Vought Factory coming down??

corsair166b · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:46 pm

When I wasback east in CT in June at the Corsairs over Connecticut show, there was scuttlebutt flying around that eventually the original Vought factory, which is now empty and unused, would eventually be torn down and redeveloped as it took up a large parcel of valuable land, and I wonder if anyone has any more info on when/if this is supposed to happen? I can see where it is an unused building and probably should either be used for something or torn down to make room for new projects, but I'd sure like to get back there and get inside it at least once to see where my Grandfather spent his war years while working for Vought...

Mark

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

And rescue the Corsair . . .

Saludos,

Tulio

corsair166b · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:55 pm

Oh YOU ain't kiddin'....that bird needs to come indoors BAD...they were talking about taking it down and including it in a new museum after it was rebuilt, but no time table was given...i reckon it'll be there at least a few more years...

M

Airdale · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2005 12:05 am

I guess I'm the one to take this on!
The plant has now been severed from all utilites, Water, Gas and Electric. The US Army owns the plant and doesn't want to continue to incure the roughly 6 million dollars a year in upkeep for a building they don't use.
The Town of Stratford will be getting title to the site, with the Connecticut Air and Space Center retaining occupancy of the former Vought Test Hangar as their musuem site. The transfer is complicated and tricky, so it's taking awhile.
The major portions of the factory are planned to be razed, and the town is hoping to use the land for economic development. There will be a water side greenway for the public to use that will include the former Sikorsky Flying Boat Ramp.
There are plans afoot to rescue the Corsair on the pole, but there are many legal and political hoops to jump through, so this will take a little more time. Many in the past have tried to aquire the Corsair, but the powers that be will not let it leave the area. The best plan is to replace it with a fiberglas replica and then restore the aircraft to static display.

Time will tell, but if you want a look at the inside of the plant, it would be best to join the Connecticut Air and Space Center and offer to volunteer.
Right now, they have some access to the site at various times.
Blue skies,
Jerry

Airdale · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2005 1:03 am

Thanks for the comments about the show. It was really one of the most moving events I've participated in, and I've done a few. Maybe, with some future influence (ie: cash) we could do it again!
As far as I know, the aircraft was fairly complete when recovered from El Salvador. Nick Mainero, WWII Corsair pilot and Airport manager at the time, went down, picked out the aircraft and arranged it to be shipped up here to CT. The photos I've seen of it being off loaded show a pretty complete aircraft. Maybe it was pieced together before it left Central America, or maybe the wings were from an other aircraft, but I believe the fuselage and main componets were off one aircraft. I may be wrong or slightly askew, but I'd like to know if it is a composite.
Blue skies,
Jerry

Chuck Gardner · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:31 am

wasnt there a story of a center section inside the building in a room that now has been closed off?

Airdale · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:34 am

I haven't heard that one. But wouldn't be exciting to have an old partion come down and find an almost complete F4U in there?!!
Jerry

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2005 6:07 pm

tear down a historic ww 2 icon & build another shopping center / condo developement.... just what we need!!!! :cry:

FAH 619 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:45 pm

Airdale:

Ref the FG-1D, Buno 92460 at Bridgeport, CT. It's not a composite aircraft. It may have a few panels off other FAS aircraft but the main fuselage of the former FAS 617 was 90% intact at the FAS boneyard c. 1969.

FAH 619 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:35 pm

Col. Rohr:
Someone borrowed the cockpit ID plate off this aircraft. It shows that it was an FG-1D model Buno 92460. They were rumors of some -4/-5 parts at Ilopango prior to 1969 hence the parts you saw. Do you have pictures when FAS 617 was off the ship/being dwnloaded at Bridgeport, CT?
Will post the ID plate in 24 Hrs. C/w.com

Don Martin · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 11:11 pm

Hey Jerry, If The Good Colonel had his way, would have that pole-siting Corsair sequestered up here in the Republic of Maine right now! You don't know what it took to convince Rob that a whole Corsair WOULD NOT fit on the roof of a Dodge Caravan! :shock:

..............And I also want to say the event was just great! My son and I thoroughly enjoyed your event.
Don

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2005 12:00 pm

Ronnie Olsthurn forwarded me the weblink below. It's the original F4U-1 Checkout film, with special guest star, the Vought hangar seen during the first few scenes.

It will surely be Bridgeport's loss to have this icon torn down for commercial reasons. Too bad they couldn't find a way to integrate it into their future plans.

P.S. - Only the US Government could find a way to somehow spend six million dollars a year to maintain a vacant hangar!!! :shock:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 2454&q=f4u

FAH 619 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:10 pm

Col. Rohr:
The ID plate of the CT Bird. FG-1D 92460, C/N 3721. The mod plates on the wings may have different data.Photo J.S via c/w.com

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:36 pm

That's a great image Carlos.

Is this yet another plate still on file with the FAS?

FAH 619 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2005 11:04 pm

Rob:

Tks! One more pic for your F4U best seller! In answer to your question no. This one came up fm a private US collector. Our TX friend F.A may have the other shots of FAS FG-1D ID plates still MIA!

FAS Museum still holds the ID plate for FG-1D Buno 67071 poss FAS 204! Still working on FAH 609! -)

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Vought Factory coming down??

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