45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Sun Sep 08, 2013 2:11 pm
The Stratford Corsair restoration reached a major milestone today when the aircraft was moved on its' own landing gear for the first time in 45 years!
I have to say that I was very much choked up and had a few tears in my eyes when I came around the corner and saw her on her landing gear early this morning! It was a long road that, when I started it back in 2008, I wasn't quite sure how it would end. Ed, Mark, Drew, Ezell Aviation, the late Howard Pardue and everyone else at CASC deserves a huge THANK YOU for their effort and amazing work!
With the Chance Vought plant in the background, the Corsair is towed across the intersection at Sniffens Lane where, 70 plus years ago, EVERY Corsair built at the plant was towed over to the airport for testing!
70 years ago, same location! (Courtesy of the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Archives)
Nice to see this on the Corsair! Ezell was instrumental in helping this project move along!
By Building 6, just starting to roll, the Corsair heads out to the car show. This hangar houses the Connecticut Air and Space Center and was the experimental hangar during WWII. It was later used as an engine test facility for AVCO. Inside, many of the test cells are standing in silent vigil over the FG-1D!
Morgan Kaolian and Nick Mainiero pose with the plaques from the old pole and a photo of the Corsair Memorial dedication back in 1971.
Both these great gentlemen were on the Corsair memorial committee with me back in 2008 when we negotiated the removal of the Corsair from the pylon. Nick was the airport manager back in the 1960's and 70's and he was the one who went to San Salvador and got them to donate the Corsair to The city as a memorial. Nick was also a Marine Corps F4U pilot who flew 51 missions and was awarded the DFC for returning to base with his tail almost totally shot away. I am proud to have worked with both these men and the others on the committee to save a piece of history.
GREAT JOB GUYS!
Jerry
I have to say that I was very much choked up and had a few tears in my eyes when I came around the corner and saw her on her landing gear early this morning! It was a long road that, when I started it back in 2008, I wasn't quite sure how it would end. Ed, Mark, Drew, Ezell Aviation, the late Howard Pardue and everyone else at CASC deserves a huge THANK YOU for their effort and amazing work!
With the Chance Vought plant in the background, the Corsair is towed across the intersection at Sniffens Lane where, 70 plus years ago, EVERY Corsair built at the plant was towed over to the airport for testing!
70 years ago, same location! (Courtesy of the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Archives)
Nice to see this on the Corsair! Ezell was instrumental in helping this project move along!
By Building 6, just starting to roll, the Corsair heads out to the car show. This hangar houses the Connecticut Air and Space Center and was the experimental hangar during WWII. It was later used as an engine test facility for AVCO. Inside, many of the test cells are standing in silent vigil over the FG-1D!
Morgan Kaolian and Nick Mainiero pose with the plaques from the old pole and a photo of the Corsair Memorial dedication back in 1971.
Both these great gentlemen were on the Corsair memorial committee with me back in 2008 when we negotiated the removal of the Corsair from the pylon. Nick was the airport manager back in the 1960's and 70's and he was the one who went to San Salvador and got them to donate the Corsair to The city as a memorial. Nick was also a Marine Corps F4U pilot who flew 51 missions and was awarded the DFC for returning to base with his tail almost totally shot away. I am proud to have worked with both these men and the others on the committee to save a piece of history.
GREAT JOB GUYS!
Jerry
Last edited by Jerry O'Neill on Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:01 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Sun Sep 08, 2013 5:17 pm
EXCELLANT!!! 
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Sun Sep 08, 2013 5:54 pm
Milestones are awesome. Soak it in and enjoy!
Congrats on results for all the hard work
Andy Scott
Congrats on results for all the hard work
Andy Scott
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:05 pm
Fantastic !!!!!!!!!! 
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Sun Sep 08, 2013 7:33 pm
Looking great! Sorry if I'm behind on the story but what are the post restoration plans? Back on the pole or indoors? Can't wait to see it in the fresh flesh!
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:30 pm
On display, as a non-flyer in the old Curtiss hangar on the airport!
No more pole-sitting for this baby!
Jerry
No more pole-sitting for this baby!
Jerry
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:37 pm
You guys are good dads to the girl. Keeping her off the pole and all.
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Sun Sep 08, 2013 10:15 pm
Good to see her up on her feet...
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:28 pm
super great news
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Mon Sep 09, 2013 9:23 am
We we're super excited to show off the AMAZING progress the Corsair Restoration team has pulled off for this year's Corsair Car Show. We hope that next year we'll be able to roll the event into a fly-in / mini airshow. With the assistance of one Jerry O'Neill of course. 
Now the only problem is that the Corsair hardly fits into building 53!
Now the only problem is that the Corsair hardly fits into building 53!
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Mon Sep 09, 2013 10:16 am
This is such a fantastic outcome for this aircraft. I'm told they can't all be flyers... Kudos to all involved.
Kudos to all involved.
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:27 pm
Very nice to see! Congrats to the crew!
Not to be a fuddy-duddy, but who or how did the right inboard flap get all bent up!
Not to be a fuddy-duddy, but who or how did the right inboard flap get all bent up!
Re: 45 Years in the making! Stratford Corsair Milestone hit!
Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:36 pm
Great job guys! Corsair are one of the hardest planes to work on and to get all the repairs done, painted and assembled is not small job. You guys deserve a big Well Done. I cant wait to see it all together.
Randy Tait
Randy Tait