Airliners International at Atlanta

Presented by the World Airline Historical Society, Atlanta was the group's 49th annual meeting.

Several years ago, I discovered an organization called Airliners International and was pleased to attend their three-day convention in 2022 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (see my post of September 22, 2022 titled Airliners International at Chicago O’Hare). I was accompanied by Dave, my AvGeek friend and the Navigator Program Manager for the Raleigh-Durham Airport. We had such a good time and met our now good friend James that we traveled to Dallas the next year (see my post of August 12, 2023 titled Airliners International at Dallas-Fort Worth) and attended the show again last year in Kansas City (see my post of August 24, 2024 titled Airliners International at Kansas City). The annual gathering is conducted under the auspices of the World Airline Historical Society (WAHS) and is held in a different US city each year. This year’s gathering took place at the Delta Flight Museum from June 25 through 28. 

Delta Air Lines' World Headquarters is adjacent to the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.

Atlanta was an excellent choice. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is known for being the world's busiest It consistently ranks at the top by both passenger count and aircraft movements. The airport handles an enormous volume of flights, serving over 150 domestic and more than 70 international destinations. A key factor in its success is its central location within the US, making it a major hub for worldwide travel. The Delta Flight Museum was a wonderful venue for aviation enthusiasts, thanks to its extensive collection which highlights the carrier’s aviation history and the interactive exhibits that bring Delta's story to life. It's more than just a collection of airplanes; it's a celebration of the airline’s  people, its impact on the industry, and its journey from crop dusting to global prominence. 

The Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel enjoys runway views and a prime location.

Our journey to ATL on a Delta B737-900 ER that Wednesday morning went off without a hitch and we landed ahead of schedule. We did incur a bit of a hiccup in getting to the hotel by mistakenly taking a Sky Train to the wrong one. After returning to the airport, we waited another 25 minutes for the correct bus, only to find it very crowded and without any air conditioning, which made the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel a very welcome sight. This 11-story hotel features 387 soundproof guest rooms around an interior atrium and is situated close to the airport, the Georgia International Convention Center and the Delta Flight Museum. Dave was checked in right away for his room. But, mine wasn’t ready, so I stored my luggage with him while we visited the Concorde Grill for lunch where we came to appreciate its runway views. At 3:00 PM I was told my room was still not ready, but after asking to speak with a supervisor, I was checked into a king-bedded room on the 11th floor with Executive Lounge access. I think the hotel has seen better days. My room had only two small drawers and no in-rom safe and the carpet was worn and dirty. To top it off, the bathroom was equipped with those refillable plastic bottles attached to the shower walls containing shampoo, conditioner and body wash which I simply will not use. The Renaissance website claims it’s a 4-star hotel, but I would only give them 3 stars at best. 

The DC-3 was the first aircraft to generate adequate revenue from passenger transport.

The Executive Lounge I visited for breakfast on Thursday morning was a disappointment as well. Aside from it being quite small, it was in sore need of a refresh like much of the hotel. Putting all those negatives behind me though, I walked over to the Delta Flight Museum for the Douglas DC-3 Tour. The beautifully-restored aircraft on static display was built in the late 1940s and flew with the airline until the advent of the Jet Age in 1959. Staffers provided the eight of us on the tour with gloves and booties before we were permitted to walk on the plane. It looked exactly as it did when it flew for the airline, including the carpet, seats and the small window curtains. This aircraf is the only remaining Delta passenger Douglas DC-3 in existence. It was meticulously restored by employees and volunteers between 1995 and 1999, combining its original 1940s aesthetic with modern avionics. This particular DC-3, known as "Ship 41", was one of five new DC-3s ordered by the airline in 1940. The two staffers on hand related so many interesting facts about the aircraft and were very gracious in answering all our questions. 

This B767-200 Spirit of Delta served as their flagship ambassador aircraft for many years.

The recently-renovated Delta Flight Museum served as the backdrop for this year’s convention. In addition to the many notable and interesting artifacts highlighting the carrier’s storied 100-year history, the museum also houses two very special aircraft. The first is The Spirit of Delta, a Boeing 767-200 which is on display in the center of the museum. It holds a special place in Delta Air Lines history as it was purchased by employees, retirees and community partners in 1982 to show their appreciation for the company during a challenging economic period following airline deregulation in 1978. It served as a flying symbol of the airline’s pride for over two decades and it was exciting to see and walk aboard this very special piece of Delta history. The second is a beautiful Boeing 747-400, which was the first of its type ever built. Designated N661US (or Ship 6301 within Delta), it was initially delivered to Northwest Airlines in 1989 and later became part of Delta's fleet after the 2008 merger. The 400 series represented a significant upgrade for the type, introducing modern digital displays and advanced flight computers. The museum has preserved the aircraft with a focus on showcasing its interior and I especially appreciated the rare opportunity to walk out onto the wing for a unique and personal perspective on the aircraft’s huge size. In addition to the cockpit, which is open for exploration, the airplane’s walls are covered with displays detailing the history of the 747 and its role in Delta's fleet. 

The flight instrumentation on the 717 Sim is a faithful recreation of the actual aircraft cockpit.

Dave and I were in for a real treat on the following day when we assembled at the museum for the Delta Pilot Training Center Tour led by Pilot Spencer Marks. We believed it would be a lecture-type presentation on how the airline trains its pilots, but were thrilled to learn we would be getting an opportunity to actually “fly” in one of the carrier’s simulators. Spencer is a Delta Simulator Flight Instructor for the B717 aircraft and he escorted a few of us at a time from the museum to the secure Delta Pilot Ops Center. The simulator we “trained” on cost Delta a cool $25 million and now I know why. The Boeing 717 flight simulator stands out due to its focus on realism and customization options. It features detailed cockpit and exterior models, accurate flight deck dimensions, and interactive controls. It also includes high-fidelity engine sounds, over 750 mastered warning sounds, and the ability to interact with nearly every cockpit control. Furthermore, it offers a tablet for preflight setup, aircraft settings, and document viewing, plus integration with weather radar systems. Thanks to Spencer’s expert guidance, I was able to take off from Runway 8L at ATL and complete a manual landing on the same runway several minutes later without “crashing” the airplane. As an avowed AvGeek, I was on cloud nine for the balance of the day!

Brian Keene with his beautiful diorama of the JFK International Airport as it appeared in the 1970s.

“The Art of Building Airport Dioramas” was the subject of a seminar given by Brian Keene on Saturday morning. Brian grew up on Long Island, NY, in the 1970s and enjoyed spending time at JFK International Airport. Awestruck by the colors and trademark insignia of aircraft and their movement about the airport, Brian later decided to take his passion for aviation and the airport to another level by building a 1:400 scale replica of the airport that would capture and remind him of a moment in his life when the aviation “bug first bit him.”  Brian has since made many life-like dioramas, all of which have the many essential airport areas in detail, including runways, terminal buildings and aircraft, as well as cargo areas and fuel depots. He is a very talented master craftsman and it was a pleasure to see and appreciate his handiwork.

The convention drew to a close on Saturday evening. David Stringer was the chosen keynote speaker and the title of his talk was “Nobody’s Second Class on Southern.” It was a look back at Southern Airways, Atlanta’s own local airline. David was a flight attendant with the airline and shared his personal photos and stories from the airline before it became part of the Delta family. Unfortunately, his presentation was way too long. He spoke for over an hour, naming every person in every photo and didn’t conclude his talk until after 10:00 PM. 

The jury’s still out on whether or not Dave and I will attend next year’s show in Denver. It's been scheduled at a hotel near the old Stapleton Airport which has been closed for the past 20 years and is located 18 miles from the current airport! We may very well attend Aviation Expo in Seattle instead. Time will tell.

Until next time…safe travels.