Corsair: Historic military aircraft restored in Stratford, Connecticut

 
STRATFORD, Conn. (WTNH)– A historic military aircraft with ties to the world is currently being restored here in Connecticut. In fact, the plane was built in Stratford decades ago.

A piece of aviation history is coming back to life…

“Once you get involved in it, it’s hard to get away from it,” said Mark Corvino, CT Air & Space Center.

It is an aircraft known as a Corsair. Designed and developed in Stratford by former aircraft manufacturer “Vought-Sikorsky,” it took to the skies during World War II.

“This plane it’s just the first aircraft, propeller driven aircraft to go over 400 miles per hour level flight, it won the pacific war,” said Ed McGuinness, CT Air & Space Center.

During World War II these aircraft were in such high demand that one would be coming off the assembly line every 86 minutes in Stratford. Nearly 13,000 Corsairs were produced up until the 1950’s. Fast forward to Sunday, there aren’t too many left in the world.

“Probably around 100 but maybe 22, 25 are flying,” said McGuinness.

The aircraft is now in that elite class. In the early 70’s this one was put atop a pedestal at the entrance of Sikorsky Airport. Six years ago it was taken down due to corrosion and disrepair. Now, the folks with the Connecticut Air and Space Center are helping to restore her and they’re dedicating a great deal of time.

“A lot of us supply our own stuff we are all volunteers we take our own time, tools, parts we have friends making parts for us as we need them,” said McGuinness.

Sue French is part of that same group and has a personal connection to this aircraft, her late father.

“He would train Army, Navy cadets to fly on a special type of plane and once they learned to fly that then they were all checked out and ready to go in the Corsair for the second world war,” said French.

Funding is key for this project, aside from private donations events, like this car show held  Sunday, helps raise money. Aside from the plane, restoration will also start on a nearby hangar, turning it into a museum for the Corsair, and historic planes just like it. Keeping the history of flight alive.

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