New England Air Museum

New England Air Museum

Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA
Former name	Bradley Air Museum
Established	1959 (1959)
Location	Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Coordinates	41°56′50″N72°41′29″W / 41.947147°N 72.691501°W / 41.947147; -72.691501
Type	Aviation museum
Founder	Robert Beh [1] Frank Greene [1] Harvey Lippincott [2] Vernon Muse [1]
Executive Director	Stephanie Abrams
President	Robert Stangarone
Curator	Mike Thornton [3]
Website	http://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

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

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

B-29 Superfortress

• AeroVelo Atlas – Partial section ^[16]
• Bell AH-1S Cobra ^[17]
• Bell UH-1B Iroquois 62-02550 ^[18]
• Blériot XI ^[19]
• Boeing B-29A Superfortress 44-61975 Jack’s Hack ^[20]
• Burnelli CBY-3 Loadmaster ^[21]
• Chanute Herring Glider – Replica ^[22]
• Chance Vought XF4U-4 Corsair 80759 ^[23]
• Curtiss Model D – Replica ^[24]
• de Havilland C-7 Caribou 62-4188 ^[25]
• Doman LZ-5 ^[26]
• Douglas A-3B Skywarrior 142246 ^[27]
• Douglas A-26C Invader 43-22499Reida Rae ^[28]
• Douglas DC-3 ^{[29] [21]}
• Fairchild-Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II ^[30]
• Goodyear ZNP-K blimp control car ^[31]
• Gee Bee Model R replica ^[32]
• Eastern FM-2 Wildcat 74120 ^[33]
• Grumman F6F-5K Hellcat 79192 ^[34]
• Heath LNB-4 Parasol ^[35]
• Kaman HH-43F Huskie ^[36]
• Kaman K-16B ^[37]
• Kaman K-225 N401A ^[38]
• Kaman SH-2F Seasprite 161905 ^[39]
• Laird LC-DW 300 'Solution' ^[40]
• Lazor-Rautenstrauch LR-1A ^[41]
• Lockheed Model 10-A Electra 1052 ^{[42] [43]}
• Kaman K-16B ^[44]
• Lockheed TV-2 Shooting Star 138048 ^[45]
• Marcoux-Bromberg R-3 Special ^[46]
• Martin RB-57A Canberra 52-1488 ^[47]
• McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II 66-0269 ^[48]
• McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle 85-101 ^[49]
• Nixon Special ^[50]
• North American B-25H Mitchell 43-4999Dog Daze ^[51]
• North American F-100A Super Sabre 52-5761 ^[52]
• North American P-51D Mustang 44-72400 – Racer configuration ^[53]
• Northrop F-89J Scorpion 52-1896 ^[54]
• Pioneer Flightstar MC ^[55]
• Pratt-Read LNE-1 ^[56]
• Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 45-49458 Norma ^[57]
• Republic RC-3 Seabee ^[58]
• Rutan Quickie ^[59]
• Sikorsky R-4B Hoverfly 43-46503 ^[60]
• Doman LZ-1A 43-45480 ^[61]
• Sikorsky S-39B ^[62]
• Sikorsky S-51 9602 ^[63]
• Sikorsky XH-39 ^[64]
• Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard 1428 ^[65]
• Sikorsky CH-54B Tarhe 69-18465 ^[66]
• Sikorsky VS-44A Excambian ^[67]

Aircraft under restoration

• Grumman E-1 Tracer ^[68]
• Grumman HU-16 Albatross ^[69]
• Chance Vought A-7D 'Corsair II' ^[70]

Aircraft in storage

• Aeronca 50C
• Bell H-13 'Sioux'
• Bensen B-8M
• Chalais-Meudon CM-5 Airship Engine Nacelle
• Corben (Reed) E 'Junior Ace'
• Chance Vought SSM-N-8 'Regulus I'
• de Havilland U-6A 'Beaver'
• Dyndiuk Sport
• Douglas A-4 'Skyhawk'
• Fairchild XSM-73 'Bull Goose'
• Fokker Dr. I Replica
• Granville Brothers Model A 'Sportster'
• Great Lakes 2T-1A Sportster Replica
• Grumman F9F-2 'Panther'
• Grumman TBM-3E 'Avenger'
• Gyrodyne QH-50C 'DASH'
• Gyrodyne XRON-1 'Rotorcycle'
• Harmening High Flyer Powered Parachute
• Hiller OH-23G 'Raven'
• Kaman HTK-
• Lockheed F-104C Starfighter 56-901 ^[71]
• Lazor-Rautenstrauch LR-1A 'Nick's Special'
• Mead Primary Glider Replica
• Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-15bis
• Gruman F-14B 'Tomcat'
• Rockwell International Saberliner 65
• Monnett Monorai ‘S’
• McDonnell Douglas F-4D 'Phantom II'
• National Ballooning 358 (AX-8) Montgolfier
• North American AGM-28 'Hound Dog'
• North American F-86 'Sabre'
• Northrop OQ-2 'Shelduck'
• Piasecki HUP-2 'Retriever' (2)
• Piccard AX-1 'Jonathan'
• Radioplane YOQ-19
• Raven S-40 'Vulcoon'
• Rearwin 8135 'Cloudster
• Republic F-105B 'Thunderchief'
• Rutan Quickie
• Rutan VariEze
• Sikorsky S-16 Replica
• Sikorsky R-4B 'Hoverfly'
• Sikorsky LH-34D 'Seabat'
• Stinson 10-A
• Ultralight Products Mosquito 166
• Viking B-8 'Kitty Hawk'
• Vought SSM-N-8 'Regulus I'
• Waco YKC-S
• Zephyr ZAL

See also

• List of aviation museums

References

1. "The Beginnings of the Connecticut Aeronautical Historical Association, 1960". New England Air Museum. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
2. "Harvey Lippincott". New England Air Museum. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
3. "NEAM Announces New Curatorial Staff". New England Air Museum. July 19, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
4. "John W. Ramsay Research Library at the New England Air Museum". Connecticut Library Treasures. April 11, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
5. "The Museum's Mission". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
6. "Loss of Plane Setback for Air History Group" (PDF). Manchester Evening Herald. May 18, 1960. p. 16. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
7. "CAHA and the Bradley Air Museum, 1960". New England Air Museum. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
8. "Capital Development at NEAM". New England Air Museum. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
9. Grady, Mary (May 16, 2017). "New England Air Museum Gets An Upgrade". AVweb. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
10. Schmidt, Christine (September 14, 2017). "With $2 Million Renovation, the New England Air Museum Entices New Visitors". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
11. Smith, John Henry (June 6, 2023). "Permanent Tuskegee Airmen exhibit opens at New England Air Museum". Connecticut Public Radio. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
12. Bedner, Eric (June 25, 2023). "Coventry, Suffield, Vernon, and Windsor Locks cultural sites to receive CT state grants". CT Insider. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
13. Krofssik, Sean (February 24, 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 May 28, 2024.
14. Murphy, Maureen (March 18, 2024). "This CT museum has quite a story to tell you. Here's how it's flying into the future". Hartford Courant. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
15. "Exhibits & Displays". New England Air Museum. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
16. "Aerovelo Atlas". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
17. "Bell AH-1S 'TOWCOBRA'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
18. "Bell UH-1B 'Iroquois' (Huey)". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
19. "Blériot XI". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
20. "Boeing B-29A 'Superfortress'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
21. "Restoration Program". New England Air Museum. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
22. "Chanute Herring Glider Replica". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
23. "Vought XF4U-4 'Corsair'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
24. "Bunce Homebuilt Replica of a Curtiss Pusher". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
25. "de Havilland C-7A (DHC-4) 'Caribou'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
26. "Doman LZ-5 (YH-31)". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
27. "Douglas A-3B 'Skywarrior'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
28. "Douglas A-26C 'Invader'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
29. "Douglas DC-3". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
30. "RESTORATION DIARY Fairchild-republic a-10a 'thunderbolt II'".
31. "Goodyear ZNPK-28 Blimp Control Car". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
32. "Granville Brothers R-1 Supersportster Replica". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
33. "Grumman/Eastern FM-2 'Wildcat'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
34. "Grumman F6F-5K 'Hellcat'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
35. "Heath LNB-4 'Parasol'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
36. "Kaman HH-43F 'Huskie'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
37. "Kaman K-16B". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
38. "Kaman K-225". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
39. "Kaman SH-2F 'Seasprite'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
40. "Laird LC-DW 300 'Solution'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
41. "Lazor-Rautenstrauch LR-1A 'Nick's Special'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
42. "Lockheed 10-A 'Electra'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
43. Scott, Phil (September 2004). "Lockheed Electra 10A". Air & Space. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
44. "Restoration Diary Kaman K 16B".
45. "RESTORATION DIARY-Lockheed-TV-2".
46. "Marcoux-Bromberg R-3 'Special'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
47. "Martin RB-57A 'Canberra'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
48. "McDonnell Douglas F-4D 'Phantom II'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
49. Hewitt, Jerry (July 23, 2024). "104th Fighter Wing Donates F-15C to New England Air Museum". 104th Fighter Wing. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
50. "Nixon Special". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
51. "North American B-25H 'Mitchell'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
52. "North American F-100A 'Super Sabre'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
53. "North American P-51D Racer". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
54. "Northrop F-89J 'Scorpion'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
55. "Pioneer Flightstar MC". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
56. "Pratt-Reed LNE-1". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
57. "Republic P-47D 'Thunderbolt'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
58. "Republic RC-3 'Seabee'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
59. "Rutan Quickie". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
60. "Sikorsky R-4B (S-47) 'Hoverfly'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
61. "Sikorsky R-6 Doman Conversion (LZ-1A)". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
62. "Sikorsky S-39B 'Jungle Gym'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
63. "Sikorsky S-51 (H-5A) 'Executive Transport'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
64. "Sikorsky S-59 / XH-39". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
65. "Sikorsky HH-52A (S-62A) 'Seaguard'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
66. "Sikorsky CH-54B 'Tarhe' (S-64B 'Skycrane')". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
67. "Sikorsky VS-44A 'Excambian'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
68. "RESTORATION DIARY E1B-Tracer".
69. "RESTORATION DIARY Grumman HU-16 Albatross".
70. "RESTORATION DIARY LTV A-7D-4-CV Corsair II/69-6201".
71. "Lockheed F-104C 'Starfighter'". New England Air Museum. Retrieved February 27, 2020.

Bibliography

• Hunt, Leslie. Veteran and Vintage Aircraft. New York: Taplinger Publishing Co., Inc., 1971. ISBN   0-8008-7948-1.
• Ogden, Bob. Great Aircraft Collections of the World. New York: Gallery Books, 1986. ISBN   1-85627-012-2.
• Roberts, Jerry (Summer 2015). "Preserving Connecticut's Aeronautical Heritage". Connecticut Explored. Retrieved October 28, 2018.

External links

• NEAM Official Site
• New England Air Museum Photos of aircraft and aviation related exhibits at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT
• Anglisano, Larry (November 30, 2023). "How New England Air Museum Restores Aircraft". Flying. Retrieved December 5, 2023.