A crew of Taylor Crane and American Airlines employees worked together to prepare the rigging and the aircraft to be lifted over the fence onto TASM grounds. Hours later, the carefully choreographed lift was complete and aircraft 259 sat on a prepared surface ready for the next operation. The enormous crane was then repositioned, and on Saturday the aircraft was lifted and secured onto the concrete piers that will be its permanent home. Next up, museum contractors will begin working to turn the plane into an exciting exhibit. The aircraft interior will be transformed into a Discovery Center by adding classroom and meeting space and hands-on exhibits for kids and families. First class will house a movie theatre.

The area surrounding the craft will be turned into a plaza with outside seating for museum patrons to relax and have a snack. Lee Rainey, founding chairman and current board member of TASM said, “When this exhibit opens in about six months it will be a marvelous and attractive display that will greatly benefit the community.”

 A crew of Taylor Crane and American Airlines employees worked together to prepare the rigging and the aircraft to be lifted over the fence onto TASM grounds. Hours later, the carefully choreographed lift was complete and aircraft 259 sat on a prepared surface ready for the next operation. The enormous crane was then repositioned, and on Saturday the aircraft was lifted and secured onto the concrete piers that will be its permanent home. Next up, museum contractors will begin working to turn the plane into an exciting exhibit. The aircraft interior will be transformed into a Discovery Center by adding classroom and meeting space and hands-on exhibits for kids and families. First class will house a movie theatre.