Aviation museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut
TheNew England Air Museum (NEAM) is an American aerospace museum located adjacent toBradley International Airport inWindsor 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 theSikorsky VS-44 A - the sole remaining American-built commercial trans-oceanic four-engineflying 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.[ 3] [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.[ 4]
The museum began when a group ofPratt & Whitney employees formed theConnecticut Aeronautical Historical Association to save a biplane built by Louis Bancroft. While the airplane would later be destroyed in a fire, the group continued.[ 5] [ 6]
In 1981, the first current building was built after atornado destroyed the then Bradley Air Museum's previous outdoor location alongRoute 75 in 1979. The museum has since added a restoration hangar in 1989, a storage building in 1991, a military hangar in 1992, a58th Bomb Wing Hangar in 2003, and a storage hangar in 2010.[ 7]
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.[ 8] [ 9]
In June 2023, the museum opened a new exhibit about theTuskegee Airmen and received a grant to build a recording studio.[ 10] [ 11]
In early 2024, the museum announced plans for a new 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m2 ) hangar that will include aChallenger Learning Center and a digital dome to be used as a planetarium.[ 12] [ 13]
The main exhibition hangar Exhibits include the history ofSikorsky 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, theTuskegee Airmen , theKosciuszko Squadron , New England Women in Aviation, and the57th Fighter Group .[ 14] [failed verification
Aircraft on display [ edit ] B-29 Superfortress Aircraft under restoration [ edit ] Aircraft in storage [ edit ] ^a b c "The Beginnings of the Connecticut Aeronautical Historical Association, 1960" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on April 7, 2021. RetrievedApril 8, 2021 .^ "Harvey Lippincott" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on April 7, 2021. RetrievedApril 8, 2021 .^ "John W. Ramsay Research Library at the New England Air Museum" .Connecticut Library Treasures . April 11, 2008. RetrievedJanuary 10, 2022 .^ "The Museum's Mission" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on February 27, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Loss of Plane Setback for Air History Group" (PDF) .Manchester Evening Herald . May 18, 1960. p. 16. RetrievedApril 8, 2021 .^ "CAHA and the Bradley Air Museum, 1960" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on April 7, 2021. RetrievedApril 8, 2021 .^ "Capital Development at NEAM" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on March 14, 2017. RetrievedMay 27, 2017 .^ Grady, Mary (May 16, 2017)."New England Air Museum Gets An Upgrade" .AVweb . RetrievedMay 23, 2017 . ^ Schmidt, Christine (September 14, 2017)."With $2 Million Renovation, the New England Air Museum Entices New Visitors" .Hartford Courant . RetrievedOctober 28, 2018 . ^ Smith, John Henry (June 6, 2023)."Permanent Tuskegee Airmen exhibit opens at New England Air Museum" .Connecticut Public Radio . RetrievedJune 30, 2023 . ^ Bedner, Eric (June 25, 2023)."Coventry, Suffield, Vernon, and Windsor Locks cultural sites to receive CT state grants" .CT Insider . RetrievedJune 30, 2023 . ^ 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 . RetrievedMay 28, 2024 . ^ 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 . RetrievedMay 28, 2024 . ^ "Exhibits & Displays" .New England Air Museum . RetrievedAugust 28, 2022 .^ "Aerovelo Atlas" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Bell AH-1S 'TOWCOBRA' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Bell UH-1B 'Iroquois' (Huey)" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Blériot XI" .New England Air Museum . RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .[dead link ^ "Boeing B-29A 'Superfortress' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^a b "Restoration Program" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on October 8, 2020. RetrievedOctober 6, 2020 .^ "Chanute Herring Glider Replica" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Vought XF4U-4 'Corsair' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 5, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Bunce Homebuilt Replica of a Curtiss Pusher" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "de Havilland C-7A (DHC-4) 'Caribou' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Doman LZ-5 (YH-31)" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on September 21, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Douglas A-3B 'Skywarrior' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Douglas A-26C 'Invader' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 5, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Douglas DC-3" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 5, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "RESTORATION DIARY Fairchild-republic a-10a 'thunderbolt II' .^ "Goodyear ZNPK-28 Blimp Control Car" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 5, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Granville Brothers R-1 Supersportster Replica" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on May 25, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Grumman/Eastern FM-2 'Wildcat' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Grumman F6F-5K 'Hellcat' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 5, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Heath LNB-4 'Parasol' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 5, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Kaman HH-43F 'Huskie' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 5, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Kaman K-16B" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 5, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Kaman K-225" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Kaman SH-2F 'Seasprite' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Laird LC-DW 300 'Solution' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Lazor-Rautenstrauch LR-1A 'Nick's Special' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ "Lockheed 10-A 'Electra' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .^ Scott, Phil (September 2004)."Lockheed Electra 10A" .Air & Space . RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 . ^ "Restoration Diary Kaman K 16B" .^ "RESTORATION DIARY-Lockheed-TV-2" .^ "Marcoux-Bromberg R-3 'Special' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on June 17, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Martin RB-57A 'Canberra' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2020 .^ "McDonnell Douglas F-4D 'Phantom II' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ Hewitt, Jerry (July 23, 2024)."104th Fighter Wing Donates F-15C to New England Air Museum" .104th Fighter Wing . RetrievedJuly 25, 2024 . ^ "Nixon Special" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "North American B-25H 'Mitchell' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "North American F-100A 'Super Sabre' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "North American P-51D Racer" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Northrop F-89J 'Scorpion' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Pioneer Flightstar MC" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Pratt-Reed LNE-1" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Republic P-47D 'Thunderbolt' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Republic RC-3 'Seabee' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Rutan Quickie" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Sikorsky R-4B (S-47) 'Hoverfly' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 5, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Sikorsky R-6 Doman Conversion (LZ-1A)" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Sikorsky S-39B 'Jungle Gym' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 5, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Sikorsky S-51 (H-5A) 'Executive Transport' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Sikorsky S-59 / XH-39" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Sikorsky HH-52A (S-62A) 'Seaguard' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 5, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Sikorsky CH-54B 'Tarhe' (S-64B 'Skycrane')" .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "Sikorsky VS-44A 'Excambian' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on August 4, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2020 .^ "RESTORATION DIARY E1B-Tracer" .^ "RESTORATION DIARY Grumman HU-16 Albatross" .^ "RESTORATION DIARY LTV A-7D-4-CV Corsair II/69-6201" .^ "Lockheed F-104C 'Starfighter' .New England Air Museum . Archived fromthe original on June 17, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 27, 2020 .
Aviation museum
