Stratford, CT — United Aero Group has donated a Sikorsky S-76A helicopter to the Connecticut Air and Space Center, a restoration museum that currently occupies buildings 6 and 53 at the former Stratford Army Engine Plant complex.
The company acquired the early ‘A” model aircraft and a sister ship from a transport operator in Brazil and recently completed collection of a wide range of still airworthy parts from the helicopters. United Aero Group is donating a complete airframe, original avionics, wiring, and other components to the museum.
The large gift was orchestrated after United Aero Group’s co-founder, Jamie Gelder, was invited to tour the Air & Space Center with his team. The museum staff guided the group around the vast facility and noted some of the significant artifacts of aviation history on display or being restored.
Amongst the treasures is the only surviving Sikorsky S-60 “flying crane,” the final aircraft designed by Igor Sikorsky, precursor to the S-64 “flying crane” flying today (now manufactured by Erickson). The museum staff explained plans to restore the aircraft to the highest level possible and Gelder suggested that once parts collection was complete for the S-76 aircraft, the company would be honored to donate an airframe toward the effort.
The gift will make it possible to “reskin” and otherwise remanufacture
Igor Sikorsky’s last aircraft using Sikorsky aircraft parts, thereby sustaining the helicopter’s connection to its proud heritage.
Read more: http://www.verticalmag.com/