Aeronautical museum to be renamed in tribute to ‘Sully’

Marking the 13th anniversary of the famous ‘Miracle on the Hudson River,’ the Carolinas Aeronautical Museum (CAM) will be renamed in honor of Commander Chesley Burnett Sullenberger III, who, along with the crew of US Airways Flight 1549, heroically landed their aircraft in the Hudson River and saved all lives on board. Officially, the building will announce its new name by the end of the year.

Upon reopening in 2023, the Smithsonian-affiliated museum will also feature a permanent exhibit honoring the pilot and crew of the flight, including the aircraft, which previously attracted more than 74,000 visitors per year.

“I am eternally grateful to Captain Sully and the crew of US Airways Flight 1549 for my second chance at life, and 13 years ago I am determined to find a way to honor them,” said Ric Elias, the CEO of Red Ventures and a survivor of the accident.

Elias personally donated $1 million toward the Museum’s reopening, along with a $500,000 donation from Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures brand. “Heroes are made long before the day they are called to action. This museum will serve as a long-lasting tribute to the preparation, courage, and dedication of the Commander and the entire crew,” he added.

As reported by our media partner Aeroin, the renamed and renovated museum will feature a new main gallery, a visitor center, a plaza, and a newly restored historic hangar, as well as dozens of aircraft and interactive cockpits, flight simulators, and historic artifacts that tell of their region’s enduring connection to the wonder of flight and aeronautical innovation.

“We are delighted to pay tribute to Commander Sully and his heroic crew of the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ and to cement our city’s place in aviation history,” said museum board chairman Marc Oken.

“With the support of the City of Charlotte, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, and generous private donors, we look forward to establishing the Museum as the new aviation destination in the South” completed Oken.

About the Museum

The Carolinas Aviation Museum, to be renamed at the end of the year, is an inspirational destination in Charlotte, a place where visitors can be truly motivated by the everyday heroism of flight, learn about the science of aviation and its importance to the region, as well as experience living history through a wide variety of artifacts and aircraft.

The building is supported by the Infusion Fund, a partnership between the City of Charlotte, Foundation For The Carolinas, and donors supporting the arts and cultural sector.