CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Sullenberger Aviation Museum is scheduled to reopen Saturday, June 1 after five years of being closed.

What You Need To Know

  • The Sullenberger Aviation Museum features 45 aircrafts and three different thematic areas; including Innovation Nation, Aviation Society and Aviation City
  • The museum closed in 2019 to make way for Honeywell's aircraft at Charlotte Douglas International Airport when the corporation moved its headquarters to Charlotte
  • Exhibits and STEM programs at the museum aim to expose the next generation to the aviation industry and create equitable access to career exploration 

The museum has been in Charlotte since 1992. When it welcomed Captain "Sully" Sullenberger's 'Miracle on the Hudson' plane to the museum in 2011, museum president Stephen Saucier said it went from about 5,000 visitors a year to 50,000.

Now, after five years of being closed, the new exhibits and galleries project to bring in 120,000 visitors in the first year and $5 million to the region. 

"We just recently landed on the moon again. We're going to Mars. Flight, aviation, this is happening at an accelerated rate, which means there are incredible opportunities," said Saucier.

The museum closed in 2019 to make way for Honeywell's aircraft at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, as the corporation moved its headquarters to the city. 

The museum has 45 aircraft throughout with three thematic areas: 

  • Innovation Nation explores the risks, failures and triumphs in aviation. This exhibit will house the A320 from the 'Miracle on the Hudson'
  • Aviation Society will introduce visitors to the diverse people who have contributed to the aviation industry, locally and globally
  • Aviation City will tell the story of the economic and cultural development of Charlotte and the Carolinas' past, present and future

According to a press release: "The Museum also features a makerspace where visitors can explore, design and problem-solve via hands-on learning experiences and tools, including a paper airplane launcher and target, 3D printers, cardboard engineering and snap circuits."

Saucier said through programming, the museum plans to create equitable access to the aviation industry with intentions on bringing more women and people of color to the field.

"They've had barriers," Saucier said. "They've not been invited to this industry. So now that it is exploding rapidly, and at the same time these industries are having a hard time finding their future workforce, this museum is finding itself in this sweet spot."

The museum will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Regular admission is $24 for adults; $20 for seniors, veterans, military and educators; $18 for students (5-17 years old) and free for children under five.

Annual membership packages ranges from $75 for an individual to $200 for a Family Plus package. The museum is also offering a reduced-price Family Plus welcome membership for $30 from families with a valid SNAP/EBT card.