I was in the Hardford area Saturday and heard that there was a museum by Bradley Airport. It was late in the day and i knew it would be closed but I wanted to locate it so that I could find it quickly when i returned the next time. Well from what I could see parked outside it looks like they have some pretty cool stuff. it was dark but with my headlights I could make out a Mig 15 a A-10 warthog an a F4 Phantom. Has anybody had the chance to visit this museum? I am curios as to what else they might have inside. I’m definetly going back armed with my digital camera and extra batteries to snap as many pics as possible!
It’s been a decade or more since I was there. It’s not Dayton or Pensacola but it’s certainly worth a visit with a digital camera. I’m sure they have a web site.
Isnt it just NE of the airport? I was up in the Hartford area for company business some years back and ran out of time to find it. At the time , it was holding parts of the ENola Gay B29. I wish you luck in finding it and getting some good photos.
Mike, I have been there many times. I live 3 towns to the south. Inside there is quite a bit. P-47, F-4, F-105, A-10, UH-1, cockpit to a F-100, and I think a Hellcat. Also there is a separate area with a mostly restored B-29 Superfortress. Outside there is also quite a bit. Some have been there for aquite a long time. It is definetly worth the trip.
I also heard they might have gotten an F-14. There is a model display and a shop that sells. JOHN
Yup, it is pretty nice museum. I am sorry you could not make it Sat , since I was there [:)] and we could meet while I was digging under the P-47 and F6F-5K Hellcat [:)] taking pictures of some details hidden from most modellers.
The museum entrance is off the Route 75 going North from a highway connector from I-91 to Bradley Intl. In fact the entrance is just at the end of N-S runway (not sure exact direction).
If you would like to see a bit about some aircrafts there here are some pictures
Thanks for the Info John. I live all the way down in Norwalk so it is about a hour and a half drive. it is a little out of the way and not so easy to find. There is a sign that points down an access road behind the airport. It is about a mile down this small road past the Firefighters school and a control tower. it definelty sounds like it is worth the drive. I told my girlfreind to just drop me off and come back later if i went because I would probally be there a long time and she would be bored. She lives and works near by and she is the one who helped me find the place because i am not familiar with that part of the Connecticut. The only other Museum I have had a chance to visit is a small private airport in St Cloud in Orlando. He did have a F104 and a P-51. he also has a A-26 and B-25 outside. If anyone takes a trip to Disneyworld look it up it is right down the road and worth the small donation fee.
I must have just missed you by a couple of hours Greg! That would have been funny we probally would have been standing right next to each other and no even realised we knew each other! Although i probally would have been suspicious of the guy lying on his back underneath a plane taking pictures. Only a plastiholic would be underneath a plane at a museum!
I try to get there once every three / four months. This time the crew let me go beyond the dividers and take detailed pictures of those two birds. An F6F had a panel line at the bottom going from the tail wheel up to the maintenance cover on a belly. Something I did not know about. Similar thing is with Me 109s. This is why I was crawling under the aircrafts [:)]
Usually my wife is with me. As she said she “passionately” like this museum , and any other a/c museums in fact. This Saturday we even stopped at the LHS in Windsor ( a great shop in fact) ad she bought me a Hasegawa 1/48 Me-109F-3. Even the owner wa surpsised seing her there [:)]
That is so cool Greg! If i drop your name will the staff let me crawl underneath the planes also?I think that is great that your wife supports your hobby. I have only been dating my current girlfreind a short while but it looks good. She is the one that insisted we go looking for the museum Saturday night after dinner! Is the hobby shop you are speaking about Craftec Hobbies? I would like to “browse” around a while and see what they have.
If your name ends with -ski thank you should not have any problem there [:)]; just kidding ! [:)]
In fact a nice young man who assisted me while I was taking pictures has Polish name [:)], however he was just nice to all visitors [:)].
The LHS I mentioned is Craftec Hobbies. This is a very well supplied store. A lot of kits there. Guys have been opening boxes if I was curious about some kits details, most of the time without obligation to buy. Just a nice place for hobbyists like us [:)]
Cool I think I have my weekend planned already. Hit the Museum then onto the hobby shop to add some more kits to my already oversized stash Thanks for all of the great info Greg!
one thing: if you like to seat in the P-47, Corsair or Thunderbolt II than shoot for an “Open Cockpit Sunday”. A lot of people may be there during those events, but it is wort it [:)]
Open Cockpit Sunday will be on Oct. 12th however also considerthis one …