Delta Flight Museum
The museum does not have anywhere near the number of aircraft as other popular aeronautics museums, especially since it primarily focuses on commercial aviation. However, what it lacks in quantity of aircraft it more than makes up for in quality and experience. The only museum that comes close is the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy museum at Dulles Airport.
The museum is a bit tough to get to because it is right in between the Delta headquarters and the airport. The museum does not seem to be expecting a ton of visitors which means they can be much more relaxed and fun. We went at the end of the day before our flight and spent 2 hours there until close, mostly on the 747 experience.
The 747 experience is fantastic. I have never seen an exhibit that is so open and lets you do as you please. You can get right up and touch everything, something you do not see at most other museums. When they were converting this aircraft they clearly only locked down what they absolutely had to. Most every seat and cabinet is like you would find it on the aircraft. I spent quite a bit of time going through all of the galleys.
The 747 is the star in my eyes but the rest of the museum is equally awesome. The flight simulator, though rather old, and no longer certified is amazing to see in action.
After the 747 and the simulator, we had to run through the rest of the museum before they closed. The 767 and displays showcasing the history of Delta and commercial aviation are interesting. The extensive collection of scale model planes was impressive, I hope they get a better more permanent display.
All of the staff were very nice, everyone there felt very welcoming and seemed to enjoy what they do. As a bonus the photos you can get are amazing, none of the bad lighting and crowds you will see at a lot of museums. The entire experience contrasted very positively with the chaos of the airport it sits next to.
I hope that Delta continues to improve and promote this museum. The museum is great now but It would be so disappointing if they let it stagnate, which I fear they might do. I don't want to see it lose its small, nitch charm, it feels like a place for true enthusiasts. This kind of museum is a great way to build the Delta brand, and I hope to see them leverage this advantage more.
Our Uber dropped us off at the wrong place, but the security guards were very helpful. I do wish there was a shuttle between the museum and airport though.
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