CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Museum of Science and Industry has given a favorite exhibit a makeover.
The United Airlines Boeing 727, dating to 1964, has been revamped, and the “Take Flight” exhibit has been reimagined to explore modern aviation and the science of flight.
More than 25 years after MSI first unveiled "Take Flight", the new exhibit invites guests aboard a commercial airliner that made history during the early age of jet travel.
“United’s 727 airplane, dramatically positioned high above the Museum's main floor, has been a one-of-a-kind sight that has amazed millions of guests. We're excited to showcase the plane in a new way that highlights modern advances in aviations," said MSI President and CEO Chevy Humphrey.
MSI Spokesman Jeff Buonomo told CBS 2 part of the restoration was getting rid of old cigarette residue.
"So the cockpit is behind glass and we actually just restored it. It took two weeks, two conservers to restore and actually remove a lot of the nicotine that was on the plane from the 60's; but we do have pilots that volunteer most days and they love interacting with our guests," he said.
Guests will discover what made the airliner soar, explore changes in the airline industry, and understand the science of flying.
“We are now showing the entire kind of aviation industry, so you can learn all about what happens in the factories out in Seattle, what happens when an air airplane is delivered to an airport, and what it means to be a passenger onboard a commercial jetliner these days," Buonomo told CBS 2.
Exhibit highlights include:
• Aviation history: See a section of the 727 as it looked on its first flights in 1964 and imagine being one of its first passengers. Outside the plane, suspended above the balcony is a “flock” of models of 25 influential airliners from 1911 to futuristic concepts that make flying more sustainable and comfortable.
• How it works: The Museum peeled back the skin of the airplane to show mechanical, electronic and hydraulic systems. Guests can see wings, engines, landing gear, lavatories and even the fabled black box. A glass floor shows the cables and pulleys used to steer the plane, while a media presentation demonstrates the 727’s technology in action, from takeoff to landing. The newly conserved cockpit explains how pilots communicate, navigate and fly.
• Your body during flight: Learn about the science behind side effects passengers may experience at high altitudes, like turbulence and dehydration, and ways to overcome them.
The plane’s fuselage bears the name of Captain William Norwood, the first African-American pilot for United, whose story is featured in the exhibit.
A 150-foot display takes guests on a behind-the-scenes journey from aircraft assembly to takeoff, showcasing the variety of careers, and people working in aviation. The wall reveals the complex systems that help people build new planes, manage airport operations, and track flights and passengers all around the world.
Stepping into the plane is taking a step back in time, as the "Take Flight" exhibit is more than 25-years old.
The Boeing 727 memorably landed at Meigs Field on Sept. 28, 1992 on a runway not built for jet airliners. The plane was taken apart and one of the Museum’s columns was removed, so that it could be moved inside while a crowd of thousands watched. The original "Take Flight" exhibit opened in 1994 and was visited by over 30 million guests before closing for renovation on Oct. 5, 2020.
The "Take Flight" exhibit is included in museum entry.
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