CT Air & Space Center begins the Curtiss Hangar Restoration

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2015 7:33 pm

The Connecticut Air & Space Center will be conducting a ceremony to announce the beginning of the restoration of the historic Curtiss Hanger located at the Igor I Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford.

We would like to invite you to join us for the ceremony on May 19, 2015 at the site of the Curtiss Hangar.
The event will start at 12 noon with the arrival of Yankee Lady, a vintage World War II B-17 bomber.
The Igor I Sikorsky Memorial Airport Corsair being restored by Connecticut Air & Space Center will also be on display.

Free parking will be available close to the Hangar on Main Street. The will be no admission charge. to attend the ceremony. Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the ceremony across the street at the Connecticut Air & Space Center (18 and over).

CH2Tdriver · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2015 7:44 pm

Hey Andrew,

Put that great graphic on the back of a dark blue T-Shirt, with just the CT Air & Space logo on the front left breast and you SOLD me one!

Congrats on getting the project off the ground!

Pete

Zachary · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2015 8:25 am

Well done, Drew, Chris, and all the rest of the folks involved!

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Tue May 05, 2015 5:26 pm

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Wed May 06, 2015 9:40 am

Thanks guys. This is a long time coming as the future looks bright. By the way, this was the "Big news" I was eluding to months ago. It just took a few extra months to break the story.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2015 5:04 pm

Despite the grey drizzly weather, the Connecticut Air & Space Center played host to dignitaries and the public alike on Tuesday to kick off the restoration of the 1929 Curtiss Hangar. Needless to say, the ground-breaking event was a success! More than one hundred people showed up at noon on a regular Tuesday to pay tribute to this forgotten replica of aviation history. Forgotten... until now.

The sturdy hangar, waiting for the real work to begin.

One of the nicest B-17's out there, we had the mayors of Stratford and Bridgeport ride in the B-17 over to the event. What an entrance!

Eugene Madara, president speaking about the bright future the CASC has.

The Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport Corsair Restoration on display with the sad and forlorn looking terminal building in the background.

The old man enjoying the event with our Jeep!

Mark Corvino (vice-president of the CASC) talks about the significance and history of the hangar. Mark is the project lead on the Curtiss Hangar project.

This town stage trailer came in at the last minute (thankfully) since rain was in the forecast. Thankfully it only drizzled in the morning and got progressively better!

The B-17 again. Hopefully by next year, we'll be hosting all the barnstorming bombers!

Some of the aviation fans that came out to support the event with the Corsair in the background.

Family members of Rex Buren Beisel were on hand for the ceremony!

And so was Tori Vought, granddaughter to Chance Milton Vought!

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch gave a spirited speech at the ceremony. So did John Harkins.

While it was a small and fairly short event, the significance will be let for a long long time. We at the CASC are pumped to start seeing work begin on the future fully publicly accessible annex to our great museum. Onwards and upwards!

DH82EH · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2015 7:31 pm

Thanks for that Chris.
Looks like a real success.
Great shot of your dad. The jeep is looking pretty sweet as well.

Cheers friend.

Andy

phil65 · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2015 1:13 am

Nice photo bomb Chris.....

Phil

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2015 10:22 am

Any plans for the terminal building?

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2015 11:38 am

Good job guys. I wanted to make it down but my work schedule would not allow it. I will have to make it down there this summer though.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2015 1:39 pm

phil65 wrote:

Nice photo bomb Chris.....

Oh hey! There I am! I was running sound during the event.

Fouga23 wrote:

Any plans for the terminal building?

Unfortunately it's scheduled to be demolished with no chance of a rebuild on the foundation since it's too close to Runway 29. I still believe the first original floor could be saved but it seems the city is he!!-bent on tearing it down. The hill lot and stair are planned to be preserved as a raised viewing platform.

Scott WRG Editor wrote:

Good job guys. I wanted to make it down but my work schedule would not allow it. I will have to make it down there this summer though.

No worries Scott! We we're hoping you'd make it but understand since it was during the week. No worries! Come down when we have a full on show!

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Fri May 22, 2015 1:41 pm

Unfortunately, the terminal building is coming down because it's outside the safe zone for the Taxiways.

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Mon May 25, 2015 6:59 pm

Sorry guys I couldn't make it. I was in the area Thursday tho to see if I could catch the b-17 to no luck. That terminal building is extremely unsafe and the basement is full of water. I passed by a few times but didn't see anybody or regonize any cars. As for what's in the basement,( I'm assuming nothing is left,) you would need some waiters and lights and some brave souls to venture into it. You need a ladder to access the upstairs

CH2Tdriver · **Posted:** Tue May 26, 2015 7:55 pm

Jerry O'Neill wrote:

Unfortunately, the terminal building is coming down because it's outside the safe zone for the Taxiways.

I for one will be sad to see it go, as I have some memories of being inside it back in July of 1981.

After being blown away by attending my first ever airshow at Bridgeport at the age of 11 in June of 1979, I couldn't wait to go back. Unfortunately, a year later we missed it as when we called up for information expecting it to be the end of June as the year before, it was the preceding weekend in June. So earlier in 1981 this time, my mom wrote away and received a pamphlet back from the Barnum Festival folks which listed the airshow taking place on a Saturday in July that year. Never a thought to call them up to follow up, after all it says when the show is right there in black and white. Also, long distance was expensive! And there wouldn't be anyone there to answer the phone when the call was cheaper after 7pm anyways!

I was psyched to go!

So what happens. Me, my dad and granddad make the drive up from LI to BDR and NO Airshow! Driving around I remember granddad driving up to people and asking what happened. Most shrugged and had no idea about any airshow. Finally, one airport geezer he found said there was no show because they decided to go ahead and repave the runways that summer. (Who knows if that was correct.) So there we were driving around BDR with nothing to do, until my dad spotted the sign in front of the old terminal that said SKY RIDE $15. So we went inside and dad booked me and him a ride in a Cessna 172. It was a 30 minute flight around the local area and only my second flight in an airplane ever, a light GA airplane as well, at 13 years old. Nine years later I had my own pilot's license and flew into BDR. Recently, these past few years I soloed my students out of BDR, and happen to hop out of the plane on the south side of Atlantic's ramp, then walk over in front of the old terminal with my handheld to get a better view of their landings. I can't help but look up at the ruins and think back to that day each time.

Incidentally, that Sky Ride $15 sign was saved and is now proudly displayed hanging up inside the Windsock Café!

Pete

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Wed May 27, 2015 10:04 am

I wish it could be saved too due to such history. But it is simply beyond saving and the cost of just trying to make it structural safe would far exceed any funds needed

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