The Airbus A320 from US Airways Flight 1549, famously known as the 'Miracle on the Hudson', has found a new home at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum. The aircraft was moved from its hangar to its new, permanent location at the museum, marking a significant milestone in the preservation of this historic airframe. US Airways Flight 1549 was a scheduled flight between New York LaGuardia and Charlotte Douglas on January 15th, 2009. Shortly after takeoff, the A320 hit a flock of birds, causing both engines to shut down. Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles managed to safely land the aircraft on the Hudson River, saving all 155 people on board.
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The aircraft was recovered from the Hudson River and transported to Kearney, New Jersey, for further investigation. After the investigation concluded, the aircraft was moved to a salvage yard in New Jersey. In 2011, the aircraft was transported to Charlotte from New Jersey by J Supor & Son, a New Jersey trucking and rigging company. In late September 2022, the Carolinas Aviation Museum held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new facility and renamed the museum in honor of Captain Sully Sullenberger. A little over a year later, in advance of the Summer 2024 opening, the Sullenberger Aviation Museum began moving its collection into its new facility.
The new facility, which cost $30 million, is 105,000 square feet and includes a 35,000 square foot state-of-the-art main exhibit gallery for the A320. This main exhibit gallery and innovation hub is next to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and features space to view the active runways and taxiways. The 35,000-square-foot 'Miracle on the Hudson exhibit will feature salvaged passenger and crew items such as life preserves, luggage, and beverage carts. There will also be a video that takes visitors through the journey of Flight 1549 from its takeoff from LaGuardia Airport to the extensive news coverage after the landing in the Hudson River to the investigation into the engine failure.
The museum grounds comprise three buildings that house interactive exhibits, STEM education programs, and flight simulators. There will be an outdoor plaza where historic aircraft will be displayed. The transportation process of the US Airways A320 was meticulously carried out, with great care being taken to ensure the historic airframe was safely transported. The wings and tail were removed for transportation but will be reattached in situ. It was transported and reassembled to its exhibit-ready condition by the museum's collections team and volunteers. The 'Miracle on the Hudson' aircraft's move to the Sullenberger Aviation Museum marks a significant moment in the preservation of aviation history. Visitors will soon be able to see the aircraft at the new museum, providing a tangible connection to a remarkable story of skill, courage, and survival.
