Delta Flight Museum

As both of us are arguably somewhat “geeks” for Delta Airlines, being Diamond Medallions since that was invented and also both being Million Milers and one of us almost a 2 Million Miler at that, it made sense that we would finally go and visit the Delta Flight Museum located in two hangars on the Delta main campus at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta.

Global Entry Interview

We were headed to the airport anyway because we have been members of Global Entry, the US Customs and Border Protection pre-approved traveler program that allows us to use kiosks, bypassing all lines, upon reentry into the United States from abroad, for five years now and it was time to renew.  Part of the renewal process is an in-person interview, at which the take a new photo and repeat your fingerprints for a new criminal background check, and this was most easily done at the airport Terminal F location.  The process was surprisingly quick and painless and my renewal approval came through in about 30 minutes.

Since we were already going to be on campus we thought it was a perfect excuse to go to the museum without having to make a special trip.  I had secured tickets on-line in advance, not required but it was available and I thought it would further ensure that we would really go if the tickets were already bought and paid for.

Museum Entry

We entered through the security gate, parked, and had a great view of some retired aircraft parked in the parking lot.  Upon entry, there are kiosks very similar to those used in the airport for flight check-in where you print your admission ticket, cleverly called a “boarding pass” which bears a good similarity to the real deal.

You are also issued a visitors sticker to readily identify you should you wander off into areas not allowed.

The DC-3 and More

The first exhibits are in a smaller hangar, the original headquarters of Delta Airlines from the 1930s forward following the move from Louisiana and the transition from crop dusting to passenger and cargo transport.

This area includes an iconic DC-3 aircraft, the craft that first made air travel a realistic option for the public.  It held no more than 17 passengers and in today’s money a round trip trip flight was well over $1,000 even for domestic and short-haul, so while air travel was open to the public it wasn’t open to anyone without relatively deep pockets.  Services were impressive including cooked to order steaks, but passengers still had to load their own baggage into the shelves inside the airplane.

There are a good many exhibits of ephemera such as old boarding passes, luggage, flight uniforms, brochures, posters, and the like, but don’t be disappointed as those items really help create a very real sense of what commercial flight would have been like in the very early days before jet travel.

Enter the Jet Age and “The Spirit of Delta”

After going through a tunnel you enter the main hangar and some very significant exhibits.  There is a tail from the DC-9, very similar to the still flying MD-88, MD-90, and the newer Boeing 717, all now out of active production but still workhorse aircraft for Delta and other airlines, especially American.

But the real biggie exhibit is the Boeing 767 parked in the hangar.  This $30 million aircraft was actually purchased using donations from actual Delta Airlines employees in the 1980s to demonstrate their faith in the future of the airline as it struggled with fuel prices, deregulation and other crises of the era.  The plane was named “The Spirit of Delta” and was something of a good-will ambassador wherever and whenever it flew.  It was frequently repainted in recognition of significant events ranging from the Atlanta Olympics to the 50th operational anniversary of the airline itself.  The plane interior is open to the public and includes many exhibits in what has mostly been converted into a museum display space.  There is a cutaway view of the structure of the aircraft near the emergency exit doors and the forward section is still just at it was during use.  If you ever wanted to mess around with the cabinets, ovens, and other doors and latches in the crew galley this is your chance.  You can also even flip down the flight attendant jump seats to see how you like those.  The cockpit is viewable but you can’t enter it.  Overall, it is an impressive exhibit indeed.

Flight Simulator and More

If one has several hundred dollars burning a hole in their pocket, they can book time in an actual flight simulator, one of the only ones in the country open to the general public and take your chances flying the big bird.  This simulator is the real deal, just like the ones used to train real pilots.  The admission is steep but it can accommodate up to four guests, so perhaps if you have friends interested in sharing the cost and the experience, it might be just the thing for you.  We didn’t feel up to forking out the required cash so while we saw the equipment, we didn’t fly it.  At least, not this time.

There are other typical museum displays in the larger hangar on the walls and I have to say that the flight attendant uniforms from the 1970s struck me for their reminder of a very bad era for fashion in general and for flight attendants in particular.

Shopping and Exiting

The exit is, surprise, through the Museum shop and they sell just anything and everything you can imagine emblazoned with Delta logos and name.  We snagged very nice and heavy silvery metal luggage tags and two reusable shopping bags, including a very large insulated one.

Overall I was pleased with the experience and I think it would appeal to people who have a connection to Delta Airlines either as employee or frequent passenger as well as to those who have a deep interest in or passion for aviation in general.  If I didn’t live near the airport, or didn’t have other business there, I don’t know that I would travel a long distance just for the experience of the Museum but if one is in the area and has an interest for some reason, it is certainly a reasonably pleasant way to spend an hour or so.  Detailed information is available at the website, including advance ticket purchase.