 MiG-17 on display at the Quonset Air Museum. | |
  Location within Rhode Island | |
| Established | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 2015 |
| Location | North Kingstown, Rhode Island |
| Coordinates | 41°35′20″N71°24′58″W / 41.589°N 71.416°W /41.589; -71.416 |
| Type | Aviation museum |
| Founder |
|
| President | David Payne |
| Curator | David Payne |
| Website | www |
TheQuonset Air Museum was an aviation museum located atQuonset Point Air National Guard Station inNorth Kingstown, Rhode Island. The museum originated as the "Rhode Island Aviation Heritage Association", founded by Robin Foote who became the initial chairman and president of the Quonset Air Museum.
The museum's collection includedmilitary vehicles,missiles,aircraft and over 5,000 smaller aviation artifacts. An extensive archive of books, magazines, manuals, photos, documents andblueprints was preserved within the museum.
Notable aircraft in the collection included the last survivingCurtiss XF15C mixed propulsion prototype and atwin tailC-1A Trader. This one of a kind aircraft had been fitted with twin tails and radome (but without associated electronics) to serve the aerodynamic prototype for theE-1 Tracer Electronic Counter Measure aircraft. This C-1A has the distinction of being the last aircraft to fly from Naval Air Station Quonset Point upon its closure in 1974.
The museum recovered anF6F-5 Hellcat from Martha's Vineyard on 4 December 1993. It became the subject of a court battle after the U.S. Navy claimed that the aircraft had been salvaged without their permission.[1] Eventually, a settlement was reached where the museum received the aircraft on loan from the Navy.[2]
AnAntonov An-2 at the museum was given to the Antonov Foundation in 2004.[3] The following year David H. Payne Sr. became the museum president.[4]
The museum occupied Painting Hangar #488 located at what was once theNaval Air Station Quonset Point. This 50,000 sq. ft. facility was one of only three existing specialized wood and brickhangars built duringWWII. Heavy snowfall in March 2015 partially collapsed the building's roof and the hangar was condemned.[5][6]
In January 2016, plans for a new museum were announced.[7] The museum was originally supposed to leave by April 2, but it was given an extension.[8] Later, in June, a $4 million request for state funding failed to materialize.[9] On December 16, 2016, it was announced that the museum would not reopen.[10] Although many aircraft in the collection have been transferred to other museums, the museum's P2V was scrapped in May 2018, as it was too large to move.[11]