Connecticut Air & Space Center — Attraction in Stratford

A cozy little museum that's easy to miss from the outside but packs a punch once you step inside. It’s also the only museum I’ve been to that acknowledges man’s first controlled flight.

Gustav Whitehead piloted the first controlled flight in Long Island Sound. A couple of guys from Ohio did similar in North Carolina sometime later. Turns out, the Wright Brothers and the federal government had a legal agreement not to acknowledge Whitehead's accomplishments in any official capacity, effectively sending his story to the shadows of history.

The museum had model recreations of Whitehead's aircraft, as well as an aviator on site who had flown a replica of Whitehead's plane in the 1980s to prove it could be done. (Pretty cool stuff!)

The staff and volunteers at this place are top-notch. They're not just there to keep an eye on things; they're genuinely excited to talk about every aircraft in the museum, from its nuts and bolts to the stories behind them, even pointing out where bullet holes were patched.

It turns out that although the Corsair they had on display was built by Goodyear, Vought used to have a factory right across the street. There are diorama models showing how the plant was set up in the 1940s and how they transported airplanes across the street to the airport.

While you can't go inside the Curtiss hangar, seeing it from the outside was super cool. I'm really hoping they can secure the funds to renovate and rebuild it.

The Connecticut Air & Space Museum is doing a great job of telling stories that often get overlooked. It's a place that celebrates not just the machines but the dreams and struggles of the aviators and servicemen...

We decided to stop by the museum while in the Bridgeport , CT area for the long weekend. I found out about the museum while looking for things to do that spark my interest in particular for flying and space travel. I thought this would be an interesting place to visit to tie in my love of history and interest in flying RC planes.

This is a hidden gem that you can easily bypass but it's worth the visit. The staff were friendly and welcomed us as we entered and willing shared facts about the items in the museum from the different wars WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korea etc. I was immersed in the preservation of the machines and artifacts as multiple stories were shared and what made the visit more interesting is the location on an active runway. We watched a couple of planes take off and land while walking outside of the museum doors.

I highly recommend you visit the Air & Space center if you are in the area. It's worth the $10 admission price, less if you're a veteran and a nice way to spend time appreciating a small...

This is a nice find! My friend and I visited here because he has a passion for aviation. It's kind of a small building for a museum with planes inside but they have done an excellent job of fitting so many exhibits in the space. There is so much to read, you could spend hours looking at every item and plaque. Very knowledgeable staff that give tours and encourage your participation. Also features an outdoor exhibition area with more planes and helicopters. The museum does significant restoration work, despite many challenges and we were impressed. I've been to more expensive museums that have offered less and are quicker to go through. They also do events with significant people...