Date:
Dear Senator/Representative:
As you may be aware, the U.S. Army is preparing to auction to a private developer the entire 78
acre former Stratford Army Engine Plant, formerly known as Avco Lycoming, Chance Vought, and
Sikorsky Aircraft facility.
As a concerned citizen proud of our wartime heritage, we are urging you to support having the
Connecticut Air and Space Center excluded from the general auction; CASC is a 10-acre parcel
at the South side of the plant site. Of the three buildings on the site, Building 6, constructed
during WW II as an Experimental Test Hanger for the Corsair fighters, now houses CASC. The
Connecticut Air and Space Center is an aeronautical museum with wartime and civil aviation
artifacts. It exists as an irreplaceable time capsule that commemorates where the achievements
of legendary aviation took place due to the extraordinary efforts of Connecticut people.
Igor Sikorsky’s famous “Winged-S” flying boats, that played a major role in revolutionizing
commercial air passenger travel. In 1939 the flight of the first helicopter was launched, Mr.
Sikorsky’s VS-300. 7,700 of the legendary Chance Vought F4U Corsair fighter planes were
designed and produced to defend America. The Corsairs flew from our Airport to help win the
Pacific war with an astonishing 11 to 1 splash record turning the tide against the Japanese in
WWII.
Over 30,000 Lycoming turbine engines were produced in the plant for military and civilian
customers in all parts of the world. They have powered helicopters, airplanes, ships, trains,
generators, hovercraft including the M1 Abrams battle tank.
Protect our aviation heritage. As of today, CASC volunteers are actively documenting and
repairing historic aircraft, helicopters and engines already possessed by CASC. If the auction
proceeds as planned, these facilities, the shops and the original tools and equipment will be
compromised. With your help, our aviation history can be preserved.
Sincerely,
You’re Name
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
Main District Office
59 Elm Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Tel: 203-562-3718
Fax: 202-225-4890
U.S. Senator Chris Dodd
Connecticut Office
30 Lewis St., Suite 101
Hartford, CT 06103
Tel: (860) 258-6940
(800) 334-5341-CT only
Fax: (860) 258-6958
U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman
Connecticut Office
One Constitution Plaza
7th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
Tel: (860) 549-8463 Voice
(800) 225-5605- CT
Fax: (860) 549-8478
Washington, DC Office
2262 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: 202-225-3661
Fax: 203-772-2260
Washington, DC Office
448 Russell Building
Washington D.C., 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2823
Fax: (202) 224-1083
Washington, DC Office
706 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-4041
Fax: (202) 224-9750