Mach Speed Exhibit Opens at Tellus Science Museum

CARTERSVILLE, GA -- Do you have a need for speed? Do you want to explore what singer Kenny Loggins called a “Highway to the Danger Zone?"

Then you don’t want to miss the Mach Speed exhibit at Tellus Science Museum, where you’ll see the cockpit of a MIG-21 fighter jet. A similar jet -- MIG 28 -- was made popular by the 1986 movie "Top Gun."

Visitors will be able to see a jet fighter that flew at supersonic speeds over 50,000 feet in the air.

“This particular cockpit was used for training, so it is unique in that it is a two-seater," said Jose Santamaria, executive director at Tellus Museum. "It’s the only two-seater on display in the country. The cockpit is the centerpiece of the exhibit; however, guests will also see a Soviet flight suit and ejection seat, along with an interactive gun sight display.”

The jet was capable of Mach 2 speeds – or twice the speed of sound. The cockpit has all manual controls with no onboard computers. Visitors will be able to look into the analog instrument panels and imagine what it must be like to be the pilot.

The MiG-21 is the most produced jet fighter in history, having served in the air forces of over 50 countries with some still in service today. This particular cockpit is from a jet flown by the Polish Air Force at the height of the Cold War.

Mach Speed will be on exhibit through March 26, 2017. Admission to the exhibit is free for members and included with admission for non-members.

For more information about Tellus Science Museum call (770) 606- 5700 or visit its website or Facebook page.

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Photo 1 courtesy Tellus Science Museum
Photo 2 courtesy Ivan Voukadinov (www.airliners.net)