The Delta Flight Museum Deserves To Be On Your Radar

The Spirit of Delta jet airliner at the Delta Air Museum — Delta’s first Boeing 767.

Sometimes, the most memorable places to visit in Atlanta aren’t the ones you find in the top ten lists. Instead, they’re the places you discover when you dig a little deeper.

The Delta Flight Museum is one of those places and deserves to be on your radar.

Many of us know that Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the primary hub of Delta Air Lines. The Delta hub is the world’s largest airline hub, with just over 1,000 flights daily to 225 domestic and international destinations.

You may not know that Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is also home to the Delta Flight Museum. Housed in the oldest surviving buildings at Delta’s corporate headquarters, the Museum occupies two air-conditioned 1940s-era aircraft maintenance hangars.

This 68,000-square-foot Museum engages, educates, and entertains visitors with its vast collection of Delta Air Lines memorabilia. Both casual nostalgia fans and aviation buffs alike will find their interest piqued.

These carefully curated artifacts span the 40 airlines of Delta’s family tree. Of particular note are items from Chicago & Southern Air Lines, Northeast Airlines, Western Airlines, Pan-Am, and Northwest Airlines.

Decommissioned DC7 jet parked outside of the Delta Air Museum — DC-7B jet airliner

Black and white photo of the Delta Air Lines main hangar — Delta’s original 1940s-era aircraft hangar still stands
Image courtesy of Delta Flight Museum

Immersive Experience

Whether you take the guided tour or stroll around the methodically laid-out Museum on your own, you’re immersed in the evolution of aviation. To get the most out of your time, we recommend the weekly public guided tours, which are free with admission.

A Delta flight attendant with over 20 years of experience conducted our tour. Through her behind-the-scenes stories and first-hand accounts, she brought the static displays to life.

All told the hour-long guided tour flew by. So, if you explore the sprawling facility on your own, expect to spend about two hours taking it all in.

Elevators make the journey to the second floor easy.

Vintage passenger airplane with a propeller. — Travel Air 6B Sedan

Memorbilia for the early years of Delta Airlines.

Aircraft Take Center Stage

As you might imagine, the various aircraft are the Museum’s stars. And in that regard, they don’t disappoint.

Some of the featured historical aircraft include:

Ship 41 was one of Delta’s first Douglas DC-3s to carry passengers in 1940.
The Spirit of Delta. Delta’s first Boeing 767 was purchased by Delta employees in 1982.
The first Boeing 747-400 entered into service, initially with Northwest Airlines.
Propeller-age aircraft include a Waco 125, Stinson Reliant SE, and DC-78.
There is a full-scale replica of a Huff Daland Duster, the world’s first designed aerial crop duster.
1931 Travel Air was Delta’s first passenger aircraft.
Jet age displays include the DC-8, Convair 880, DC-9, and L-1011.

Classic DC-3 airplane at the Delta Air Museum — Ship 41, one of Delta’s first Douglas DC-3s to carry passengers in 1940

Faded photo of the early airport at Atlanta, Georgia — Vintage photo of Atlanta Airport
Image courtesy of Delta Flight Museum

747 Experience

The Delta Flight Museum consists of two joined 1940s-era airplane hangars and a plaza area across the parking lot. Historic Hangars 1 and 2 are the main exhibition area.

A DC-7 B plane is in front of Hangar 1, and a very short stroll across the parking lot is 747 Plaza, featuring the 747 Experience. You owe it to yourself to experience the interior of the Boeing 747.

An elevator makes entry into this air-conditioned jet airliner easy. Once inside, you’ll find Delta has transformed portions of the interior into an informative, self-paced tour.

You can also walk out onto the wing if you’re feeling so inclined. The view from the wing provides a unique perspective of the jet’s formidable scale.

Overall, if you’re looking for a memorable place to visit in Atlanta that isn’t on the typical top-10 tourist list, you’ve found it here.

The Delta Flight Museum deserves to be on your radar.