You can purchase just about anything which has to do with commercial aviation at events which are known as surplus sales; and although this event had been affected by the current 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic — the Delta Flight Museum has been hosting its public sale of surplus items.
Surplus Sale at Delta Flight Museum March 11 2022
This particular surplus sale will feature such items as airplane seats from the first class, comfort, and economy classes; a T-shirt special; ball caps; airplane pillows and blankets; and much more — but not galley carts, unfortunately.
I attended a surplus sale at what was then known as the Delta Heritage Museum — which is now known as the Delta Flight Museum — at the world headquarters of Delta Air Lines in October of 2012; and they had virtually anything of which you can think on sale.
In fact, here is the verbiage found at the official Internet web site of the Delta Flight Museum:
Surplus Sales regularly take place the second Friday of each month from 9am to 2pm in the Museum Support Building (MSB) across from Hangar 1. These sales are a fundraiser for the Museum and feature vintage and surplus items not available in the Museum Store. They’re a treasure hunt each time – you never know what you’ll find.
Treasure hunt can be an understatement. Here are some of the way cool — pardon the lack of proper grammar based on ebullience — items I found at the surplus sale which I attended:
For $125.00, you could have purchased a row of three economy class seats — enough of a selection to fill your own aircraft.
Want to feel like a member of the flight crew? You could purchase your very own crew rest for only $475.00 — apparently marked down.
This galley setup cost $50.00 — but apparently the carts, doors and other “accessories” are not included. Do not expect a coffee maker or an oven to be included, either.
If you ever wanted your own lavatory, urine luck — this one was available for only $50.00. Although neither the toilet nor the blue liquid which fills it is apparently included in the price; but you can smoke in it without being concerned about violating federal law.
This landing gear of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 aircraft could have been yours for only $1,500.00 — or probably less money if your offer was good enough, as it had to be moved that day.
Additional Information
Entrance to this event will be through the Museum security gate on the East side of campus. Please bring your ID and face mask with you upon arrival.
Because this gate is also used for entrance to the two vaccination sites hosted at the Museum, let the officer know that you are there for the Surplus Sale. From the gate, you will be directed to park in the area closest to the DC-9 and pavilion on your right.
- Masks are required both in line and in the building, and hand sanitizer will be available at the building’s entrance and exit.
- The entrance line will be held outside along the fence in an effort to control social distancing inside the building. Be prepared to stand outside if there’s a crowd.
- Due to demand, it may be necessary to cut the line early in order to accommodate everyone before 2pm. We apologize for this inconvenience in advance, but we will do our best to keep the line moving throughout the day.
- The Museum hangars will be closed this date due to a private event, but the 747 plane will be open 11am-3pm and admission will be half price. If interested in visiting the 747, please proceed to the Admissions desk in the hangars to pay admission prior to going to the plane.
**Shipping is not available on Surplus Sale items. This includes aircraft parts and furniture.**
All items purchased at the Surplus Sale must be removed on that day. If you plan to purchase a larger sized item, please come with a larger sized vehicle.
Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted, but note that the cash line is usually the quickest.
Final Boarding Call
The surplus sale is located in the Museum Support Building — beside the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 757 aircraft parked next to the gate entrance of the Delta Flight Museum — at the world headquarters of Delta Air Lines in Atlanta on Friday, March 11, 2022 :
Museum Support Building
Delta Flight Museum
1220 Woolman Place
Atlanta, Georgia 30354
From 9:00 in the morning through 2:00 in the afternoon Eastern Standard Time
Be aware that shipping is not available on surplus sale items — including aircraft parts and furniture. If you want to purchase the above items, you need to ensure that you have a vehicle which could haul them away, as if you plan to purchase an item of a larger size, then you should arrive at the surplus sale with a vehicle of an appropriately larger size. All items purchased at the surplus sale must be removed on that day.
If you miss this sale, not to worry: the next surplus sale will occur on Friday, April 8, 2022 from 9:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon Eastern Daylight Time.
Other airlines do have surplus sales from time to time; but they do not occur on a regular basis as with the surplus sale of Delta Air Lines every month. Occasionally, general airline surplus sales do occur as well.
All photographs ©2012 by Brian Cohen.
