News & Events

Press Releases

Click on the date for the full text

NEAM Launches Program
NEAM Launches  New Eductional Program

April Vacation Activities
Special Programs During School Vacation

2008 Space Expo
A full day of programs and speakers

March 26, 2008
NEAM Receives Grant from Pitney Bowes Inc. 

March 18, 2008
NEAM Receives Grant from Aetna Foundation 

February, 26, 2008
Goodrich Foundation Contributes $10,000 to NEAM SOAR for Science Programming

Open Cockpit Sundays 2008

January 3, 2008
Valassis supports Windsor Schools and the NEAM

December 6 , 2007
Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk to Present at the New England Air Museum;
Navigator on the First Atomic Bombing Mission Against Japan

November 10, 2007
Kosciuszko Squadron exhibit now on display

May 9, 2007
80th anniversary of Lindbergh's Atlantic Flight. Free Admission to all visitors

Full Texts Below

NEAM LAUNCHES  NEW  EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

The New England Air Museum has announced the launch of a new program for the benefit of its general admission visitors.  The new program, formally called the “Scientific Literacy Program” employs educators who are on hand every day to greet visitors and invite them to participate in a number of activities and demonstrations that are entertaining and educational.

According to the Museum’s Director, Michael P. Speciale, “It is our intent to make the Museum’s collection of historic aircraft and related artifacts come to life, especially for our younger visitors.  The newly hired educators are doing a wonderful job in relating to our visitors and in helping them to discover the principles of aviation and aerospace in a fun and exciting way, since the program started several weeks ago, the feedback from our visitors have been overwhelmingly positive.”

Last year, 61,000 people visited the Air Museum.  Although the Museum is open year round, a high percentage of the visitors come on weekends and during the summer months.   

Much of the funding for this program has been made possible through a three year grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

Return to top

SPECIAL PROGRAMS DURING SCHOOL VACATION WEEK

Beginning on Tuesday, April 15 and running thorough Thursday, April 17, the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Conn. will hold a series of special events to entertain children and their families during the school vacation break. 

On Tuesday, April 15 a LEGO contest, Back to the Moon, will be running throughout the day for ages 3-12. Judging will take place at 4:00. Winners do not need to be in attendance to receive their prizes.

On Wednesday, April 16 a Modeling Workshop will be offered throughout the morning starting at 10:00 and ending at 1:30.  Build and fly a balsa and tissue paper AMA Cub. This program takes approximately two hours and is geared for ages 8 and over. Adult assistance required for ages 8-10. Cost is $10 per child which includes admission and the price of the model.  Adults pay regular museum admission.

On Thursday, April 17 an Open Cockpit program with helicopters, a vintage airliner, World War II aircraft and the Boeing 707 cockpit simulator open to the public between 10:00 and 4:00.

Return to top

The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Conn. will hold a SPACE EXPO at the Museum on Sunday, March 30.  The theme of the event is “Discover the Excitement of the New and Future Space Industry!”

Visitors at the event will have the opportunity to meet with Astronaut Brian Duffy; to check our real moon rocks with NASA astronomers; to program and drive a mini-robot, try on a real space suit; pilot a space craft simulator; watch as space ice cream is made and then have a taste and much more.

More than twenty exhibitors will be on hand including the Clay Center Observatory, Hamilton Sundstrand, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Boston Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, the Mars Society, the National Space Society and the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium.

The New England Air Museum is running the event with the help of the IGNITE Foundation and the Aldrich Astronomical Society.  Major funding is provided by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, the Connecticut College of Technology and Hamilton Sundstrand a division of United Technologies.

Return to top

Grant from Aetna Foundation 

The New England Air Museum received a $10,000 grant from the Aetna Foundation to support the Museum’s SOAR for Science outreach program to benefit the students in the Middletown Public Schools. This is a unique proprietary education program designed to serve the needs of teachers and students in support of the State of Connecticut’s science curriculum. 

The museums SOAR (Student Outreach Aviation Resource) program is designed to utilize the museum assets to work with local schools and youth organizations to improve our children’s skill sets and expose them to career opportunities in technology and business. Through generous financial support from numerous area Corporations and Foundations the museum has been able to extend these programs to numerous schools in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

“The Museum is a valuable educational resource that is focused on improving children’s knowledge of science, social studies, geography, and technology," said Michael P. Speciale, the Museum's Executive Director. "We appreciate the generous support of the Aetna Foundation, which will permit us to deliver this outstanding program to the Middletown students.” 

The Aetna Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Founded in 1972, the Foundation helps build healthy communities by promoting volunteerism, forming partnerships and funding initiatives that improve the quality of life where our employees and customers live and work. Since 1980, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed nearly $ 335 million in grants, sponsorships and social investments.  Visit www.aetna.com/foundation for more information.

Return to top

New England Air Museum Receives Grant from Pitney Bowes Inc. 

The New England Air Museum has received a $5,000 grant from Pitney Bowes Inc. to support the Museum’s “SOAR for Science” educational outreach program for local area students. This is a unique proprietary education program, designed to serve the needs of middle school students and teachers in support of the State of Connecticut and Massachusetts’ science curriculum.

The SOAR program, originally developed in 2005, has been expanding each year through generous support from organizations like Pitney Bowes. During the 2007-08 school term, more than 3,500 students in Connecticut and Massachusetts will benefit from this program.

“The Museum is a valuable educational resource that is focused on improving children’s knowledge of science, social studies, geography, and technology," said Michael P. Speciale, the Museum's executive director. "We appreciate the generous support of Pitney Bowes, which will permit us to deliver this outstanding program to additional students.” 

“We are pleased to offer our support to the New England Air Museum’s SOAR for Science educational outreach program,” said Polly O’Brien Morrow, Director, Community Investments for Pitney Bowes. “The SOAR program enhances Connecticut and Massachusetts school systems’ science and social studies curricula by providing a platform for students to interact and fully engage with the subject they are learning about.”

About Pitney Bowes: Pitney Bowes is a mailstream technology company that helps organizations manage the flow of information, mail, documents and packages. Our 35,000 employees deliver technology, service and innovation to more than two million customers worldwide.  The company was founded in 1920 and annual revenues now total $6.1 billion. More information is available at www.pb.com.

Return to top

Open Cockpit Sundays 2008
New England Air Museum Announces Dates for Wintertime Open Cockpit Sundays, Jan. 20, Feb. 17, Mar. 16, June 15, Oct. 12 and Nov. 9

The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Conn. has announced the 2008 Open Cockpit Sundays. 

On those days, visitors will be permitted to climb into the cockpits of up to 12 vintage aircraft, a full-motion flight simulator and two static flight simulators.

The aircraft to be open include the famous Vought Corsair of WWII, the North American F-100 Super Sabre, a DC-3 airliner, several helicopters and more.  There will be additional special exhibits and demonstrations and different hands-on activities for children will be offered each month.  For the convenience of all, a food vendor will be on site at each event serving sandwiches, snacks and hot & cold beverages. 

The Open Cockpit program runs from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM with the Museum and Gift Shop staying open until 5:00 PM.  Sneakers or rubber-soled shoes are recommended. 

Return to top

Goodrich Foundation Contributes $10,000 to New England Air Museum for SOAR for Science Programming - Program Uses Aviation Resources to Provide Hands-on Science and Technology Experiences for Middle School Students

The New England Air Museum has received a $10,000 grant from The Goodrich Foundation to support the Museum’s SOAR for Science educational outreach program for area students. SOAR for Science is a unique proprietary education program designed to serve the needs of middle school students.  Programming is developed in consultation with faculty to directly support educational requirements of state science curriculums.

“The New England Air Museum is a valuable educational resource that is focused on improving children’s knowledge of science, social studies, geography, and technology," said Michael P. Speciale, the Museum's executive director. "With the generous support of Goodrich Foundation, we will be able to deliver this innovative program to many local school systems.”

This program, originally developed in 2005, has been expanding each year and is now delivered to over 4000 students in Connecticut and Massachusetts.  “The SOAR for Science program has two main objectives,” adds Scott Ashton, the Museum’s Vice President of the Board of Directors.  “The first is to provide a meaningful near-term educational experience.  The second benefit is that the children that participate are exposed to aviation, science, and engineering as a vocation at an early enough age that they are inspired to take the math and science courses necessary to become the Engineers and Scientists of the future.”

The Goodrich Foundation is the charitable arm of Goodrich Corporation.  The Foundation provides support to selected charitable and educational institutions in Goodrich’s United States headquarters and plant communities.  Goodrich has strong ties to New England, with facilities in Connecticut (Danbury and West Hartford), Massachusetts (Chelmsford and Peabody) and Vermont (Vergennes).  Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to aerospace, defense and homeland security markets.  With one of the most strategically diversified portfolios of products in the industry, Goodrich serves a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities.  For more information visit http://www.goodrich.com.

Return to top

Valassis supports Windsor Schools and the New England Air Museum

The New England Air Museum has received a $2,500 grant from Valassis to support delivery of the Museum’s SOAR for Science program for the Windsor Schools. This is a unique proprietary education program, designed to support students and teachers in compliance with the State of Connecticut’s science curriculum.

The New England Air Museum’s SOAR (Student Outreach Aviation Resource) educational program works with local schools and youth organizations to improve children’s skill sets and expose them to career opportunities in business and technology.

“The Museum is a valuable educational resource that is focused on improving children’s knowledge of science, social studies, geography, and technology," said Michael P. Speciale, the Museum's Executive Director. "We appreciate the generous support of Valassis, which will permit us to deliver this outstanding program to the Windsor students.” 

Valassis (in combination with Valassis companies ADVO, Valassis Canada, Promotion Watch, Valassis Relationship Marketing Systems, NCH Marketing Services, and Valassis’ consumer brand, RedPlum) is the nation’s leading marketing services company including newspaper-delivered promotions, direct mail, in-store marketing, Internet-delivered marketing (www.redplum.com) and analytic services. Valassis reaches over 60 million households through newspaper distribution and 90% of U.S. homes though shared mail distribution. The company has more than 15,000 advertisers worldwide, representing 96 of the top 100 U.S. advertisers. With global headquarters in Livonia, Michigan, Valassis employs approximately 7,500 associates in 22 states and nine countries and is widely recognized for its associate and corporate citizenship programs.

Return to top

December 6 , 2007
Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk to Present at the New England Air Museum;
Navigator on the First Atomic Bombing Mission Against Japan

On Thursday, December 6, Theodore J. “Dutch” Van Kirk will make a presentation at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Conn.  Van Kirk was navigator on the B-29 “Enola Gay” that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945.

He will specifically discuss the Hiroshima mission and will also talk of the role of the 509th Composite Group which was specially formed for the purpose of dropping the first atomic bombs on Japan to hasten the end of the War.  After his presentation, photos and books on the history of the 509th Composite Group will be available for purchase and autographing.   

Tickets must be pre-purchased by contacting the New England Air Museum at (860) 623-3305.  They cost $20 each and will be sold on a first come first served basis.

This is an evening presentation and it will begin at 6:30 P.M.  The doors to the Museum will open at 5:30 P.M.

Return to top

November 10, 2007
Kosciuszko Squadron exhibit now on display

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT – November 10, 2007 -- The new Kosciuszko Squadron Exhibit at the New England Air Museum will be officially opened to the public at 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 11. The exhibit will become a permanent part of the Museum's collection and will be available for viewing on a daily basis.

Central Connecticut State University‘s Stanislaus A. Blejwas Endowed Chair in Polish and Polish American Studies and the New England Air Museum developed the exhibit to honor the Kosciuszko Squadron, an aviation unit that helped to defend the newly re-constituted Polish nation from early Soviet attacks. As U.S. veterans of World War I volunteered to fly with the squadron, it was named in honor of an American Revolutionary War hero from Poland, Tadeusz Kosciuszko.

The New England Air Museum, located by Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., is one of the nation’s oldest and largest aviation museums. Its collection is extensive and includes artifacts and memorabilia from all periods of aviation beginning with the oldest surviving aircraft in the United States right up to the modern era. The Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, all year round.

Dr. M.B. Biskupski, holder of the Blejwas Endowed Chair at CCSU, noted: “The display is important to Polish-American relations for several reasons. First is that, after World War I, seasoned American combat pilots volunteered for Polish service out of a sense of debt to Poland as the homeland of Tadeusz Kosciuszko. During the American Revolution, Kosciuszko was a well-trained professional officer whose experience and talents as a military leader were of inestimable value in helping to mold the fledgling American armed force that ultimately defeated the professionally-trained British Army.

“Second, Kosciuszko has an interesting connection to Connecticut, the state in which such aviation pioneering companies as the Pratt & Whitney aircraft engine company and the Sikorsky Aircraft Company flourished. In 1776, General Kosciuszko was recruited in France by Benjamin Franklin and Connecticut native Silas Deane, a delegate to the American Continental Congress.

“Hence, there is a real sense of closing the circle of history by having this valiant Pole, General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, honored by members of American Polonia in the Nutmeg State. And, of course, giving long overdue recognition to the air unit that helped secure Polish independence following World War I and played a crucial role in defending Great Britain during World War II,” Biskupski said.

“A great community effort raised over $40,000 to enable the development of this exhibit to honor Poland’s famed Kosciuszko Squadron,” said Central Connecticut State University President Jack Miller.

“The Kosciuszko Squadron has become symbolic of Polish-American cooperation and that same spirit of Polish-American cooperation,” Miller said. “A community advisory committee chaired by Mary Mazurek Heslin – worked very hard with some 170 individuals, associations and organizations interested in preserving and honoring this part of Polish history and heritage. The committee also coordinated the donation of two original Polish Air Force uniforms and other memorabilia.”

Members of the Kosciuszko Squadron Commemorative Committee are: Prof. Biskupski, Dr. Peszke, Polish Air Force Veterans Association President S.K. Rasiej, P.E., Igor I. Sikorsky, Jr., Esq., and Harvey Hubbell, IV. Close liaison with the New England Air Museum is maintained by an Executive Committee of the Polish Studies Program chaired by Biskupski and including Peszke, CCSU Associate Vice President Nicholas Pettinico, Jr., and Chairman of the Advisory Board of CCSU’s Polish Studies Program Waldemar Kostrzewa. The committee’s honorary patron is Joseph E. Gore, Esq., President of the Kosciuszko Foundation in New York.

According to Museum Executive Director Michael P. Speciale: "The New England Air Museum is extremely pleased to play such an important role in telling the story of this little known but heroic chapter of aviation history. NEAM is one of the nation's outstanding aviation museums and, as such, it will prove to be a fitting home for the Kosciuszko exhibit."

Further information about the Kosciuszko Squadron memorial is available by calling 860-832-3010 or on-line at: www.ccsu.edu/Kosciuszko/.

Return to top

May 19, 2007
80th anniversary of Lindbergh's Atlantic Flight. Free Admission to all visitors
On Saturday and Sunday, May 19 & 20, the New England Air Museum will waive its regular admission charges and let all visitors in for free.  The free admission weekend has been made possible thanks to the support of Hamilton Sundstrand, a division of United Technologies.

Both Hamilton Sundstrand and the Museum are commemorating the 80th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s historic transatlantic flight.  Lindbergh, the first person to fly solo and nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean in his famous “Spirit of St. Louis” airplane took off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island on May 19, 1927 and landed in Paris 33 ½ hours later.

A special exhibit celebrating the Lindbergh flight will be on display for the weekend for the enjoyment of visitors.  Included in the exhibit is a propeller of the same type that was on the “Spirit of St. Louis”.  It was manufactured by the Standard Steel Propeller Company, an ancestor of modern day Hamilton Sundstrand.

Return to top