If you’ve visited the newly reopened Sullenberger Aviation Museum (SAM), you’ve likely noticed the magnitude of artifacts and stories representing the history of aviation in Charlotte, the Carolinas, and across the country. And it takes a powerhouse team to take Charlotteans (and visitors) to new heights.
Meet Katie Swaringen, Molly Kinyon, Rachel McManimen, and Shelby Dains — the all-female Collections team responsible for preserving and curating the artifacts on display at SAM from photographs and memorabilia to historic planes and the Airbus A320-214, or US Airways Flight 1549 — better known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”
On the museum grounds + the hangar floor (and ceiling), visitors will find massive aircraft, plane data, and uniforms from Carolinians who have made aviation history, like Capt. Lindsey Jefferies-Jones — the NC National Guard’s first African American female pilot.
“I remember when Lindsey Jefferies-Jones first walked in and saw her face up on the wall, projected, and saw her uniform on display,” Rachel McManimen, SAM’s Collections Specialist, told CLTtoday. “It was a reminder of why we have been working on this exhibit for so long. And specifically changing how aviation museums have tended to go about telling stories beyond the aircraft.”
City Editor Maria, here. A few times in our conversation, we circled back to the notion that museums, while housing historic items and stories, don’t just honor the past. Museums also look ahead to the future — something this team is doing with excitement.
Fast-forward to summer 2025, SAM will open its newest exhibition space, Aviation City. The museum’s newest portion will be housed in the historic WPA hangar, which was registered as a national landmark in 2002, and will tell the story of Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s growth + its contribution to the growth of the Queen City.
“I don’t think you can mention Aviation City without mentioning how excited we are to get the rest of our collection off of 523 that’s in storage and to get our iconic Piedmont Airlines DC3 back in into the historic hangar,” explained Katie Swaringen, SAM’s Vice President of Collections. “To tell that story of Piedmont Airlines and its growth at Charlotte, we have partnered with American Airlines mechanics over the years to care for that aircraft.”
Fun fact: Aviation City will also feature the story of Carol Fair, a flight attendant that’s been working out of Charlotte for six decades and is now the most-senior ranking Purser within American Airlines.
“I would wager a bet that she’s a record breaker,” laughed McManimen. “I hope that everybody sees that and recognizes her for what she is, which is a legend.”
The new hangar will also feature a timeline of aviation in Charlotte spanning ~100 years and two flight simulators within a restored T-33 aircraft, painted in a 1950s trainer scheme of the Air National Guard.
“We’re taking a T-33 and making it wheelchair accessible,” explained Molly Kinyon, SAM’s Director of Aircraft. “In addition to being wheelchair accessible, there’s going to be two flight simulators: one in the front seat that can be accessed with a ladder and one in the backseat which is accessible via platform and wheelchair lift.”
Editor’s note: The flight simulators at SAM are all wheelchair accessible, however, the new simulator within the T-33 will be the only simulator inside a restored aircraft.
While an exact opening date has not yet been announced, now is a perfect time to visit the Sullenberger Aviation Museum. It’s open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. + Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $24 for adults and $18 for children.
“You don’t have to like aviation or know anything about aviation to come out and find something that you relate to and can be interested in,” shared Shelby Dains, Exhibit Assistant at SAM. “It’s such a great place for everyone and, not just the enthusiasts, but people of any race, creed, age, it doesn’t matter. You’re going to find something here that you’re going to like.”
