1940 Air Terminal Museum Begins Liquidation
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum is liquidating three vintage, full-size flight simulators, including Southwest's first 737-200 sim, as they are forced to vacate their premises. These historic but non-functional relics are being offered for $20k each, presenting a truly unique opportunity for aviation enthusiasts or collectors. However, buyers face immense logistical challenges, requiring specialized heavy equipment and complex coordination just to move these colossal pieces of aviation history.
The Lowdown
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum has announced the liquidation of its collection of three full-size, full-motion flight simulators. Facing a deadline to vacate their current building by the end of June, the museum is offering these unique pieces of aviation history for sale, despite their non-operational status and significant removal challenges.
- Items for Sale: Three distinct flight simulators are available: Southwest's first 737-200 simulator (donated by Southwest), a Beechcraft King Air 200, and a Hawker 700 (both donated by FlightSafety).
- Condition and Functionality: Acquired in 2010, none of the simulators have been powered on since, and the museum explicitly states they are 99% sure powering them on now would "release the magic smoke." Buyers are warned that due diligence is required, and there are no guarantees or warranties provided, as they are purchasing hardware of unknown functional capacity. Proprietary hardware or software was also removed from the FlightSafety units.
- Pricing: Each simulator is priced at $20,000 USD, which includes associated computer cabinets and manuals.
- Logistical Hurdles: The buyer is solely responsible for all logistics, including arranging a very large forklift (rated for at least 22,700 lbs) and transportation. The 737 simulator is positioned such that it blocks the removal of the other two, meaning it must be moved first, even if only the smaller simulators are purchased.
- Site Specifics: The simulators are located in a hangar at Hobby Airport in Houston, TX, requiring vehicle escort onto the Airport Operations Area (AOA). A temporary wall section must be removed for extraction and then reinstalled. The museum currently lacks active insurance, necessitating a signed waiver and release of liability for any visitors inspecting the simulators.
- Contact and Urgency: Interested parties should contact the museum via email, as phone lines are unmonitored. Given the June departure deadline, the sale and removal process must proceed quickly.
This liquidation presents an extraordinary challenge for potential buyers, demanding not only a financial investment but also significant resources and expertise to navigate the complex logistics of acquiring and relocating these massive, non-functional historical artifacts.