Aviation History and Photos Blog | PlaneTags™

CLT Airport has always been more than a busy hub for travelers. It’s a place where millions of people experience the wonder of flight every year. In 2023, CLT partnered with MotoArt Studios to create a series of permanent installations that honor aviation’s past while welcoming travelers into the future.

Through these unique works, each crafted from historic aircraft components, CLT has woven aviation history into the fabric of its terminal expansion. Every piece blends artistry, functionality, and heritage, turning the passenger experience into something truly memorable. Read on to find out more about the project and new Boeing 747 PlaneTags that honor this collaboration.

In the 1980s, U.S. airlines were entering a new era. Some expanded, some faded into history, and others merged to create the carriers we know today. One aircraft, a Boeing 727-200 Advanced registered N292WA, lived through this transformation. Delivered brand new to Western Airlines in 1980, one of the last jets the airline would ever receive, it later traded its red and white “Flying W” for Delta’s blue widget after the 1987 merger. For over two decades, N292WA connected passengers from coast to coast, quietly bridging the legacies of two airlines. Today, its story is preserved as Delta 727 PlaneTags.

Get ready to own a rare piece of aviation and pop culture history with the Hemisphere Dancer PlaneTags, crafted from the legendary Grumman HU-16 Albatross that was once owned by Jimmy Buffett. Only a small number exclusive tags will be available, giving you the chance to collect a piece of this iconic aircraft, now immortalized by MotoArt. In this blog, we’ll explore the fascinating history of the Hemisphere Dancer and how you can own a piece of it.

The Cessna 402 has long been celebrated as a versatile workhorse of regional aviation. At MotoArt, we’re thrilled to give a new life to one of these legendary aircraft, N1361G, formerly operated by Cape Air, through our exclusive PlaneTags collection. These tags allow aviation enthusiasts and collectors to hold a tangible piece of history from a plane that served faithfully for decades.

Crafted from the skin of B-29A Superfortress S/N 44-61975, this PlaneTag honors an aircraft that served in Cold War operations and survived two brushes with destruction. Rescued by the New England Air Museum and restored as "Jack’s Hack," it now lives on as a collectible piece of aviation history.

On July 23, 1983, an incident took place that would forever change the way we think about aviation safety. Air Canada Flight 143, later dubbed the "Gimli Glider," became the star of one of the most remarkable feats of piloting in history. When the aircraft's fuel system failed mid-flight, and its engines went silent, the crew had no choice but to make an emergency landing. What followed was nothing short of extraordinary: a dead-stick landing at the former Gimli, Manitoba, race track, which saw all 69 people aboard walk away unharmed.

Join us as we take a deeper dive into the Gimli Glider’s history, its unforgettable incident, and how MotoArt continues to preserve its legacy for future generations.