Phone +1 401-294-9540 | ||
Address Quonset Point Naval Air Station, Quonset State Airport (OQU), Eccleston Ave, North Kingstown, RI 02852, USA Similar Smith's Castle, Theatre‑By‑the‑Sea, Gilbert Stuart Birthplace, Seabee Museum and Mem, Casey Farm | ||
Quonset air museum
Founded in September 1992, the Quonset Air Museum was dedicated as an educational facility whose current mission is to preserve and interpret Rhode Island's aviation Heritage. Following the collapse of its principal building in March, 2015, the museum has been closed and is seeking a new home in Rhode Island
Contents
The museum's collection includes military vehicles, missiles, aircraft and over 5000 smaller aviation artifacts. An extensive archive of books, magazines, manuals, photos, documents and blueprints is preserved within the Quonset Air Museum. The collection represents Rhode Island's achievement in private, commercial, and military aviation.
The museum has occupied Painting Hangar #488 located at what was once the Naval Air Station Quonset Point. This 50,000 sq. ft. facility was one of only three existing specialized wood and brick hangars built during WWII. Heavy snowfall in the winter of 2015 partially collapsed the building's roof. The hangar building has been condemned, and the museum has remained closed. Efforts to find a new home for the collection continue.
Current restoration projects the Walt Schiebe Restoration Area include a TBM Avenger, F6F Hellcat, F3D Skyknight. Other notable aircraft in the collection are the last surviving Curtiss XF15C mixed propulsion prototype and a twin tail C-1A Trader. This one of a kind aircraft had been fitted with twin tails and radome (but without associated electronics) to serve the aerodynamic prototype for the E-1 Tracer Electronic Counter Measure aircraft. This C-1A has the distinction of being the last aircraft to fly from Naval Air Station Quonset Point upon its closure in 1974. The museum houses several Vietnam era combat aircraft as well as the legendary F-14 Tomcat.
The museum announced it will not be reopening on 16 December 2016.