Southern Museum of Flight facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Southern Museum of Flight

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Established	1966 (1966)
Location	4343 73rd Street North Birmingham, Alabama 35206
Founder	Mary Alice Beatty

The Southern Museum of Flight is an exciting place in Birmingham, Alabama. It's a museum dedicated to civilian aviation. This means it focuses on planes used for things like travel, not just war. You'll find almost 100 different aircraft here. There are also cool engines, models, old items, photos, and paintings.

The museum is also home to the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame. This special part tells the stories of famous people from Alabama. These people made a big difference in aviation history.

Exploring the Southern Museum of Flight

The B-25 Bomber Story

One of the most incredible planes at the museum is a B-25C Mitchell bomber. This plane crashed into Lake Murray in South Carolina way back in 1943. It happened during a training exercise. This is when pilots practice flying. The plane's right engine broke off during the crash. But the crew was able to get out safely before it sank. The bomber rested 150 feet (46 meters) deep in the lake.

For many years, the aircraft was a dive site for local divers. Then, in September 2005, it was brought up from the lake! Dr. Bob Seigler led this amazing project. He, along with John Hodge and Dr. Bill Vartorella, formed a group. They called it the Lake Murray B-25 Rescue Project. Their goal was to save the aircraft. After it was recovered, the plane was moved to the Southern Museum of Flight. Here, it was cleaned up and prepared for display. A video team even filmed the recovery for a TV show!

Special Exhibits

The museum has many interesting exhibits. One special display honors Alabama's famous Tuskegee Airmen. These were African American military pilots who fought in World War II. There is also an exhibit about jets from the Korean War. Another exhibit features helicopters from the Vietnam War. These displays help visitors learn about important moments in aviation history.

Museum Location Plans

The museum is currently located near the Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport. However, there are plans for the museum to grow! In 2017, the museum announced it might move to the Barber Motorsports Park. After some delays, the museum decided in 2023 to keep its current location. But it will still move forward with plans for a new spot. This new location will be an expansion of the museum.

Aircraft on Display

The Southern Museum of Flight has a huge collection of aircraft. You can see many different types of planes and helicopters. They are divided into military and civilian aircraft.

Lockheed A-12

MiG 15

Military Aircraft

These are planes and helicopters used by armed forces.

Civilian Aircraft

These are planes used for non-military purposes. This includes passenger travel, small private flights, or special jobs like crop dusting.