LoneStarMike From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 3637 posts, RR: 38 Reply 1, posted (2 years 6 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 5849 times:
Quoting Schweigend (Thread starter): Does anyone here know about this museum? What is it like? How could someone from the general public access it?
I've never been, but it's open to the public. Here's a link to their website
Longhornmaniac From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 3094 posts, RR: 48 Reply 2, posted (2 years 6 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 5833 times:
The museum is not actually on the airport proper, though it is really close by. Unfortunately, aside from taking a taxi, there isn't really convenient public transportation. The only other method I've used, but I think is generally frowned upon, is to take the employee shuttle over to the AA Complex, which is just across the street from the museum. I've done it once, and the driver didn't have a problem with it even though I wasn't an employee, but your mileage my vary.
The museum itself is really cool, I always make it a point to go whenever I can. The highlight is most definitely the famous DC-3, Flagship Knoxville, that they have hangered there. You can go inside it, sit down, and walk up to and see the cockpit (which is preserved, but blocked off).
Aside from that, they have the nose of an F-100, and a GE CF6 engine off a DC-10, I believe. There is lots of interactive stuff there, and they have their own film, Spirit of American, shown in an IMAX style theater (it's not, IMAX, though). The neat part about the theater is instead of normal movie theater seats, they have the light tan leather first class seats still found on the 757s, complete with seatbelts. It runs every hour, and is about 20 minutes long. It's very fun, and tells the history behind AA.
They've got a little plane mockup, with Microsoft Flight Simulator that you can try, as well as some aerodynamic stuff geared toward a younger audience.
Overall, it is a really neat museum, and the gift shop has a lot of neat stuff (including a sizable collection of die cast models, if you're interested in that).
It's really cheap (only $4 for adults), and staffed almost completely by volunteers. Many of them are older gentlemen who used to fly for AA (I spoke with one man who started out on the DC-3, and finished on the 747). Definitely worth chatting up.
I highly recommend it!
As far as other airlines, I'm pretty sure Delta has a similar museum in Atlanta, but I've never been, nor do I know much about it.
AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5333 posts, RR: 11 Reply 3, posted (2 years 6 months 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 5748 times:
The museum is great. Having grown up in the area, I've been several times. And my sister was lucky enough to have her senior prom there, under the wings of the DC-3!!!!
How ridiculous is that!?!?!!? I didn't get a prom under a plane!!!
Anyhow, I highly recommend going, if you get a chance.
deltal1011man From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 8565 posts, RR: 8 Reply 4, posted (2 years 6 months 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 5690 times:
Quoting Longhornmaniac (Reply 2):
As far as other airlines, I'm pretty sure Delta has a similar museum in Atlanta, but I've never been, nor do I know much about it.
Yes Delta has the Delta Heritage Museum located at Hangar 1 & 2 at the WHQ.
DHM has ship 102(N102DA) housed in Hangar 2 and Ship 41 a fully restored DC-3 in Hangar 1. Also the cockpit and F section of a L1011. It is open to the public but you have to let them know you want to come a head of time so they can get you on to the GO grounds.
Also note DHM is not part of Delta Air Lines INC but DL is, by far, the largest supporter. IIRC they lease Hangar 1 & 2 to them for 1$ a year and Delta gave them ship 102. It's a pretty cool place and if your ever in Atlanta, I would stop by.
"Oh look at the sUGAr falling out of the sky! Look at the sUGAr falling out of the sky!" LM 1922-2011 Go Dawgs! G.A.T.A.
flyby519 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 846 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 5572 times:
Awesome museum, and it is free to any AMR employees. When I was a newhire we has our class group picture in front of the DC-3. It was corny, but awesome at the same time
jetjack74 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 7335 posts, RR: 52 Reply 6, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 5537 times:
The Museum Of Flight has an AA 727-200 up here, but it's not open to go inside it and is pretty much just rotting away outside
DeltaFFinDFW From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1383 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 5503 times:
From what I have heard, the Delta museum is not "technically" open to the public. You need to have security credentials to visit, since it is on airport property. Also, they have strange hours for the museum and some of the exhibits.
Even though it's not directly related to an airline, I also hear that the Frontiers of Flight museum at Dallas Love Field is also a good place.
L1011 From United States of America, joined exactly 14 years ago today! , 1583 posts, RR: 10 Reply 9, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 5457 times:
When I had a nine-hour layover at DFW, I tried to get a taxi to the museum, but none of the drivers knew where it was. I went in and asked an American Airlines employee about this, and she said the drivers really do know where it is, but since it is such a short distance, it is not worth it to them. They want to make longer trips so they can get higher fares. So I ended up renting a car for the day. The museum was great. I would like to see other airlines do the same thing.
deltal1011man From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 8565 posts, RR: 8 Reply 10, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 5433 times:
Quoting DeltaFFinDFW (Reply 7): From what I have heard, the Delta museum is not "technically" open to the public.
It is, you just have to A) have a Delta badge, B) be with someone with a Delta Badge or C) call/email ahead and they will get you set up to get into the GO.
Quoting DeltaFFinDFW (Reply 7): You need to have security credentials to visit, since it is on airport property
Not airport, but it is on the grounds of the GO(right across the road form the airport....if you flying into ATL look for the "FLY DELTA AIR LINES"(not FLY DELTA JETS)....that is hangar 2 which is where 102 is) so you do have a pass to get into the ground or be with a Delta employee(or retired Delta employee)but like i said, it just takes a email or call.
"Oh look at the sUGAr falling out of the sky! Look at the sUGAr falling out of the sky!" LM 1922-2011 Go Dawgs! G.A.T.A.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11705 posts, RR: 52 Reply 11, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 5395 times:
Quoting L1011 (Reply 9): When I had a nine-hour layover at DFW, I tried to get a taxi to the museum, but none of the drivers knew where it was. I went in and asked an American Airlines employee about this, and she said the drivers really do know where it is, but since it is such a short distance, it is not worth it to them. They want to make longer trips so they can get higher fares.
That is correct. But DFW has Ground Transportation employees at each terminal which should have directed the taxi to take you there. All taxis that service DFW are required to take all passengers, no matter how shorty or long the trip is. They are also required to have a MapsCo (book of maps for the entire DFW area, broken down to a Fort Worth side and a Dallas side). Taxis at DFW are kept in the Taxi Que abd dispatched to each terminal to keep 2-4 taxis at each of three taxi stands in each terminal. The DFW employee should have helped you out.
type-rated From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 4342 posts, RR: 21 Reply 12, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 5256 times:
But if you can get a taxi driver to take you to the AA museum, how do you get back to the terminal at the end of your visit?
Fly North Central Airlines..The route of the Northliners!
Longhornmaniac From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 3094 posts, RR: 48 Reply 13, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 5227 times:
nonrevman From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 1289 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 4558 times:
Quoting Schweigend (Thread starter): The museum is not actually on the airport proper, though it is really close by. Unfortunately, aside from taking a taxi, there isn't really convenient public transportation
. The only other method I've used, but I think is generally frowned upon, is to take the employee shuttle over to the AA Complex, which is just across the street from the museum. I've done it once, and the driver didn't have a problem with it even though I wasn't an employee, but your mileage my vary.
They have not always charged for the museum, but now since there is an admission fee, maybe AA would be willing to allow visitors to use the employee shuttle. If more people knew about the museum and there was a cheap (or free) alternative to taking a taxi, the museum could get a lot more visitors from DFW.
Schweigend From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 494 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 4515 times:
Big thanks to everyone above for the information!
I've spoken with my father, a retired airline guy, and we intend to attempt a day-trip to DFW to visit the C.R. Smith Museum.
The Delta museum in ATL would be wonderful to visit as well....but as Deltaman indicated, it seems to require a little more planning and advance authorization.
Continental, with its chequered and fascinating past, has no museum. Even the history page on its website is lame and uninformative.
By the way, I've heard that JAL has a memorial display somewhere in Narita Airport for JA123, the 747 that went down in 1985 due to an aft pressure bulkhead failure, in the greatest single-plane disaster ever. Supposedly, it features seats and other things that were salvaged from that horrendous tragedy. Morbid, maybe, but I'd like to visit it and pay my respects next time I transit NRT.
_AA_777_MAN From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 161 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 4353 times:
I have been there and it is awesome!!!!!! I love the DC-3!!!!!!
Thank you Longhornamiac. I've been to the CR Smith Museum more times than I can count. When I worked for AA at SRO(Southern Reservations Office, I would often walk over to the museum on my lunch break. And when I moved away and was back in town I would usually stop there and the SRO to see my friends. I still never get tired of watching the movie Spirit of American. And the displays were updated 2 or 3 years ago and they are worth seeing. That is always a highlight of my trips back to the US--visiting the CR Smith Museum.
Quoting Schweigend (Reply 15): By the way, I've heard that JAL has a memorial display somewhere in Narita Airport for JA123, the 747 that went down in 1985 due to an aft pressure bulkhead failure, in the greatest single-plane disaster ever. Supposedly, it features seats and other things that were salvaged from that horrendous tragedy. Morbid, maybe, but I'd like to visit it and pay my respects next time I transit NRT.
I'm not aware of this display but there is a museum--Museum of Aeronautical Science which is near the airport and can be accessed by bus and taxi. Many good displays there, a restaurant and an observation deck. I always enjoyed going there too when I lived in Japan.
Accidentally From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 636 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 3964 times:
type-rated From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 4342 posts, RR: 21 Reply 19, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 3823 times:
And from what I understand you can rent the CR Smith museum for events such as birthdays, weddings, etc. What a place to have a wedding!
Fly North Central Airlines..The route of the Northliners!
varigb707 From United States of America, joined May 2006, 1217 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 3735 times:
Is photography allowed at the C.R. Smith Museum???
jfklganyc From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 2643 posts, RR: 5 Reply 21, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2821 times:
It is a very nice museuem . . . not huge, but nice. It is attached to the AA training facility a few miles south of the airport. If you are in the area, it is worth the trip. Nice section on TWA too (again small)
KLM672 From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 2340 posts, RR: 3 Reply 22, posted (2 years 6 months 5 days ago) and read 2805 times:
Thanks for bringing this up, I have visited their website and really want to check it out next time I'm in the area! I'll give a full report here when I do (although it won't be until April!)
ha763 From United States of America, joined Jan 2003, 3492 posts, RR: 6 Reply 23, posted (2 years 6 months 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2537 times:
Quoting Schweigend (Reply 15): I've heard that JAL has a memorial display somewhere in Narita Airport for JA123
It is on the outskirts of HND and requires reservations for non-employees since it is in a training center. Below is part of the brochure I picked up from my visit showing the location and phone number to call.
Longhornmaniac From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 3094 posts, RR: 48 Reply 24, posted (2 years 6 months 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2522 times:
Schweigend From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 494 posts, RR: 1 Reply 25, posted (2 years 6 months 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 2480 times:
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Jun 2010, 494 posts, 
From Croatia, joined Mar 2009, 823 posts, 
, 1583 posts, 
From Thailand, joined May 2005, 678 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
