Warbird Information Exchange

So where will it go?

What we call the Sikorsky Memorial Airport today has in actuality existed almost the entire span of recorded aviation history. The airfield started as a simple landing spot for weary pilots up into the 1920’s. It wasn’t until 1928 - 29 that the first four buildings were erected at the field. These structures consisted of a small terminal building, the airport manager’s house (now Windsock Bar & Grill), and two aircraft hangars.





The Curtiss Flying Service at the time managed the field, which opened for flying operations on November 11, 1928. The new airfield and its possibilities also attracted Igor Sikorsky with the purchase of thirty acres of land adjacent to the airport for the erection of a new aircraft plant. The factory would continue to expand and grow into the 1940s during World War II with the arrival of Chance-Vought sharing the facilities with Sikorsky and then solely operating from there. Both Chance Vought and Sikorsky were subsidiary companies of United Technologies. The airfield would minimally expand for the next sixty years without any real thought of preservation to the four original structures that had been built decades before.

Focusing in particular, the second hangar built at the airport in 1929 has been on a steady decline for around twenty years or so with no sign of maintenance. Even still, the overall condition of this historically significant structure hasn’t changed dramatically. What must be remembered is the fact that this hangar, (built at the dawn of aviation) was purposely over-engineered. This was the case with almost any of the structures being built at the time. So while the wood roof and brick exterior are crumbling, the steel-reinforced beam structure in the roof and supporting beams that go deep into the ground are still in remarkable condition. Another mostly unknown fact to many is that aviation legends such as Charles Lindbergh, Howard Hughes, Amelia Earhart and others have all walked into that particular hangar, sheltered there aircraft there, and left an indelible impression there. Famous aircraft have also been hangared there as well. From many early flying machines, to racing aircraft, to even the prototype XF4U Corsair and its production counterparts, hundreds upon hundreds of aircraft have spent time under that roof.





The Connecticut Air & Space Center is very interested in restoring this original standing piece of aviation history (along with the three other original structures) and return them to there former glory. The end result would be a local and international cultural educational aviation center that would foster the passion of history, aviation, and flight. Through interactive and interesting exhibits, authentic historical reenactments, period aircraft and vehicles, artifact exhibitions, as well as outside venues and hostings, these four historical structures would become a powerful location for various kinds of events. We must come together and understand that if we let these buildings fall, then we are losing a part of ourselves. We must understand the value of our historic landmarks and buildings, for if we have no past to reflect upon, we have no future to build upon. We should honor these landmarks for the history that they hold and represent. For once they’re gone, the history is gone.