VIDEO: Captain Sully’s US Airways Flight 1549 makes it to Charlotte

This is so awesome!

Greeted and cheered by crowds and escorted by the N.C. Highway Patrol and news helicopters, the fuselage of US Airways Flight 1549 finally reached Charlotte on Friday morning.

Nearly 27 months after taking off from New York City for Charlotte, the main body of the Airbus A-320 was pulled into Charlotte/Douglas International Airport about 11:45 a.m., completing a journey from New Jersey.

The flight crash-landed in the Hudson River in January 2009, but the fuselage was carried by truck this week to Charlotte, where it will become an exhibit at the Carolinas Aviation Museum. A reception for the flight’s pilot, Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and some of the 155 passengers — all of whom survived the crash-landing — is scheduled Saturday evening.

“I’m in heaven,” said Shaen Dorsch, director of the Carolinas Aviation Museum, as the caravan reached the UPS facility gate at the airport shortly before noon.

Upon arrival at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, the plane passed under a canopy of water jets from airport crash trucks, a traditional salute.

MSNBC has a video report, which includes footage of its arrival here, below:

Local TV News station WSOC-TV has great video of its arrival here.

See photos of Flight 1549’s journey to Charlotte, also via WSOC. The Facebook page is here.

Can’t wait to see it!

Update – 6:53 PM: Check out this local photographer’s photos of the Flight 1549 plane. Nice!