The New England Air Museum (NEAM) is an aerospace museum located at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The museum consists of three display hangars and has additional storage-only hangars. It houses 66 aircraft, 26 helicopters, a variety of missiles, ejection seats, and other pieces of flight-related equipment. The museum also conducts tours, children's activities, and hosts special events.
Exhibits include the history of Sikorsky Aircraft, computer-based flight simulators, and the 58th Bombardment Wing Memorial's B-29. Additionally, there are exhibits on early French aviation, the Tuskegee Airmen, the Kosciuszko Squadron, and the 57th Fighter Group.
The museum library has books, periodicals, technical manuals and National Air and Space Museum photographs. Additional materials such as photographs, microfilm and movies are cataloged by the Museum.
The museum also restores aircraft on a regular basis, including a Lockheed 10 Electra, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, and a Gee Bee Model R.
In previous years, the museum was home to FlightSimCon, an annual flight simulation conference. However, it has since moved to the nearby Sheraton Hotel at the airport.
History
In 1981, the first current building was built after a tornado destroyed everything at the museum's previous location by Route 75 in 1979. The New England Air Museum has many one-of-a-kind exhibits, including:
- The last remaining Sikorksky VS-44A flying boat.
- The Silas Brooks Balloon Basket, the oldest surviving aircraft in the U.S.
- The Sikorsky S-39, the oldest surviving Sikorsky aircraft.
- A Kaman K-225 helicopter, the oldest surviving Kaman-built aircraft.
- The only Burnelli CBY-3 Loadmaster ever built, which is under restoration in the Museum's workshops.
In 2017 work was begun on major improvements at the museum. The $1.9 million project aims to enhance the visitor experience. The project will create lofty mezzanines in two of the massive aircraft hangars, which will provide vistas over the museum's aircraft collections.
Mission
The mission of the New England Air Museum is "committed to presenting 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".
Aircraft on display
As of 2013, the permanent collection includes (but is not limited to):
See also
- FlightSimCon
- List of aerospace museums
References
Bibliography
External links
- NEAM Official Site and information
- New England Air Museum Photos of aircraft and aviation related exhibits at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT
