TWA Museum at 10 Richards Road

08/24/2026

Photo Credit: _fanavia_ (IG)

08/19/2026

08/17/2026

Happy Birthday to Kansas City Downtown Airport! On this day 99 years ago, Charles Lindbergh hand picked the location of the present day airport. The Kansas City Downtown Airport’s mission has evolved throughout the years and still is dedicated to serving the people of Kansas City and the region. We are excited to start the planning for a big 100 year birthday celebration for next year!

(For those who are wondering who is in the picture - that is Charles Lindbergh giving our current Director of Aviation a handshake for a job well done)

08/14/2026

Our museum recently hosted a photo shoot for Mr. Jim Loosen, who will turn 102 years old on September 2nd. Jim was a former TWA employee, who began working in 1946 at our very building after his pilot career in the Navy. The senior living facility in which Jim resides celebrated his membership to the centenarian club in style with a photo shoot with Jim near Ellie and other areas at our museum. Accompanying Jim were his children, Kevin Loosen, Patti Thedinger and Kay Sipple. We thoroughly enjoyed hosting Jim and his family, along with hearing the stories about Jim's TWA past.

08/11/2026

Ever wonder how TWA came to be? This family tree tells the story.

TWA's roots trace back to 1930, when Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT) merged with Western Air Express to form Transcontinental & Western Air, which became better known as TWA, and eventually Trans World Airlines.

But the story doesn't stop there. Over the decades, TWA connected to a whole network of regional affiliates — from Ozark Air Lines to Chautauqua Airlines to Trans States Airlines — each playing a part in the bigger picture of American aviation history.

It's a lot of branches for one airline!

08/11/2026

When TWA Flight 843 came to a stop at JFK, the danger was far from over.

On July 30, 1992, TWA Flight 843 was taking off from New York's JFK Airport for San Francisco when the crew rejected the takeoff shortly after liftoff. The Lockheed L-1011 returned hard to the runway, was damaged, and a fire erupted as fuel spilled around the aircraft.

Inside were 280 passengers…

What happened next became a remarkable example of emergency training, teamwork, and courage.

The aircraft had only three usable evacuation slides, while smoke and flames made several exits unusable. The flight attendants immediately began directing passengers toward the available exits. Some opened doors and deployed slides, while others moved through the smoke-filled cabin, shouting instructions and physically preventing passengers from heading toward exits where fire was visible.

And there were more trained professionals on board than the scheduled crew.

The nine operating flight attendants were:

Joan Agosti
Sheri Bencini
Rose Berardelli
Barbara Furman
Paula Guice-Williams
Theresa Hawn
Chris Kargle-Foster
Ed Schwendner
Aleta Smith

Five additional TWA flight attendants who were traveling as passengers also stepped in to help:

Annie Burns
Kaye Chandler
Marilyn Kregel
Karen Lacey
Eunice Wong

Their presence became an important part of the evacuation. According to the Association of Flight Attendants, the crew successfully evacuated all 280 passengers in about two minutes, using only three operational evacuation slides.

The pilots were also instrumental. Captain William Kinkead, First Officer Dennis Hergert, and Flight Engineer Charles Long worked to shut down the aircraft and then assisted with the evacuation. Captain Kinkead ultimately entered the cabin to help make sure passengers were getting out safely.

There were injuries, including one serious and nine minor passenger injuries, but remarkably, there were no fatalities.

The story of TWA Flight 843 is therefore not simply about an aircraft that caught fire.

It is about 14 flight attendants who knew exactly what their training demanded when the cabin became a place of smoke, flames, confusion and fear.

They did not have time to hesitate.

They moved passengers toward safety, blocked dangerous exits, deployed slides, shouted directions through the smoke and kept the evacuation moving until the cabin was empty.

Flight attendants are not simply there to serve a meal or demonstrate a safety card. In an emergency, they are trained aviation safety professionals whose job can become the difference between life and death.

On TWA Flight 843, their training was put to the ultimate test.

And 280 passengers made it out.

08/10/2026

The TWA Museum Golf Tournament tees off Tuesday, September 1 at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, MO!

Whether you're a former TWA employee, a longtime colleague, or simply someone who loves aviation history, this is your chance to reconnect, swing some clubs, and support a cause that keeps that legacy alive.

How to join:
🏌️ Register a 4-person team and hit the course for a day of friendly competition
🤝 Become a sponsor and put your name behind preserving TWA's story for future generations

Every dollar raised benefits the TWA Museum and the preservation of aviation history right here in Kansas City. This isn't just a round of golf — it's a reunion, a celebration, and a chance to give back all in one!

Grab your foursome or reach out about sponsorship!

📍 Paradise Pointe Golf Complex, Smithville, MO
📅 Tuesday, September 1

Learn more here: https://twamuseum.org/events

08/09/2026

Always mesmerizing!

The Solari-Udine company is the only company left in the world that...

08/06/2026

Long before it was a household name in aviation, TWA helped put Kansas City on the map.

Swipe through to see just how deep those roots go and how there is a fun connection to the Happiest Place on Earth! (Besides a TWA flight, but that was the happiest place in the sky. 😉)

Which fact surprised you most? Let us know in the comments! And if you want to see the history up close, come take a tour at 10 Richards Road!

08/05/2026

This is your ticket to airline history.

Just like the tags that once traveled the world on TWA flights, consider this yours to a place where the golden age of aviation is still very much alive. Guided tours, real stories from former TWA crew, and artifacts you won't find anywhere else.

Pack your curiosity and come fly with us — no boarding pass required!