Saturday, July 12, 2014

Museum Tour

Inside The Delta Flight Museum


Located in historic Hangars One & Two at Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta International Airport.


Clever idea:  Boeing 757 nose wheel support column outside the museum gift shop.


Brick Locator inside the museum lobby.  The blue check mark indicates the location of Captain Buzz Flett's Memorial Brick.


DC-3 Propeller.


Huff - Daland Duster replica.


HDD logo.

Photo complements of the Delta Flight Museum

In 1966 an original Duster was rebuilt and donated to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.  It is currently on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport.


Memorabilia display case on the north wall of Hangar One.



1931 Curtiss-Wright Travel Air 6B Sedan.  Passenger service began on June 17, 1929 from Dallas, Texas to Jackson, Mississippi with stops in Monroe and Shreveport, Louisiana.  Texas to Mississippi in June . . . I bet that was an interesting ride! 


My bride, Nancy, in front of the Travel Air Sedan at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 2000.


1940 Douglas DC-3-357, Ship 41.  This was the first DC-3 to carry revenue passengers for Delta Air Lines.  Delta operated Ship 41 from December 24, 1940 until April 1958, when it was sold to North Central Airlines.  It was located in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1991; acquired and flown to Atlanta for restoration in 1993.  In 2000 it won Judge's Choice Award (Gold Lindy) at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  It is the first aircraft to earn a National Trust For Historic Preservation award.  This picture does not do it justice.


1936 Stinson SR-8E Reliant.  Northeast Airlines used this airplane as an instrument trainer in the early 40's.  It was donated to the museum in 2004 by Mr. and Mrs. George Massey.  Northeast Airlines merged with Delta in 1972.

   
The Northwest Airways 1928 Waco 125 hangs in the theater located in the Northwest corner of Hangar One.  This is a beautiful airplane---stunning, actually.  My only complaint is that it is not visible from the main viewing area---so take a tip from Toto in the Wizard of Oz:  Look behind the curtain!

Hangar Two, The Jet Age:


Boeing 767-200, Ship 102, The Spirit of Delta.  Big D's first 767---purchased in 1982 with funds raised from employees, retirees, and friends.  It was retired in 2006.  And as far as I know, is the only airplane I have flown, that is in a museum.



Captains would sometimes complain about the brakes at low speeds . . .  It flew great from the right seat!


The paint job when I flew the Spirit.


Pan Am flight attendant uniform in a display case in the aft cabin.


Convair 880 cockpit cut from Serial Number One.


Old Delta Air Lines sign from Terminal 3 at JFK International.


How it used to look . . .

Photo by Joe Baker

My occasional First Officers---Emma and Colin Baker in the fully functional Boeing 737-200 flight simulator.  

Friday, July 4, 2014

Buzz's Brick


In February I wrote about honoring the EG's father, Captain Buzz Flett, with an engraved brick that would be placed in the new courtyard at the Delta Flight Museum.  The museum was undergoing a huge renovation, and the Buy a Brick program was created to raise funds for part of the renovation.  The Grand Reopening was held on June 17, 2014 in conjunction with Delta's 85th anniversary.  I missed the reopening celebration, but was able to track down Buzz's brick a few days later when I was in Atlanta for recurrent training.


The courtyard at the Delta Flight Museum.


Wide view. . .


Certificate of Dedication


Northeast Airlines Captain Buzz Flett


My good friend, the Exotic Guy---United Airlines Captain Duncan "EG" Flett.


The art of prophecy---The Captain and the Kid.