The New England Air Museum..A Family Fun Destination

The New England Air Museum, which is the largest aviation museum in the New England region of the United States, is located at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Ct. With a collection of over eighty aircraft housed in several buildings, or hangars, this facility is a popular family fun destination. There is so much to see and do at the New England Air Museum, that visitors are advised to arrive early, in order to access as much of the museum as possible. The extensive array of aircraft, artifacts and memorabilia is divided into five sections; Military, Civil, 58th Bomb Wing Memorial, Restoration Hangar and Storage Building.

Several legendary and world- famous aircraft are on display at the New England Air Museum. Among the exhibits are; the Silas Brooks Balloon Basket (the oldest functioning aircraft in the US), a B-29 Bomber and the huge Sikorsky VS-44A, the last remaining 'American Flying Boat'. This four- engine behemoth was donated to the New England Air Museum by actress Maureen O'Hara and completely restored. Museum tours, including special plans for youth and family groups, are regularly held, as well as adult group tours and senior group tours. A large handicapped parking area is located close to the main entrance and the facility is handicapped accessible. If needed, the New England Air Museum even has wheelchairs, available for use free of charge, while touring the museum. Audio and video tours of the museum are also available.

In 1979, a tornado swept through Windsor Locks, Ct and wreaked havoc on the air museum, which at the time, was named the Bradley Air Museum. The facility was essentially destroyed. Over a dozen aircraft were demolished and many more were extensively damaged. After the disaster, the State of Connecticut offered the current site of the New England Air Museum to the owners and operators of the museum, the Connecticut Aeronautical Historical Association, free of charge. Steadily yet surely, they, with the assistance of many, many volunteers, have rebuilt the air museum into an over 75,000 square foot, multi- faceted educational, historical and family fun oriented attraction.

Speaking of family fun, besides the physical, audio and video tours of the facility, the New England Air Museum offers a host of programs and fun activities designed for children and families. Insightfully, many of these events are scheduled for school vacation times. Several times each year, the museum holds 'Open Cockpit Sundays !' On these occasions, visitors can actually climb into the cockpits of aircraft such as a DC-3 Airliner, the Corsair, several jet fighters and helicopters. Interactive exhibits geared toward children are fun and educational. Other periodic events at the New England Air Museum include aircraft modeling workshops, scavenger hunts, LEGO contests and many scout activities. In their Activity Corner, there are several hands- on activities for children, including a coloring table and computer flight simulators. They even feature aviation- themed arcade games.

The historical aspect of this museum is evidenced by such collection items as an actual engine built by the Wright brothers and their extensive display of WW1 and WWII aircraft and artifacts. With so much to see and do at the New England Air Museum, visitors surely get hungry. On the premises, there is a small dining area with snack vending machines and visitors are encouraged to bring a bagged lunch to enjoy at one of their indoor or outdoor picnic tables. Additionally, a very well- stocked gift shop offers a wide variety of aviation- themed items.

Through their Museum Outreach program, the New England Air Museum offers an eight- lesson, educational in- school program titled SOAR, or Student Outreach Aviation Resource. With so much to offer, it's easy to see why the New England Air Museum is such a popular family fun destination.

For information, please call..(860)623-3305 www.neam.org