CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A newly restored 1930s hangar will open to the public on Saturday, May 31, as the latest addition to the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, offering visitors a look at a broad range of commercial and military aircraft.
The Navy/Marine Corps Gallery, located inside the original Works Progress Administration (WPA)-era Douglas hangar, will highlight the history of Charlotte Douglas International Airport and its role in shaping the city, according to museum president Stephen Saucier. The hangar itself, constructed in 1936, stands as a historical artifact.
The gallery features seven aircraft, including a Piedmont Airlines DC-3 and a military F-84 Thunderjet. One of the planes has been adapted into an interactive two-person flight simulator, enhancing the museum’s hands-on offerings.
This expansion comes nearly a year after the museum reopened under a new name and in a new location. Renamed in honor of Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger, the hero pilot of the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson,” the museum now displays the very aircraft from US Airways Flight 1549 in its main gallery.
A total of $34 million was raised to develop the museum’s current iteration, including a $5 million contribution from Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s Cannon Fund. The airport funded renovations to the hangar shell, while the museum invested approximately $1.5 million to complete the gallery’s interior and exhibits.
The grand opening begins at 9 a.m. for museum members and 10 a.m. for the general public. Food trucks will be on-site to mark the occasion. The museum is located at 4108 Minuteman Way, near Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Admission prices are $24 for adults, $20 for seniors, military personnel, aviation professionals, and educators, $18 for youth ages 5–17, and free for children under 5.
Looking ahead, the museum will launch summer camps for students in grades 4 through 8, with a focus on STEM and aviation education. Visitors are also encouraged to explore the interactive “Aviation City” exhibit.
