Connecticut Air & Space Center

The Connecticut Air & Space Center is an aviation museum located near Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Connecticut, that is focused on the history of aviation in Connecticut. Founded by George Gunther in 1998 after the closing of the Stratford Army Engine Plant, it occupied buildings 6 and 53 of the complex from 2001 until 2022. It now currently occupies a portion of the Curtiss Hangar and is open to the public.^[1]

Connecticut Air and Space Center

Stratford, Connecticut, USA
Established	1998 (1998)
Location	225 B Main Street, Stratford, Connecticut, United States
Coordinates	41.170119°N 73.120509°W / 41.170119; -73.120509
Type	Aviation museum
Founder	George Gunther
President	Mark Corvino
Curator	Christopher Soltis
Website	ctairandspace.org

History

The Connecticut Air & Space Center was founded in 1998 by state senator George Gunther.^[2] By 2008, the museum had plans to open in the former Stratford Army Engine Plant.^[3]

In 2012, the museum was damaged by Hurricane Sandy.^[4] The museum worked with the Town of Stratford and City of Bridgeport to secure a 98-year lease for the dilapidated 1929 Curtiss Aircraft Hangar in 2015.^{[citation needed]} Groundbreaking for the restoration occurred in May 2016.^[5] That same year, a Sikorsky S-76 was donated to the museum for use as a parts source.^[6] In 2018, the museum received a $1 million grant from the state of Connecticut to restore the hangar.^[7] The museum opened an exhibition in a 3,600 sq ft (330 m²) 1960's era addition to the Curtiss Hangar in May 2021.^[8] A plan to sell the airport in 2022 put plans for renovation and use of the Curtiss hangar in jeopardy.^[9] The museum was informed that it would have to remove artifacts from storage in Building 6 of the Stratford Army Engine Plant in 2025.^[10]

Collection

• Bede BD-5^[11]
• Beechcraft A23 Musketeer^[12]
• Bell 47^[13]
• Cessna T-37B Tweet 57-2346^[14]
• Cessna O-2A Skymaster 67-21318^[15]
• Cessna 150L 15074606^[16][17]
• Christen Eagle II^[18] Serial #1
• Goodyear FG-1D Corsair 92460^[19][20]
• Hiller OH-23B Raven 51-16225^[21]
• Hughes OH-6A Cayuse 67-16477^[22][23]
• Lockheed T-33B 57-6558^[24]
• Northrop T-38A Talon 60-0900^[25]
• Sikorsky S-52^[26]
• Sikorsky S-52^[26]
• Sikorsky S-55 52-7573^[27]
• Sikorsky S-58^[28]
• Sikorsky S-60^[29]
• Sikorsky S-76A^[30]
• Whitehead No. 21 Replica^[31][32]

See also

• List of aerospace museums

References

Notes

1. Lyte, Brittany (23 October 2010). "Former Army plant proposed as destination resort". CT Post. Hearst Media Services Connecticut. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
2. Beals, Shawn R. (27 August 2012). "George 'Doc' Gunther Dies at 92". Hartford Courant. pp. B1, B3. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
3. Stansbury, Robin (26 February 2008). "Old Engine Plant on Auction Block". Hartford Courant. pp. E1, E4. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
4. "Connecticut Air and Space Center Still Recovering from Hurricane Sandy". Warbirds News. Warbirds News. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
5. Ofgang, Erik (6 February 2017). "Curtiss Hangar: Renovation Begins On Connecticut Cathedral of Flight History". Connecticut Magazine. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
6. Burgeson, John (6 April 2016). "Helicopter gets new lease on life". CT Post. Hearst Media Services Connecticut. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
7. Mason, Melvin (20 September 2018). "Town to Receive $1.5 million for Sterling House, Curtiss Hangar Projects". Stratford Star. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
8. O’Neill, Jerry M. (1 June 2021). "Connecticut Air and Space Center's Curtiss Hangar Phase One Grand Opening". Warbirds News. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
9. Lockhart, Brian (20 September 2022). "Bridgeport plan to sell Sikorsky Airport halts aviation museum's takeoff". CTPost. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
10. Sambides, Nick (17 February 2024). "Stratford Air & Space Museum Plans $1.2M Restoration of Historic Hangar". CT Examiner. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
11. "1972 Bede BD-5". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
12. "1964 Beechcraft A23 Musketeer". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
13. "1953 Bell 47 / H-13". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
14. "1957 Cessna T-37B Tweet USAF 57-2346". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
15. "1967 Cessna O-2A Skymaster". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
16. "1973 Cessna 150L". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
17. "FAA REGISTRY [N7021G]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
18. "1977 Aviat Aircraft – Christen Eagle II". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
19. "1945 FG1-D Goodyear Corsair BuNo.92460". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
20. Burgeson, John (8 April 2010). "Corsair restoration proceeds slowly, but future home up in the air". CT Post. Hearst Media Services Connecticut. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
21. "1951 Hiller OH-23B Raven US Army 51-16225". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
22. "1967 Hughes OH-6A 67-16477". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
23. "Air & Space Center to restore Vietnam helicopter". Stratford Star. HAN Network. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
24. "1957 T-33B Shooting Star 57-6558". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
25. "1960 Northrop T-38A Talon 60-0900". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
26. "1952 Sikorsky S-52 / HO5S". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
27. "1954 Sikorsky UH-19B "Chickasaw" 52-7573". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
28. "1955 Sikorsky UH-34G". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
29. "1958 Sikorsky S-60 Prototype Flying Crane". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
30. "1977 Sikorsky S-76A". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
31. "1901 Whitehead No. 21 (replica)". Connecticut Air & Space Center. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
32. Burgeson, John (14 August 2010). "Anniversary of disputed 1st flight takes wing in Fairfield". CT Post. Hearst Media Services Connecticut. Retrieved 2 December 2017.

Bibliography

• Boyle, Doe (2008). Fun with the Family Connecticut, 7th: Hundreds of Ideas for Day Trips with the Kids (Fun with the Family Series). GPP Travel. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-7627-4776-4.
• Burgeson, John (6 January 2013). "Group has high-flying hopes for Corsair, and the ancient hangar it will call home". CT Post. Hearst Media Services Connecticut. Retrieved 2 December 2017.

External links

• Official website