Down the memory lane in Delta Flight Museum

If you have enjoyed good meals, world-class entertainment and a seamless flight on Delta Airline, it is time to leave the sky to see how it all began at Delta Flight Museum says OBINNA EMELIKE who visited the museum recently in Atlanta.

Hello guys, how was the flight? I learnt you are our media partners from Nigeria”, a rich voice asks us amidst smiles. As we look up to him for introduction before answering his question, the man with an athletic built smiles further saying, “I am Daniel Hoffman, your museum guide for today, and I guess it was fun flying 40,000 ft above sea level, but it is more revealing and exciting here because this is where to learn and see how it all began. Welcome to the new Delta Flight Museum”.

Housed in Delta Airline’s two original maintenance hangers dating from the 1940s, the museum, which spans 68,000 square-feet, is both aviation and a sight-seeing wonder for discerning visitors.

Opened on June 17, 2014 to mark the airline’s 85th anniversary, the new flight museum located at Delta Airline’s world headquarters in Atlanta Georgia, traces Delta’s history and the development of commercial aviation.

Having explained these as preamble to our tour, Hoffman continues, saying that the two historic hangers housing the museum have undergone significant renovations funded by the Delta Airlines Foundation and other sponsors. With pride, he announces to us that the museum was designated a Historic Aerospace Site in 2011. “No wonder the queue to buy tickets to see the museum”, one of us says rhetorically.

On display inside the museum were hundreds of artifacts, many of which have never been on public display. They chronicle more than eight decades of Delta history, the growth and the development of commercial aviation in both the United States of America and across the world.  As we move further into the museum, the museum guide explains every bite of artifact and information he deems necessary for us because he hopes more Nigerians will visit the museum courtesy of our writings about the museum.

He explains that the museum houses a permanent collection of five historic aircraft, including: a Travel Air 6B Sedan similar to the one that operated Delta’s first passenger flight in 1929, The Spirit of Delta, and Boeing 767 purchased for the company by employees of the airline in 1982.

Of course, we keep asking questions interrupting his explanations because with the revelation at the museum, the days of little beginning of the aviation industry leave nothing to cherish but risk, risk, risk. However, the good news is how pioneer airlines, especially Delta navigated through aviation dark and stormy era and innovated to the sweet sleep, dining and wining, and super safety in the sky today.

Again, the story of how employees bought Boeing 767 for Delta, as told by the museum guide, is a story for another day.

We keep moving and seeing more for ourselves. There is a DC-3, Ship 41 that flew for Delta and was restored by Delta employees and volunteers.  With the purchasing of Boeing 767 and the restoration of Ship 41; all by Delta Airline employees, I keep wondering ‘this rare love’ by employees to employer instead of employer for employees, and asks the museum guide, “Do Delta employees of today still sacrifice for the airline like the pioneer staff”.  He moves closer to me and speaks only to my ear, so it is not for public consumption.

While trying to comprehend what the guide told me, a special exhibit catches my attention. It is unique and honors C.E. Woolman, first CEO and founder of Delta Airlines. The display includes a portrait of Woolman along with quotes and personal items. Going through Woolman’s stuff and learning from his die-hard entrepreneurial spirit is enough for the youths and upcoming business owners.

On display are exterior propellers of different sizes, telling the story of the phases of aircraft development to today’s modern engines.

There is a special display of aviation seats of those days, the different crew uniforms till day, meals served, among other artifacts. A look at First-Class seats of those days and today’s super comfort Business Class seats, reveals where the aviation industry was coming from and the marvelous feats it has achieved over the years.  Even, some of the crew uniforms of the old look like choir robe, and surprisingly, some designers are remodeling the old uniforms and bringing them back today. Well, I also notice that a particular crew uniform in the early 80s seems same in 1992 apart from the neck tie.

As we move further again, we see a 117-seater theater and 30-seat conference room inside the fuselage of an L-1011 TriStar aircraft. While still overwhelmed by the innovation inside the aircraft the museum guide sends everybody looking for camera for unique shots when he says the aircraft is the original one used in filming Passenger 57, the popular Hollywood Thriller in the late 80s.

From there, we move to see the cockpit of a Convair 880 jet. But the ultimate aviation experience at the museum is the full motion simulator on a Boeing 737-200; the only one open to the public in the United States of America, and formerly used to train Delta pilots.

At the end, the Hoffman’s rich voice echoes once more saying; “Guys, it is an honour hosting you today. I started with you guys from Delta’s beginnings as a crop-dusting operation in the rural South and took you through the early propeller era of passenger service and into the jet age. Thanks, I hope to see you again”.

It is then it dawn on us that Delta purposely offers us guided tour, though we have opportunity to explore the museum at our own pace through a self-guided tour with special interactive features such as a pilot pre-flight checklist for a Boeing 767, as well as a scavenger hunt that engage children touring the museum.

Before leaving, a beautiful lady at the shop smiles, and says, “A visit to our retail store for Delta souvenirs is the best way to end you museum tour”. On a visit to the store, we discover she is right. There were hundreds of Delta and aviation-related items for sale; including aircraft models, clothing and accessories. As expected, the ladies among us did the buying on our behalf.

But looking back at the grand opening ceremony of the museum barely a year ago, Richard Anderson, chief executive officer, Delta Airlines, rightly points out that: This museum is a testament to the rich history and unique culture of Delta, which has always been deeply rooted in our people. The museum commemorates Delta’s contributions to passenger aviation, which influences economic growth and development and fosters greater understanding across cultures. We are proud to welcome the world to the Delta Flight Museum as we celebrate our 85th anniversary of passenger service.”

Of course, bearing in mind what regular visits to the museum will do to the tourism and economy of Atlanta, Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta delights at the opening of the museum and looks forward to building on a relationship that solidifies the city’s position as the business and culture centre of the South through global engagement and international commerce.

The Mayor of Atlanta, Delta’s CEO and the entire staff all await your visit to this one-stop shop for aviation history and collections of rare artifacts.

OBINNA EMELIKE