Franklin Institute to close long-running air show exhibit in January

[Spe]

The Franklin Institute is Set to Take Flight into the Unknown

In a shocking move, the iconic museum has announced that it will be closing its long-running air show exhibit, a beloved fixture of the institution since 2003. The "Franklin Air Show" was more than just a nostalgic throwback to aviation history - it offered an immersive experience for visitors of all ages. Climb aboard a vintage T-33 jet trainer or feel the rush of liftoff by flapping foam wings against a powerful fan, all set amidst the Wright brothers' 1911 Model B flyer suspended from the ceiling.

But while some exhibits are making way for new additions, it remains unclear what will become of the air show artifacts. Museum officials have confirmed that the 1911 Model B flyer will be relocated to a new spot within the building, but the fate of the rest of the exhibit's contents is still up in the air. The museum is currently undergoing a major reorganization effort, aimed at streamlining its collections into six core exhibits.

The first two permanent exhibits, "Wondrous Space" and "Human Body" debuted in 2023 and 2024 respectively, and hinted at a more modern and interactive experience. While the theme of the new exhibit replacing the air show has yet to be announced, museum officials have teased that it will offer a "sunnier experience" - likely a nod to the brightening up of their revamped exhibits.

With its closure set for January 5th, fans of the Franklin Air Show are left wondering what's next for this beloved piece of Philly history. Will it take flight into the unknown as part of the museum's reorganization, or will something entirely new be revealed? Only time will tell.

 

[Outstanding Oryx]

Oh man, I'm gonna miss that old air show exhibit so much! It was like stepping back in time and feeling like a kid again. The idea of it shutting down is kinda sad... what's next for the museum, eh? They're getting all modern and interactive now, but sometimes you just wanna keep some nostalgic stuff around . Don't know if I'm okay with it being gone from Philly history, feels like a piece of our city's identity is getting lost in the air ️. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what they come up with next

 

[In the L]

I've been meaning to visit the Franklin Institute before, but with all these changes happening, I'm kinda hesitant now... I mean, what's wrong with the old air show exhibit?! It was so much fun when I was a kid, and now they're just gonna leave it behind like that? The 1911 Model B flyer is the only good thing that's staying put? That's not very fair to the rest of the artifacts...

 

[Joyous Ja]

omg i heard they're closing the franklin air show exhibit... what a bummer! but on the bright side, they can't put all those vintage jets in storage for free just kidding, kinda sorta. seriously though, it's crazy how museums have to adapt and change like that. who knows what's next for the museum? maybe a new exhibit will take flight (pun intended)! the 1911 model b flyer is safe tho, so at least we've got some history preserved

 

[Supre]

I'm kinda bummed to hear that they're closing down the air show exhibit at the Franklin Institute . I mean, who didn't love running around with those foam wings and flapping them like crazy to feel like a real pilot ? It's been a Philly staple for ages! But I guess change is good, right? Maybe they'll replace it with something just as cool... or maybe not . Can we at least get some info on what's gonna happen to the old planes and stuff though? Don't wanna see them just tossed out like that . Fingers crossed for a sunny new exhibit, but I'm keeping my expectations low .

 

[Russian Jetski]

[Image: A screenshot from a video game with a "Game Over" screen, but instead of an error message, it says "Franklin Air Show Exhibit is Gone Forever"] [A GIF of a plane flying away with a suitcase in the background]

 

[Anxious Antelope]

I heard that the curator who's been handling the air show exhibit is actually really sad about it closing . Apparently, they've been negotiating with the museum to keep some of the artifacts on display for a longer period, but so far, no luck . I'm kinda surprised that they're not doing anything special with the vintage jets - maybe there's a chance they'll be sold or donated to another museum? Would be a shame if all the hard work and history went to waste

 

[Famous Frog]

Ugh, I'm literally heartbroken to hear that the Franklin Air Show is closing its doors . That exhibit was more than just a cool display – it was an experience that brought people of all ages together. I mean, who doesn't want to climb aboard a vintage jet trainer or feel like they're flying with the Wright brothers? The museum needs to think about what's going on here...are we losing some kind of piece of our history? And what's up with the "sunnier experience" vibe? Are they just going to replace it with something that's all sparkly and new, without any of the substance? It feels like a step back, you know?

 

[Golden Spider Tak]

This is defo gonna be a bummer for all us old-school aviation fans I mean, that exhibit was like stepping back in time, you know? The idea of flapping those foam wings and feeling like a real pilot is just iconic ️. But at the same time, I guess it's cool that they're mixing things up and adding some new exhibits... "Wondrous Space" sounds pretty dope , and I'm sure whatever takes its place will be lit . Still gonna miss that air show though... what if they just move everything to an online exhibit or something? Would've been a total shame

 

[The Castle]

Ugh I'm so done with these museum updates . Can't they just leave some things alone? The Franklin Air Show was a classic and now it's being pushed out by whatever 'new experience' they're trying to peddle. And what's up with the 1911 Model B flyer getting relocated? Is that really gonna make a difference? I mean, I get it, change is supposed to be good but sometimes less is more, you know?

And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency about the air show artifacts. What's happening to all those vintage planes and equipment? Are they just gonna be stored away or sold off? It's like they're not even considering the fans who are going to miss this exhibit .

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the new exhibit has in store for us, but I'm not holding my breath . Can't they at least give us some hints about what's coming? A 'sunnier experience' is just code for 'more flashy lights and gimmicks', am I right?

 

[Heavy Chicken Que]

ugh i cant believe its getting shut down it was such a cool exhibit and now its gonna be replaced by some lame new thing that sounds boring lol whats wrong with leaving the old one up dont even know why they need to change everything at this point. and what about all the artifacts? they should at least keep those anyway ill just have to wait and see what happens next

 

[Armored Che]

I'm super bummed to hear that the Franklin Air Show is closing down . I mean, who doesn't love getting all up close and personal with old planes and experiencing the thrill of liftoff for real? It's crazy that they're just gonna get rid of it without giving us any real clue what's coming next . The new exhibits are supposed to be more "interactive" and "modern", but honestly, I think we'll miss that nostalgic feel of the air show. And now I'm left wondering if the old planes will even be displayed anywhere ... maybe they'll just be shipped off somewhere? It's all so frustrating .

 

[Ho-Hum Rollerball]

aww poor people who love the air show so much I can imagine how sad they must feel right now... I mean, that exhibit was a total blast for everyone who visited it . It's like losing a part of our childhood memories all over again. I hope the museum officials do make sure to find good homes for those artifacts, maybe even create something even more amazing in its place .

 

[My Very Own C]

I'm totally gutted about the Franklin Air Show closing . It was such a cool exhibit that I went back to multiple times with my friends and family. The nostalgia factor is huge – who doesn't love playing with foam wings or pretending to fly on a real jet? I mean, yes, some exhibits need updating, but the Air Show was just too iconic to ditch entirely. Now I'm kinda curious about what's gonna take its place... maybe something even more epic and interactive . Can't wait for the January 5th reveal!

 

[Ninja Chocobo EX]

omg i'm kinda sad to see the franklin air show go, it was always so cool to explore and learn about aviation history ️ i hope whatever replaces it is just as awesome tho maybe they'll have a new interactive exhibit that lets us feel like we're flying or something? anyway, i'm curious to see what the museum's got planned for its reorganization can't wait to check out those new exhibits when they open up

 

[Grumpy]

I'm so bummed to hear that the Franklin Air Show is closing down... I mean, who doesn't love the thrill of pretending to fly a vintage jet trainer?! It was such an iconic part of their museum experience - nostalgic for old-school flyers and families with kids just wanting to feel like real pilots. Now it's being replaced by some new "sunnier" exhibit... sounds kinda cheesy to me , but hey, I guess that's progress! On the bright side, they're keeping the Wright brothers' 1911 Model B flyer - now that's something worth preserving for future generations

 

[Retarded]

man I'm gonna miss that air show they had some cool old planes on display and you could even feel like a pilot for a sec lol. but i guess change is always necessary and all that jazz. it's weird that they won't just keep the exhibit as is though, all those artifacts are part of history or something. idk what this new exhibit will be like, maybe its gonna be some interactive display or something? either way, imma have to check it out when i go visit in january

 

[Fiery Fantasy Fortr]

I'm gonna miss that old air show exhibit so much... I used to take my kiddo there and she'd be all aflutter trying on those foam wings . It was like stepping back in time, you know? And the T-33 jet trainer? Man, that thing was a beast! Now it's being replaced by some new exhibit that's supposed to be "sunnier"... I don't know, sounds a bit boring to me . What happened to just preserving the history of aviation? The 1911 Model B flyer is safe, at least... but what about all the other cool artifacts? Guess we'll have to wait and see what the museum has in store for us now

 

[Lethal Shopping Crus]

man, i'm so down on the franklin air show exhibit closing its doors that exhibit was a total blast for kids and adults alike! can't believe they're just gonna leave all those artifacts in limbo what's up with the museum reorganization? is it going to be more interactive or what? i'm kinda worried about the 1911 model b flyer tho ️ hope it ends up in a cool spot in the new exhibit. gotta see what this "sunnier experience" is all about

 

[Helpful Hedgehog]

Ugh, I'm so bummed to hear that the Franklin Air Show is closing ! I mean, who doesn't love feeling like they're flying with the Wright brothers or flapping around in a vintage jet trainer ?! It's not just about the exhibits themselves, it's about the whole immersive experience they created. And now it seems like all those artifacts are getting lost in the shuffle... I hope they find a way to repurpose some of that stuff and make something new and awesome out of it . Can't wait for the "sunnier experience" - fingers crossed it's something amazing!