviation News

Because flying is cool

  • Pictures of the Day
    • Submit Picture of the Day
  • Stories
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Products
    • NTSB Accidents
    • ASRS Reports
  • Comments
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ad
  • Events
  • Digital Archives
  • Subscribe
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Grandfather sets Boeing milestone

By General Aviation News Staff · November 23, 2007 ·

A grandfather from Kirkland, Wash., helped the Boeing Company hit a milestone Nov. 12 when he was the 3 millionth visitor to the Boeing Tour Center.

Al Varness, 71, a U.S. Navy veteran and high school teacher, was accompanied by his grandchildren, Michael Petter, 11, and Adam Petter, 7.

Varness and his grandchildren were given a personal tour of the Everett factory.

“I really enjoyed my trip to Boeing today — it was more than I expected,” he said. “The factory tour really gave my grandchildren something special they will remember forever.”

Boeing began offering factory tours in 1968. The tours have grown over the years to include a glimpse of all the widebody jetliners, including the 767, 777, and the newest, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

For more information:

Share this story

  • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit Share on Reddit
  • Share via Email Share via Email

Become better informed pilot.

Join 110,000 readers each month and get the latest news and entertainment from the world of general aviation direct to your inbox, daily.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Curious to know what fellow pilots think on random stories on the General Aviation News website? Click on our Recent Comments page to find out. Read our Comment Policy here.

© 2025 Flyer Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Writer’s Guidelines
  • Photographer’s Guidelines