Aviation Museum on a Flight Path to Reopen

Aug. 12, 2021 - Charlotte Douglas International Airport is committing $5 million from its Cannon Fund for future construction of Carolinas Aviation Museum facilities scheduled to open in 2023.

The Cannon Fund was willed to the Airport to help promote aviation.The aviation museum is focused on STEM education and offers many educational programs.

CLT has identified a 10-acre site on the northeast corner of its campus for the redevelopment of museum facilities.

The site includes the historic Southern Airways Hangar, which is presently used for storage of Flight 1549 (Miracle on the Hudson) and other CAM exhibits. CLT will renovate the hangar to preserve its historical nature per an agreement with the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office. The site also contains a concrete pad for aircraft parking and undeveloped land for the museum’s future facilities.

The land lease and site work contract will go before Charlotte City Council this fall for approval.

Carolinas Aviation Museum originally opened at Charlotte Douglas in 1991. Over the years, the museum has leased multiple facilities at CLT including various hangars, cargo buildings and open airfield ramp.

The new site will better accommodate the rapid growth and popularity of the museum. The museum’s collection had grown to more than 40 helicopters, commercial, military and civil aircraft. In 2019, its attendance topped 74,000 visitors.