Connecticut Air & Space Center facts for kids

Connecticut Air and Space Center

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Established	1998 (1998)
Location	225 B Main Street, Stratford, Connecticut, United States
Type	Aviation museum
Founder	George Gunther

The Connecticut Air & Space Center is an exciting aviation museum located near the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Connecticut. This museum focuses on the rich history of flying and space exploration right here in Connecticut. It was started by George Gunther in 1998. This happened after the Stratford Army Engine Plant closed down. The museum first used parts of that old plant from 2001 to 2022. Now, it is open to visitors in a section of the historic Curtiss Hangar.

History of the Museum

How the Museum Started

The Connecticut Air & Space Center was created in 1998. It was founded by a state senator named George Gunther. By 2008, the museum had big plans. They wanted to open their main exhibits in the former Stratford Army Engine Plant.

Challenges and New Beginnings

In 2012, a powerful storm called Hurricane Sandy caused damage to the museum. But the museum team didn't give up! They worked with the towns of Stratford and Bridgeport. In 2015, they secured a long-term lease for the old 1929 Curtiss Aircraft Hangar. This hangar needed a lot of work.

Restoration work on the hangar began in May 2016. That same year, a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter was given to the museum. Its parts could be used to help fix other aircraft. In 2018, the museum received a large grant of $1 million from the state of Connecticut. This money helped a lot with restoring the hangar.

The museum opened a new exhibit area in May 2021. This space was a 3,600 sq ft (330 m²) addition built in the 1960s. In 2022, there were talks about selling the airport. This made the future plans for the Curtiss hangar uncertain for a while. The museum also learned that it would need to move its stored items from Building 6 of the Stratford Army Engine Plant by 2025.

Amazing Collection

The Connecticut Air & Space Center has a fantastic collection of aircraft. These planes and helicopters show the history of aviation. Many of them have a special connection to Connecticut. You can see different types of aircraft, from small planes to larger military jets.

See also

• List of aerospace museums