Today US Airways Flight 1549 completed its 600-mile, 7 day journey on a flatbed truck from Newark, New Jersey to Charlotte, North Carolina where it will be on display at the Carolina Aviation Museum.
The "Miracle on the Hudson" plane was bound for Charlotte from New York on Jan. 15, 2009, when it struck a flock of geese after takeoff and lost power in both engines. Pilot, Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger considered trying to land at nearby Teterboro Airport in New Jersey but quickly recognized that would be too risky and elected to touch the plane down in the frigid Hudson.
Thousands of people in several states, including Virginia, lined up along the road to get a glimpse of the 120-foot-long plane, which had to take back roads to avoid obstacles such as tollbooths and overpasses. The wings from the damaged Airbus A320 were removed and shipped earlier to the museum.
The Carolina Aviation Museum is raising money toward an exhibit that could cost nearly $2.4 million. So far enough was collected to transport the plane to Charlotte, where Arizona-based US Airways also has a hub.
Saturday evening there will be a reception at the museum where the plane's hero crew and many of the passengers will get to see the plane for the first time since that "Miracle on the Hudson" two years ago.
