Smithsonian Affiliate, Children's Museum Opens Doors Once Again

The Carolinas Aviation Museum will be back in action in summer 2024.

Charlotte's new attraction is almost ready for showtime, after months of work revamping its exhibits and installing the Airbus A320 Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger landed on the Hudson River. That aircraft's remains, including the entire fuselage and flight deck, are a centerpiece for the new attraction there, lending Sullengerger's name to the renovated museum. The attention-grabbing "Miracle on the Hudson" event acts as a draw and focus for generations of future aviators, bolstered by the Captain's lifelong enthusiasm for aeronautical safety and professionalism. 

“For the most part, things are in place," Katie Swaringen, vice president of Collections at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, said. "We still have a few planes that are being shifted around like our harrier aircraft."

The gallery retains its collection of older aircraft, however, like a Wright Flyer replica, an F-4 Phantom, a Skystreak prototype, and a TV-1 jet fighter. Augmented reality and interactive exhibits round out the experience of aviation history, enhancing the experience for children accustomed to high-tech entertainment. Since 2019, the entire collection had to make a change, uprooting itself from 3 decades at its former home. 

“The airport provided leased hangar space,” Stephen Saucier, the museum’s president, said. “The leaders of the museum weren’t compelled to go through a development process. Beginning in 2016 and 2017, with the economy coming back and aviation growing, that leased hangar space was not available anymore, and the airport started to indicate that.”

All in all, the Museum's $31 million cash infusion appears to have been put to use everywhere they could, relocating the whole kit and kaboodle with Flight 1549's remains. That trip saw the same recovery team that pulled the plane from the Hudson River prep and haul it all the way to Charlotte, North Carolina in one piece - not an easy feat for an intact A320 tube. Some finishing touches remain before the museum opens for business, with a target of opening to the public this summer. 

FMI: www.sullenbergeraviation.org