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I thought some of you might appreciate seeing one of my favorite White Star Line artifacts.

This is a 12-inch section of the decorative ceiling cornice from the First Class Smoking Room aboard RMS Olympic. According to the certificate of authenticity, it was removed during Olympic’s scrapping and later installed in the former Crown Paints (originally White Star Line) building at Haltwhistle, Northumberland during the 1930s. It was salvaged again in 2021 when that building was demolished.

It’s one of the pieces in my collection that most directly connects to the craftsmanship of Harland & Wolff and the White Star Line.

My dad has been an aircraft mechanic with American Airlines since January 1991, and over the years he’s saved a few pieces of airline history, which he recently passed along to me.

The centerpiece is a Rolls-Royce RB211 nozzle guide vane (NGV) segment, given to him by a fellow American Airlines employee. It’s the stationary vane assembly that sits between turbine stages and directs the hot gases onto the rotating turbine blades. Pictured are the engineering details, cooling holes, and casting numbers. Also included is an aircraft fastener used to secure the airplane skin to the airframe, a PSA Flight 5342 remembrance pin, an MD-80 Planetags luggage tag made from the skin of retired aircraft N455AA, and a small die-cast American Airlines jet.

Growing up with a dad who works for American Airlines meant airplanes were always part of life. These pieces are a personal reminder of the craftsmanship, engineering, and the people behind the scenes who keep the fleet flying every day. I thought some fellow American Airlines history enthusiasts here might enjoy seeing them.

The C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth (next to American Airlines’ headquarters near DFW Airport) explores the history and evolution of commercial aviation through interactive exhibits, historic artifacts, and hands-on displays. Named after former American Airlines president C.R. Smith, the museum highlights the airline’s role in shaping modern air travel and features the restored Douglas DC-3 “Flagship Knoxville,” along with exhibits on flight operations, aircraft technology, and the passenger experience. It’s an engaging destination for aviation enthusiasts, families, and anyone interested in the history of flight.

The C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth (next to American Airlines’ headquarters near DFW Airport) explores the history and evolution of commercial aviation through interactive exhibits, historic artifacts, and hands-on displays. Named after former American Airlines president C.R. Smith, the museum highlights the airline’s role in shaping modern air travel and features the restored Douglas DC-3 “Flagship Knoxville,” along with exhibits on flight operations, aircraft technology, and the passenger experience. It’s an engaging destination for aviation enthusiasts, families, and anyone interested in the history of flight.

The C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth (next to American Airlines’ headquarters near DFW Airport) explores the history and evolution of commercial aviation through interactive exhibits, historic artifacts, and hands-on displays. Named after former American Airlines president C.R. Smith, the museum highlights the airline’s role in shaping modern air travel and features the restored Douglas DC-3 “Flagship Knoxville,” along with exhibits on flight operations, aircraft technology, and the passenger experience. It’s an engaging destination for aviation enthusiasts, families, and anyone interested in the history of flight.