The museum holds the most complete collection of pre-1920 aviation artifacts in the Northeast.
It houses a rare flying-boat collection, including the Sikorsky VS-44A 'Excambian'.
The facility contains the last surviving complete example of the Chance Vought XF6U-1 Pirate.
It features an exhibit dedicated to the 57th Fighter Group, highlighting their role in the North African campaign.
The collection includes a B-29 Superfortress fuselage used for specialized crew training.
The restoration hangar has worked on projects for the Smithsonian Institution.
The museum serves as the official aviation museum of the state of Connecticut.
The New England Air Museum is the largest aviation museum in the region, featuring over 100 aircraft spanning from the early days of flight to the jet age. Located on the grounds of Bradley International Airport, the facility houses three primary display hangars covering more than 90,000 square feet. The collection includes rare items like the Silas Brooks Balloon Basket, the oldest surviving aircraft component in the United States, dating to 1870. The museum operates a major restoration hangar where visitors can observe ongoing maintenance and conservation projects. Military history is heavily represented through an extensive array of World War II-era fighters and bombers, including a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Civil aviation and rotorcraft are also featured, with a comprehensive exhibit on the history of helicopters. The museum provides significant educational programming focusing on aviation science and engineering. Exhibits are housed indoors, making it a climate-controlled environment suitable for year-round visitation.
The central aisle of the main hangar, which allows for wide-angle shots of multiple aircraft types simultaneously.
Check the restoration hangar schedule upon arrival, as it is occasionally closed for specific work safety reasons.
Engage with the volunteer docents, many of whom are retired pilots or aerospace engineers with specific technical knowledge.
Prioritize walking the outdoor static displays first if the weather is favorable, as they are not climate-controlled.
Trying to see every plaque in detail in a single visit; the volume of technical documentation can be overwhelming.
Closed on Mondays during the winter season.
Maintain distance from aircraft ropes and do not touch surfaces unless explicitly indicated by signage.
