Connecticut Air and Space Center

Stratford, Connecticut, USA
Established	1998 (1998)
Location	225 B Main Street, Stratford, Connecticut, United States
Coordinates	41°10′12″N 73°07′14″W / 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

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]

The Army Engine Plant/Stratford (AEP/S) property is located at 550 South Main Street in Stratford, Connecticut. The 126-acre AEP/S property is occupied by a U.S. government-owned, contractor-operated manufacturing facility comprising numerous manufacturing buildings. The operator was Textron Lycoming, a Division of AVCO Corporation, a contractor to the U.S. Army Aviation Systems Command. The AEP/S property is bordered by industrial properties to the north; the Housatonic River to the east; a marsh which was a former landfill, to the south; and Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport to the west.

Prior to 1927, the site was farmland. The property was developed in 1927 for Sikorsky Aircraft. In 1939, one of the world's first successful commercial helicopters, the Sikorsky VS-300,^[2] was developed in Stratford by Igor Sikorsky and flown at his plant.^[3] The Chance Vought Aircraft company designed and constructed the Vought F4U Corsair as well as several other seaplanes and fighters until they moved in 1949. The Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division in Stratford built a total of 7,829 F4U fighters and these planes saw extensive combat in the Pacific Theatre of operations during World War II, and played a supporting role in the Korean War.^[4] The Lycoming company produced Wright radial engines at the site and after World War II, the plant was converted to produce turbines. The site was then owned by the Air Force through 1976. Ownership was transferred to the U.S. Army in 1976. Because of the Base Realignment and Closure actions of the United States Department of Defense, closure of the plant was recommended in July 1995. The plant closed in October 1998.^{[5] [6]} The Connecticut Air & Space Center currently occupies the research and design hangar where all experimental testing was performed by Chance Vought from 1944 to 1948.

In 2012 the museum was damaged by Hurricane Sandy.^[7] In 2016, a Sikorsky S-76 was donated to the museum for use as a parts source.^[8] The museum opened a new addition to the Curtiss Hangar in May 2021.^[9] A plan to sell the airport in 2022 put plans for renovation and use of the Curtiss hangar in jeopardy.^[10]

Working with the Town of Stratford and City of Bridgeport, the Connecticut Air & Space Center was able to secure a 98-year lease for the dilapidated 1929 Curtiss Aircraft Hangar in 2015. Groundbreaking for the restoration occurred in May 2016.^[11] Since that time, significant work has been done to the property. The remaining wooden roof was removed, as was all the remaining glass in the window frames. Brickwork that was deemed unsafe was also removed before initial construction begins. In 2018 The CASC received a $1 million grant from the state of Connecticut to restore the hangar. The grant has taken a long time to pass through the proper channels and have all of the proper paperwork signed. As of July 2023, it is expected that nearly all of the paperwork has been completed and the project is soon to be put out to bid. It is hoped that construction will commence by 2024.

In May of 2021, the CASC opened up a portion of the Curtiss Hangar to the public as a "mini museum" in the hopes of generating revenue to help further the restoration of the hangar and other projects. A pre-fab metal hangar that was built onto the back of the original Curtiss Hangar in the 1960s was refurbished and received a certificate of occupancy in early 2021 to allow visitors to enter and view the displays and exhibits. At the time only the Corsair, S-52, OH-6, and S-60 cockpit cab were on display. Today five additional aircraft have been added and put on display as well.

The museum has completed several restorations of its aircraft which are now on display.

Whitehead No.21 Flyer Replica In 1986 Andrew Kosch, a local high school teacher, led a team which built a replica of Whitehead's No.21. The replica (called 21B) had a few changes: the landing gear track was increased for better ground handling and two ultralight aircraft engines were used in place of the original steam and acetylene engines. On December 29, 1986, Kosch made 20 successful flights, the longest being 100 m (330 ft). The reproduction was also shown at the 1986 Experimental Aircraft Association Fly-In. Andy Kosh restored the original replica to static display condition and can be seen at numerous public events during the Summer. Since then Mr. Kosh and his team have built another No.21 replica and have been experimenting with it.

Sikorsky S-52/HO5S-1 The museum originally acquired a complete HO5S-1 from the USMC Museum, and several incomplete hulks from Orlando Helicopter. Originally the museum had been tasked with restoring the USMC owned example for eventual display at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Meanwhile museum restoration technicians could replicate all the needed parts for the museum's own incomplete HO5S-1. But upon completion, the USMC Museum allowed the CASC to continue to display their HO5S-1 and keep it on loan. The museum's own example has progressed to a point where it can sit on its own landing gear, though the project is currently in storage.

Sikorsky S-55/H-19 Chickasaw The museum's S-55 / H-19B (52-7573) was donated in a package deal by the H. H. Ellis Technical School in Danielson, Connecticut. This S-55B was restored over the course of 6 / 7 years by museum volunteers and was completed by the end of 2018. It is currently on outside display at the museum's public location, the Curtiss Hangar.

Sikorsky S-60 Flying Crane Prototype The unique one-of-a-kind Sikorsky S-60 prototype has been undergoing a major restoration since 2010 when she was acquired from the New England Air Museum. The cockpit section was completed by 2018. Simultaneously the center section, wing spar, and rear fuselage section are all progressing as well with most of the torn wreckage removed and replaced with new metal. The majority of the airframe is in storage currently until a new workshop space is secured.

Goodyear FG-1D Corsair In 2008 the museum was entrusted by the City of Bridgeport with the restoration of the former gate guard at the Sikorsky Memorial Airport, the much locally discussed Goodyear FG-1D Corsair. Work began in earnest and has been still ongoing for the past few years. As of July 2023, the main fuselage exterior is complete and painted. The flight control surfaces have been covered and need to be painted blue to match. The wings still need work and will require a new shop space for them to be worked on. Many small interior detailed components need to still be sourced and / or rebuilt. Since May 2021, the Corsair has been on display at the museum's public location, the Curtiss Hangar.^[12]

OH-6 Cayuse In 2014 restoration was started on an OH-6 that served in the Vietnam War. After two years in restoration the OH-6A "Cayuse" emerged in accurate markings she wore in Vietnam while serving in the 101st Airborne, 2nd Brigade, Brandy Company. She will be used in an upcoming Vietnam display, dedicated to all of those who served in that conflict. The Connecticut Air & Space Center’s OH-6A Serial number 67-16477 served proudly for many years. Since May 2021, the Cayuse has been on display at the museum's public location, the Curtiss Hangar.^[13]

Cessna C-150 While complete, this C-150 has been in storage for many years. It was donated to the Connecticut Air & Space Center in 2001 for display, and in 2021, it was decided to refurbish the airframe and wrap it in accurate markings depicting local aviation legend Morgan Kaolian's C-150 he flew for WICC AM 600 Radio as the local eye in the sky for traffic and weather. Since 2022, the C-150 has been on display at the museum's public location, the Curtiss Hangar.

Cessna O-2A Skymaster The O-2 was slowly restored over ten years. The entire interior of the cockpit was overhauled and refreshed with new paint. Both engine bays (as well as engines) were cleaned, repainted, and reassembled. In June 2023, the wings, tail booms, and control surfaces were all attached to the airframe, completing the restoration. The resotration crew still have some details / touch ups for the plane. The O-2A is on display at the museum's public location, the Curtiss Hangar.

Cessna T-37 Tweet The museum's T-37B 57-2346 last served with the 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance AFB, OK. It was stricken from inventory and transferred to the CASC on July 11, 2001, on perpetual loan from the GSA / Connecticut DAS. Work didn't start on her until around 2015 when the cockpit was disassembled, cleaned, painted, and reassembled. The exterior also received touchups and repaints. In March 2023 the fuselage and wings were transported to the Curtiss Hangar in preparation for assembly. The museum is planning on unveiling the aircraft on July 30, 2023, for there Vietnam Day event.

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