Sullenberger Aviation Museum
Danielle Hardee
This was such a wonderful experience! Mr. Bradley and Mr. Larry were so kind and patient with my young son when teaching him how to fly using one of their multiple simulators. (I think my little guy was more interested in crashing the plane all over the map instead of taking it seriously.) They are both really know their stuff. The museum includes interactive and informative displays for any age. I spent over 2 hours walking through the different areas. I loved the plane spotting area as well. We met another volunteer outside at the Boeing cockpit you can step into. I really enjoyed talking to him. Everyone we met was so friendly. I came up from Charleston exclusively to visit the museum. I wish I lived closer because I would be a regular. In case any staff see this: Thank yall sooooooo much for the wonderful memories we made today!!!
Fabry Al
If you are an aviation enthusiasts this is a must do for sure! I loved the expo, its well organized, lot of panels with information, couple of flight game simulators, to land a T33 jet (sitting in the real cockpit!) and a Cessna 150. Several military aircraft/jets and helis, light planes, the A320 miracle of the Hudson and the whole story coverage of that event. Also many information on aviation history, local aviation and CLT airport ops. I found it very informative and with good mix of interactive stations. The museum is very Kids friendly, plenty of cool stuffs for them too and even a dedicated workshop room for some hands on experience. The volunteers there are very well prepared and friendly to reply any question you might have. I totally recommend a visit!
Andrew Patteson
Tremendous! This place is a total gem, and a delight to experience even if you're not an aviation enthusiast. They have two large indoor spaces that are air-conditinloned now, and an outdoor exhibit with a runway viewing area. There are also multiple small flight simulators you can try, at no additional cost, split in two different areas. There are no stairs required to see the exhibits, only a few stairs to climb inside some aircraft or simulations, so it's mostly wheelchair accessible. Highly recommend this museum for all ages!
Josh
Not the biggest museum but very interesting, Visiting the Sullenberger Aviation Museum in Charlotte was an incredible experience. Seeing the actual Airbus A320 from US Airways Flight 1549 up close was surreal. The exhibit explaining how Chesley Sully Sullenberger safely landed the plane in the Hudson River is extremely well done and very educational. The museum is modern, interactive, and perfect for anyone interested in aviation history, aircraft technology, and flight safety. If youre visiting Charlotte, North Carolina, this is one of the most unique aviation museums in the region. Highly recommend for families, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the famous Miracle on the Hudson story.
Kevin Fine
Visited on a Tuesday morning first one in the door at 10am. One tip up front: the roads getting to the museum are a bit convoluted and not well marked. I definitely needed Google Maps to find it. Adult admission was $25 plus tax. I forgot to ask about discounts (AARP, AAA, etc.) and wasn't prompted, so ask at the desk I believe they offer reduced rates for seniors 65+, military/veterans, and educators. The museum consists of two hangars plus an administration/gift shop building. The smaller historic hangar has older aircraft, including a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star with its cockpit set up as a working flight simulator an attendant is on hand and will take pictures of you in the cockpit. Since I was one of the first visitors of the day, I got right in. The historic hangar also has exhibits on the history of Morris Field, a Dehmel trainer and its controller (an early electronic flight simulator), and a huge FlightAware screen showing live air traffic in and around Charlotte Douglas. The larger, newer hangar is packed with exhibits: an F-14 Tomcat cockpit you can climb into for pictures (this F-14 appeared in Top Gun), a Boeing 727 cockpit you can sit in complete with the flight engineer's station and a small Piper you can get into as well. Being able to get into these cockpits was one of the highlights of the museum for me. There are also several helicopters, fighter jets, and displays on flight technology. More aircraft sit outside, including a helicopter and unexpectedly an M551A1 Sheridan tank (it was designed to be air-droppable). The museum is right next to the Charlotte airport runway, so you can watch planes landing and taking off while you're there. The pride of place is the mostly intact, preserved A320 that Capt. Sullenberger landed in the Hudson, accompanied by a huge video presentation about the flight with passenger accounts flashing lights mark the moment of the goose strike, and there's a stuffed goose hanging from the ceiling. The exhibit includes personal effects donated by passengers. There was also a video showing the plane being trucked into Charlotte, with people lining the streets to watch. The volunteers make this place. The older volunteers are extremely outgoing, clearly love what they're doing, and are eager to explain everything. One guide pointed out the goose impact dents on the side of the A320 (I hadn't noticed them earlier) and explained that investigators determined a male and a female goose went into each of the two engines. It's a small museum, but it's jam-packed, and the volunteers are wonderful. Allow 2-3 hours.
