Open Cockpit Day at New England Air Musuem

The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut is set to hold one of its famous Open Cockpit Days on Saturday, March 12th. The museum is one of the rare examples which regularly allows the general public, with supervision, to get up-close and personal with some of its exhibits. It’s always a thrill for aspiring pilots of any age to have the chance to sit in the cockpit of a historic aircraft and imagine what it might be like to fly in one.  Open aircraft will include the Viet Nam War-era UH-1B Iroquois, North American F-100A Super Sabre, the Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard, and Lockheed F-104C Starfighter among others. Visitors may also take part in a hands-on ‘Build and Fly Challenge’, take a flying lesson on the Flight Sim Spot high tech flight simulators, or fly the Ercoupe full-motion, flight simulator built from a real aircraft. The event will be held inside the Museum’s three large, heated display hangars. Sneakers or rubber-soled shoes are recommended.

The Open Cockpit program runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. while the Museum and Gift Shop will be open until 5:00 p.m. Admission is $12.50 for ages 12 and up, $11.50 for seniors 65 and up and $7.00 for ages 4 to 11. New England Air Museum members and children 3 and under are admitted free of charge. For more information, visit www.neam.org or call (860) 623-3305. The New England Air Museum is located in Windsor Locks, Conn. adjacent to Bradley International Airport. Take I-91 north or south to CT. exit 40 (Route 20) to Route 75 north.

About The New England Air Museum

The New England Air Museum is the largest aviation museum in New England and is a private, non-profit educational institution that was organized in 1959. Three larger hangars and an outdoor display contain more than 80 aircraft, with permanent exhibits that include the oldest surviving aircraft in the U.S. – the 1870 Silas M. Brooks Balloon Basket, as well as an S-39 Amphibian – the first aircraft built in Connecticut by aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky. Featured year-round are many historical aircraft and exhibits, including a focus on World War II’s Tuskegee Airmen, and a display about Amelia Earhart alongside a Lockheed Model 10 Electra – the same type she flew on her ill-fated round-the-world attempt. The Air Museum is dedicated to preserving and presenting historically significant aircraft and related artifacts, engaging visitors through high-quality exhibits helping them to understand aviation technology and history, and inspiring students through innovative and hands-on educational programs. It is owned and operated by the Connecticut Aeronautical Historical Association and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, with five full-time employees, 18 part-time employees, and more than 175 volunteers. The New England Air Museum is located on 36 Perimeter Road (off Route 75) on the North end of the Bradley International Airport airfield in Windsor Locks, Conn. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, and features a large gift shop. For more information, www.neam.org or (860) 623-3305 or Facebook at New England Air Museum.