Curtiss Hangar Cleanup - (Sikorsky Airport, CT)

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2012 4:52 pm

WE NEED YOU! Yes..... YOU!

http://www.facebook.com/events/174546566019689/permalink/174563012684711/?notif_t=like

As you may (or may not know) the Connecticut Air & Space Center has signed an agreement with the City of Bridgeport, for the Curtiss Hangar, behind the Windsock at the Sikorsky Memorial Airport. This building will serve as the home for the Corsair as well as a home for the Connecticut Air & Space Center.

There is a lot of clean up to be done so the real work can begin.

On Saturday, November 17th, 2012 a work detail will meet behind the Windsock at 9am for a Safety Talk with Mark Corvino. Mark Corvino is the Construction Manager at the site and will give you a job to do at the hangar. No one will be doing any construction work at this time, just clean up and site prep. Once assigned we will get to work. We need every able bodied person to make an effort to come out and help. Working in the Hanger will require a Hardhat and we have several that will be there but I would advise you to bring gloves, safety glasses and dress for work.

This is our big chance and we have to show some real effort to make this happen. In addition we will be starting fundraising ASAP. So we need people to help start spreading the word.

This is what we have wanted, a building, a lease and a real opportunity.

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2012 6:47 pm

i'll be there, you bring the coffee

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2012 7:33 pm

Sounds like alot of work will be taking place. If I hailed from that area of the country I would be there for sure.

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:42 pm

I wish I could help. I'll be in Boston this weekend. I'll pass the word though!
Jerry

corsair166b · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2012 11:31 pm

Dammit....wish you guys were starting this in the spring and I could come back and join you....just ain't in the cards financially right now.....I once said that when you started work on the hangar I would come back and help....if you're still working on it this spring/summer, I will.

Mark

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 1:39 pm

We expect to continue working to the Spring and beyond. By that point were expecting to be into the rebuild / restoration phase. I foresee alot of the jobs at that point to be in the hands of professionals. Ya know, contractors, electricians, masons, etc. There will be less jobs for us unskilled labor but we'll find something for you to do! Guarantee that! :wink:

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 5:14 pm

We have 1500+ window panes to remove, repair, replace and reglaze... This won't be a one day thing LOL

Wildchild · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 5:31 pm

Quote:

Is that a plane in there?

shrike · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 5:44 pm

Cherrybomber13 wrote:

We have 1500+ window panes to remove, repair, replace and reglaze... This won't be a one day thing LOL

Will you be keeping to glass or lexan for safety? - Not to mention making the doors a whole lot lighter and easier to move

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:10 pm

shrike wrote:

Not to mention making the doors a whole lot lighter and easier to move

This is a project I'd like to see done right. For the time being our immediate plan is to repaint the doors as they are, and possibly try and get them rolling. While this isn't a permanent solution we are trying to source any local (or not local) metal works companies that would be interested in working on these doors. They need the full treatment. Disassembly, evaluation, clean/sandblast, weld new pieces, paint, reassembly.

For now were showing the city that these hangars don't have to look blighted. And in the near future we'll systematically restore the doors proper.

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:12 pm

Most of the windows were replaced with plastic and they simply degrade and blow out in a heavy wind after a few years. The safety glass (glass with embedded chicken wire) has lasted where it hasn't been busted out. The initial plan it to use large sheets of poly on the inside to cover the holes then restore the frames one bank at a time as money allows. We also have been looking at triple layer argon gas filled green solution but it carries a large price tag.

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2309

Was just looking at this on Bing, is that someones house just behind the hangar? & is the square building out front an old control tower?

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:44 pm

The building that looks like a house is the original airport office. It's a "Cape Cod" style house, but it currently houses the "Windsock Restaurant and Bar". During the war, it was Chance Vought's operations shack and just about every pilot who flew from there, including ferry pilots and Charles Lindbergh, went through the doors. To square building between the two hangars came later and was the airport office for many years. The tower at the time of Vought was on the side of one of the big hangars.
This is the most historic, and COMPLETE, aviation site in Connecticut. Everything that was built on the field since 1929 is still there. The only item missing is the control tower that was removed from the Vought Hangars in the 1960's I believe.
Help save them everyone!

Jerry

CH2Tdriver · **Posted:** Thu Nov 15, 2012 3:23 pm

Jerry, et all...,

Any of you guys been to the Windsock to give a restaurant review? I never knew it was there even though I've been to BDR so many times with students. It would be a great place to take friends or prospective students to another airport for a quick bite to eat!

I take it you access it from Atlantic's Ramp?

Pete

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Thu Nov 15, 2012 5:05 pm

Atlantic or Blue Skies' ramp. I always thought it was good food. Try the Chili.

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Curtiss Hangar Cleanup - (Sikorsky Airport, CT)

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