New England Air Museum

New England Air Museum
New England Air Museum is located in Connecticut
New England Air Museum
Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA
Former name
Bradley Air Museum
Established1959 (1959)
LocationWindsor Locks, Connecticut
Coordinates41°56′50″N 72°41′29″W / 41.947147°N 72.691501°W / 41.947147; -72.691501
TypeAviation Aviation museum
Founder
  • Robert Beh[1]
  • Frank Greene[1]
  • Harvey Lippincott[2]
  • Vernon Muse[1]
Executive DirectorStephanie Abrams
PresidentRobert Stangarone
CuratorMike Thornton[3]
Websitehttp://www.neam.org/

The New England Air Museum (NEAM) is an American aerospace museum located adjacent to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The museum consists of three display hangars with additional storage and restoration hangars. Its collections include aircraft ranging from early flying machines to supersonic jets, as well as engines, and other pieces of flight-related equipment. Significant aircraft include

  • the Silas Brooks balloon basket - the oldest surviving American-built aircraft
  • the Sikorsky VS-44A - the sole remaining American-built commercial trans-oceanic four-engine flying boat
  • the Goodyear ZNPK-28 Blimp Control Car - one of only two surviving K-class control cars in the world.

The museum library has approximately 6,000 aviation books, approximately 20,000 periodicals, approximately 10,000 technical manuals, approximately 21,000 photographs, nearly 8,000 slides, over 200 pieces of artwork, over 1,200 prints, and approximately 500 engineering drawing and blueprints.[4][failed verification]

The mission of the New England Air Museum is to present the story of aviation, the human genius that made it possible and the profound effects that it has had on the way in which we live.[5]

History

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The museum began when a group of Pratt & Whitney employees formed the Connecticut Aeronautical Historical Association to save a biplane built by Louis Bancroft. While the airplane would later be destroyed in a fire, the group continued.[6] The first display building, an inflatable dome, was erected in 1967.[7]

In 1981, the first current building was built after a tornado destroyed the then Bradley Air Museum's previous outdoor location along Route 75 in 1979. The museum has since added a restoration hangar in 1989, a storage building in 1991, a military hangar in 1992, a 58th Bomb Wing Hangar in 2003, and a storage hangar in 2010.[8]

The museum was renovated in 2017 with the addition of a mezzanine in two of the hangars to provide views of the aircraft from above. At the same time, a new heating and air conditioning system and LED lighting were installed.[9][10]

In June 2023, the museum opened a new exhibit about the Tuskegee Airmen and received a grant to build a recording studio.[11][12] The following month it hired a new curator and collections manager.[3]

In early 2024, the museum announced plans for a new 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m2) hangar that will include a Challenger Learning Center and a digital dome to be used as a planetarium.[13][14]

Exhibits

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The main exhibition hangar

Exhibits include the history of Sikorsky Aircraft, computer-based flight simulators, and the 58th Bombardment Wing Memorial with the centerpiece being a restored B-29A. Additionally, there are exhibits on early French aviation, the Tuskegee Airmen, the Kosciuszko Squadron, New England Women in Aviation, and the 57th Fighter Group.[15][failed verification]

Aircraft on display

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B-29 Superfortress

Aircraft under restoration

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Aircraft in storage

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  • Chalais-Meudon CM-5 Airship Engine Nacelle
  • Corben (Reed) E 'Junior Ace'
  • de Havilland U-6A 'Beaver'
  • Dyndiuk Sport
  • Granville Brothers Model A 'Sportster'
  • Harmening High Flyer Powered Parachute
  • Kaman HTK-
  • Lazor-Rautenstrauch LR-1A 'Nick's Special'
  • Mead Primary Glider Replica
  • Rockwell International Saberliner 65
  • National Ballooning 358 (AX-8) Montgolfier
  • Northrop OQ-2 'Shelduck'
  • Piccard AX-1 'Jonathan'
  • Radioplane YOQ-19
  • Raven S-40 'Vulcoon'
  • Ultralight Products Mosquito 166
  • Zephyr ZAL

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "The Beginnings of the Connecticut Aeronautical Historical Association, 1960". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Harvey Lippincott". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "NEAM Announces New Curatorial Staff". New England Air Museum. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  4. ^ "John W. Ramsay Research Library at the New England Air Museum". Connecticut Library Treasures. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  5. ^ "The Museum's Mission". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Loss of Plane Setback for Air History Group" (PDF). Manchester Evening Herald. 18 May 1960. p. 16. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  7. ^ "CAHA and the Bradley Air Museum, 1960". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Capital Development at NEAM". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  9. ^ Grady, Mary (May 16, 2017). "New England Air Museum Gets An Upgrade". AVweb. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  10. ^ Schmidt, Christine (14 September 2017). "With $2 Million Renovation, the New England Air Museum Entices New Visitors". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  11. ^ Smith, John Henry (6 June 2023). "Permanent Tuskegee Airmen exhibit opens at New England Air Museum". Connecticut Public Radio. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  12. ^ Bedner, Eric (25 June 2023). "Coventry, Suffield, Vernon, and Windsor Locks cultural sites to receive CT state grants". CT Insider. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  13. ^ Krofssik, Sean (24 February 2024). "A CT man was well-known as 'an iconic aviator.' One of his last wishes was to inspire others to fly". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  14. ^ Murphy, Maureen (18 March 2024). "This CT museum has quite a story to tell you. Here's how it's flying into the future". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Exhibits & Displays". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Aerovelo Atlas". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Bell AH-1S 'TOWCOBRA'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Bell UH-1B 'Iroquois' (Huey)". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Blériot XI". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Boeing B-29A 'Superfortress'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Restoration Program". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Chanute Herring Glider Replica". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  23. ^ "Vought XF4U-4 'Corsair'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Bunce Homebuilt Replica of a Curtiss Pusher". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  25. ^ "de Havilland C-7A (DHC-4) 'Caribou'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Doman LZ-5 (YH-31)". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Douglas A-3B 'Skywarrior'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  28. ^ "Douglas A-26C 'Invader'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  29. ^ "Douglas DC-3". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  30. ^ "RESTORATION DIARY Fairchild-republic a-10a 'thunderbolt II'".
  31. ^ "Goodyear ZNPK-28 Blimp Control Car". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  32. ^ "Granville Brothers R-1 Supersportster Replica". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  33. ^ "Grumman/Eastern FM-2 'Wildcat'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  34. ^ "Grumman F6F-5K 'Hellcat'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  35. ^ "Heath LNB-4 'Parasol'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  36. ^ "Kaman HH-43F 'Huskie'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  37. ^ "Kaman K-16B". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  38. ^ "Kaman K-225". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  39. ^ "Kaman SH-2F 'Seasprite'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  40. ^ "Laird LC-DW 300 'Solution'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  41. ^ "Lazor-Rautenstrauch LR-1A 'Nick's Special'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  42. ^ "Lockheed 10-A 'Electra'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  43. ^ Scott, Phil (September 2004). "Lockheed Electra 10A". Air & Space. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  44. ^ "Restoration Diary Kaman K 16B".
  45. ^ "RESTORATION DIARY-Lockheed-TV-2".
  46. ^ "Marcoux-Bromberg R-3 'Special'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  47. ^ "Martin RB-57A 'Canberra'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  48. ^ "McDonnell Douglas F-4D 'Phantom II'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  49. ^ Hewitt, Jerry (23 July 2024). "104th Fighter Wing Donates F-15C to New England Air Museum". 104th Fighter Wing. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  50. ^ "Nixon Special". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  51. ^ "North American B-25H 'Mitchell'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  52. ^ "North American F-100A 'Super Sabre'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  53. ^ "North American P-51D Racer". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  54. ^ "Northrop F-89J 'Scorpion'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  55. ^ "Pioneer Flightstar MC". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  56. ^ "Pratt-Reed LNE-1". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  57. ^ "Republic P-47D 'Thunderbolt'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  58. ^ "Republic RC-3 'Seabee'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  59. ^ "Rutan Quickie". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  60. ^ "Sikorsky R-4B (S-47) 'Hoverfly'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  61. ^ "Sikorsky R-6 Doman Conversion (LZ-1A)". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  62. ^ "Sikorsky S-39B 'Jungle Gym'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  63. ^ "Sikorsky S-51 (H-5A) 'Executive Transport'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  64. ^ "Sikorsky S-59 / XH-39". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  65. ^ "Sikorsky HH-52A (S-62A) 'Seaguard'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  66. ^ "Sikorsky CH-54B 'Tarhe' (S-64B 'Skycrane')". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  67. ^ "Sikorsky VS-44A 'Excambian'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  68. ^ "RESTORATION DIARY E1B-Tracer".
  69. ^ "RESTORATION DIARY Grumman HU-16 Albatross".
  70. ^ "Lockheed F-104C 'Starfighter'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2020.

Bibliography

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