Future of the CASC & the Sikorsky Memorial Corsair

[Cherrybomber13]

BREAKING NEWS from STRATFORD CT!
The Connecticut Air & Space Center are very proud to announce after presenting to the Sikorsky Memorial Airport Commission, our redevelopment plan for the 1929 Curtiss Hangar and Terminal Building has been accepted and we are currently working out the details for the lease. Our proposal and plan were met with enthusiastic support from both Stratford Mayor John Harkins and Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. The CASC has spent 13 years behind a locked fence and this opportunity will allow us to finally allow the general public to come in and visit. As soon as we have the Lease settled and permits will we be starting the clean up and construction of the main hangar and then moving to the out lying building & terminal. The hangar will be our Annex on the Airfield in addition to the Chance Vought Experimental Hangar / Building 6.

The big point here is the Sikorsky Memorial Corsair will have a permanent, indoor home.

We will need a lot of financial assistance to get the job done and expect all of our friends on WiX to help us by buying a T-Shirt or making a donation of you can.

If you are interested in helping please contact us. Stay tuned for further announcements regarding the project.



1929 Curtiss Flying Service Hangar by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

[Dan K]

HUZZAH!!

Kudos, Drew.

[Craig59]

Good news, Drew and congrats!

[F3A-1]

Drew,

No big deal.


It's a huge deal! Congratulations to all involved. Good agreements are "wins" for all parties, and this is a "grand slam".

Pirate Lex

[Cherrybomber13]

Thanks guys, I have spent the last 18 months working with a hand picked team of professionals from the local area trying to make this a reality. The whole project is going to cause some serious growing pains but we need it, the community needs it and the Corsair deserves it. The bigger part is getting it done. We are facing a $100000 bill to replace the roof. At this point we have raised 50k. Anyone out here have a contact at Carlisle or Firestone Roofing?

[Fouga23]

Great news! Congrats

[kalamazookid]

Congratulations! This is fantastic news for CASC and the crew there. If there's a building or historical preservation society in the area, you could try to get them involved or see if they have any contacts that might help with money or the building. Best of luck!

[Warbird Kid]

Thanks everyone! We're very excited for this new venture. It's going to take a lot of hard work, generous donations, and supplies / building materials to make this a reality but were ready to make it happen. To echo what Drew said, our main shop / storage will still be in part of the original Vought plant in building 6, while the 1929 Curtiss hangar will become the public annex to showcase our displays and growing aircraft collection when they come off the restoration queue.

This is a perfect match for our non-profit museum to save an original and very historic building that will itself then become the home of the museum. Not to mention be a great catalyst for a partnered project between the city of Bridgeport and the town of Stratford. (For those you who don't know, theirs always been a long standing conflict between the two municipalities due to the airport.)

This project may bring some more cooperation and synergy between the two! A win win for all!

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[K5DH]

Congratulations from your friends at VFM!

I love that old Curtiss hangar with all of the windows. You'll have plenty of natural light available. Should make for great photography. Our hangar, on the other hand, is so dark it's like a dungeon in there!

[The Inspector]

Congratulations!! It's great to see two government entities and a private group being able to work issues out and come to a compromise agreeable to all involved and advance the museum for the benefit to all who will visit over the years. You all need to take a car trip to that big joint on the Potomac and demonstrate what a little give and take from all sides can accomplish.
The boat goes through the water easier if everyone pulls their oar in the same direction rather than just slap the water with it, and you all prove that!
good work well done

[whistlingdeath77]

I think one slogan should be painted somewhere......... CAN DO! Your like a seabee unit!

[Marauderman26]

Congratulations from your friends at VFM!

I love that old Curtiss hangar with all of the windows. You'll have plenty of natural light available. Should make for great photography. Our hangar, on the other hand, is so dark it's like a dungeon in there!

Great to have the natural light and I know keeping cost's down is important but, spending a little more now for UV glass (Looks like a couple of panels are missing)
will protect the paint job(s) and artifacts big time. They will also provide less fluctuating temps for the HVAC to deal with.

2 cents.

[whistlingdeath77]

Congratulations from your friends at VFM!

I love that old Curtiss hangar with all of the windows. You'll have plenty of natural light available. Should make for great photography. Our hangar, on the other hand, is so dark it's like a dungeon in there!

Great to have the natural light and I know keeping cost's down is important but, spending a little more now for UV glass (Looks like a couple of panels are missing)
will protect the paint job(s) and artifacts big time. They will also provide less fluctuating temps for the HVAC to deal with.

2 cents.

that sounds like a great idea but I think the price would be just too much at this point and time. I'd be thankful for temp. plexy to seal it from the elements.