"Groton-New London Airport"

"No Down Payment"
	In the early 1960s, many of the major airlines were terminating service to their smaller hubs, including New Haven, Bridgeport, and New London. This helped foster the formation of small regional airlines, which were encouraged by the state and federal governments to fill the gaps left by the major airlines' withdrawals. In 1962, Pilgrim Airlines established service linking Bradley International (Hartford) with Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London on a daily basis. Flights were also scheduled between the four Connecticut cities and New York, Boston, and Montreal. (Photo courtesy of www.mmgmdrunen.)
Connecticut's Helicopter Heritage Whirls Along
	On October 16, 1943, The U.S. Navy accepted its first helicopter, a Sikorsky YR-4B (HNS-1), nicknamed the Hoverfly, at Bridgeport, Connecticut, following a 60-minute acceptance test flight by Lieutenant Commander F. A. Erickson (U.S. Coast Guard). (See Website: http://www.naval-air.org. Hovercraft photo on left, Copyright Musée national de l'aviation, Canada.) Important area aircraft developers include Kaman Aerospace Corp., a subsidiary of Kaman Corp. (Bloomfield, CT), manufacturers of K-MAX, also known as the "Arial Truck," a model helicopter used extensively by the U.S. government to help counter drug trafficing in Peru. The design of the K-MAX is based on Kaman's unique intermeshing rotor technology.
The aircraft has counter-rotating main rotors and no tail rotor, which means all engine power goes directly to the main rotors for the highest lifting capacity of any rotor configuration. The aircraft's rugged construction allows it to fly repetitive, short operational cycles, which makes it ideal for vertical supply replenishment of U.S. Navy ships at sea. Kaman, which also manufactures the SH-2G Super Seasprite naval helicopter, is a major subcontractor for commercial and military aircraft, as well as a leader in electro-optics and advanced-technology products. (Photo Copyright © Kaman Corp.)
Bringing Trumbull Airport Up to Speed — Facility Improvements In April of 1961, Horace B. Wetherell, director of the State Department of Aeronautics, outlined plans for extending the main runway at Trumbull Airport to 6,600 feet — thus preparing the way for an anticipated increase to 100,000 travelers annually by 1968. (For more information, see the Hartford Courant, April 25, 1961.) Also included in the improvement plans were updated instrumentation and high-intensity lighting, as well as a glide slope instrumentation system. The estimated cost for the improvements exceeded $1.5 million. Joseph Fugere (Pilgrim Airlines) reported that the upgrades would allow Trumbull Airport facilities to host medium- and short-haul jet aircraft, such as business jet aircraft. Also proposed by the state building commission were an improved fire-crash rescue building ($87,000) and taxiway improvements ($50,000). Then Airport Manager John Kelly saw through the proposed improvements, and construction for a new 7,000-square-foot facility was instituted. The new terminal building was dedicated on August 24, 1963.
Did You Know 1950 through 1952 — Approximately 52,000 Connecticut men served in the Korean War. 1954 — The world's first atomic-powered submarine, the Nautilus, was launched at Groton, Connecticut. 1962 through 1975 — Over 104,000 Connecticut men and women served in the Vietnam War.
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