New Exhibit for Carolinas Aviation Museum
On 15 January 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 started to taxi down the run away. The massive Airbus A320 was given permission to take off by the LaGuardia Airport in New York, but shortly after lifting off the runway, near tragedy struck. A flock of geese ended up in the flight path of the aircraft, causing all the engines to fail and leaving pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger no choice but to perform an emergency landing. With not many options available to him, he decided to put the plane down as gently as possible on the Hudson River.
On 15 January 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 started to taxi down the run away. The massive Airbus A320 was given permission to take off by the LaGuardia Airport in New York, but shortly after lifting off the runway, near tragedy struck. A flock of geese ended up in the flight path of the aircraft, causing all the engines to fail and leaving pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger no choice but to perform an emergency landing. With not many options available to him, he decided to put the plane down as gently as possible on the Hudson River.
This incident captured the attention of many people around the world, as it is so rare that a successful emergency landing is performed on water. The actions of Sullenberger saved the lives of his crew and passengers, and the incident became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson”. All one hundred and fifty-five lives on board the flight that day were saved, with only five injuries being reported.
A warehouse in Kearny has been home to the airplane for the last two years, but after numerous negotiations the Carolinas Aviation Museum has managed to secure the purchase of the plane for their establishment. Reassembly of the aircraft will take some time, and the museum hopes to have US Airways Flight 1549 on the floor by May 2011. The president of the museum, Shawn Dorsch, commented on their plans for the aircraft, saying “It’s a fantastic piece of history. It has everything from the dents from the birds to the Coke cans and the food carts to the markings from the NTSB investigation on the aircraft. It’s just fascinating to walk around the aircraft. Except for the passengers’ belongings, it’s like a time capsule.”
Founded in 1992, the Carolinas Aviation Museum has been dedicated to the history of aviation. A display such as this, that pays tribute to the successes of the aviation industry, is not only memorable but exciting for all those who visit. The museum hopes to increase its visitors from thirty thousand to a hundred thousand through this additional exhibition, and will be able to share the Miracle on the Hudson with future generations from all over the world.
