Air Zoo

Air Zoo

S.P.A.D. WWI Fighter in the Kalamazoo Air Zoo

S.P.A.D. WWI Fighter at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo
Former name Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum
Established 1977 (1977)
Location Portage, Michigan U.S.
Coordinates 42°13′56″N 85°33′36″W / 42.23222°N 85.56000°W / 42.23222; -85.56000Coordinates: 42°13′56″N 85°33′36″W / 42.23222°N 85.56000°W / 42.23222; -85.56000
Type Aviation museum
Founder Sue Parish
Pete Parish
Website AirZoo.org

The Air Zoo, founded as the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, is an aviation museum and indoor amusement park next to the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport in Portage, Michigan.[1] The Air Zoo holds many historical and rare aircraft, including the world's fastest air-breathing aircraft, the SR-71B Blackbird.[2] Many of its antique planes are airworthy. Among its other attractions are a 180-degree theater that projects a 4-D simulation of a B-17 bombing mission during World War II; and various amusement rides, including flight simulators of a rocket trip to Mars, U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets, a stunt biplane, a hot air balloon, and more.[3][4] Air Zoo is a Smithsonian Affiliate.

History

The Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum was founded in 1977 by former Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), Sue Parish[5] and WWII pilot Pete Parish.[6] The museum was dedicated to "preserving and displaying historical and military artifacts and to serving as a research and educational facility for this country and abroad." The doors opened on November 18, 1979,[7] to great local acclaim, and the museum quickly developed into one of the 10-largest nongovernmental aviation museums in the United States.[8]

In early 1999, the name "Air Zoo" was adopted. The name comes from the fact that so many of the planes in its collection have animal nicknames like Warhawk, Gooneybird, and various cats like the Wildcat, the Bearcat, and the Hellcat.[1]

Also in early 1999, plans began for a major renovation. On April 25, 2003, construction began on a new 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m2) facility that doubled the museum's size and added flight simulators, amusement rides, Smithsonian Institution exhibitions, character actors, and a 4-D theater that combines 3-D films with special effects such as rocking chairs and plumes of smoke to simulate anti-aircraft fire.[9]

The new facility opened in April 2004.[10] It holds the world's largest hand-painted indoor mural: "Century of Flight", by aviation artist Rick Herter, a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) tribute to the history of flight in the main entrance.[11][12]

Across the hall is the 168-foot (51 m) "Night to Day" mural by Miriel Williams. There is also a computer-generated background on an adjacent wall.

In June 2007, the Michigan Space & Science Center opened in the old building (East Campus). The building featured World War II aircraft, several artifacts from the defunct Jackson Space Center, and more.

On October 1, 2011, the Air Zoo expanded its Main Campus again, moving everything from the East Campus into the new 50,000-square-foot addition. Half of this new expansion (known as the "East Wing") is devoted to the Space Theme, while the other half of the add-on includes World War II aircraft. The East Campus is now being used as the Restoration Center, which is noted for its work on aircraft including a Douglas Dauntless, a Sopwith Camel, and the newest project: An FM-2 Wildcat that had been lying at the bottom of Lake Michigan for 68 years.[13]

Restoration

In 1994, the Restoration Center was added, allowing the museum to restore old aircraft to working order.[1]

Collections

The Air Zoo contains different archival collections. Since September 23, 1995, the Air Zoo is home to the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame. It also holds the Guadalcanal Memorial Museum, which is sponsored and maintained by the Guadalcanal Campaign Veterans Association featuring information about the fighting on Guadalcanal during World War II.[1]

Aeroplanes on display

Manufacturer Model Popular Name On Loan From
Aeronca 65 CA Chief N/A
Aeronca O-58B Defender (Grasshopper) N/A
Beech T-34 Mentor National Museum of the Marine Corps
Bell AH-1J SeaCobra (HueyCobra) National Museum of the Marine Corps
Bell RP-39Q Airacobra N/A
Boeing Stearman PT-13 Kaydet N/A
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog National Museum of the Marine Corps
Chance Vought F-8J Crusader N/A
Curtiss (Replica) Curtiss Model D Pusher N/A N/A
Curtiss (Replica) JN-4 "Jenny" N/A
Curtiss P-40N Warhawk N/A
Curtiss XP-55 Ascender National Air and Space Museum/Smithsonian Institution
Douglas A4D Skyhawk N/A
Douglas AD-4NA Skyraider N/A
Douglas C-47 Skytrain / GooneyBird / Dakota N/A
Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless N/A
Eastern GM (Grumman) FM-2 Wildcat N/A
Fairchild (Howard) PT-23 Cornell N/A
Fokker (Replica) Dr.I Triplane N/A
Ford 5-AT Tri-Motor N/A
Gates Model 23 Learjet N/A
Goodyear (Vought) FG-1D Corsair N/A
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat N/A
Grumman F-11A Tiger National Museum of the Marine Corps
Grumman F-14A Tomcat National Museum of Naval Aviation
Grumman TF-9J Cougar National Museum of the Marine Corps
Heath N/A Parasol N/A
Hiller UH-12 N/A Private Individual
Hiller H-23 Raven N/A
Hispano (Messerschmitt) HA-1112-M1L C.4K-100 Buchon N/A
Homebuilt Avid Flyer N/A N/A
Homebuilt F4U Corsair (1/2 scale) N/A
Homebuilt (Lockheed) P-38 Lightning (60% replica) N/A
Homebuilt N/A Longster N/A
Homebuilt (Murphy) N/A Renegade Spirit N/A
Homebuilt (Pereira) X-28A Air Skimmer (Osprey) N/A
Homebuilt (Wolf) N/A Boredom Fighter N/A
Howard GH-2 Nightingale National Museum of the Marine Corps
Laister-Kauffmann TG-4A Trainer Glider Another Organization
Lockheed F-104C Starfighter National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Lockheed P-80A Shooting Star National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Lockheed T-33A Thunderbird N/A
Lockheed SR-71B Blackbird National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Martin (Brit. Elec.) B-57B Canberra National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet National Museum of the Marine Corps
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 Fagot (NATO designation) N/A
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed (NATO designation) N/A
Naval Aircraft Factory N3N Yellow Peril National Museum of the Marine Corps
North American AT-6G Texan Private Individual
North American B-25H 43-4899 Mitchell N/A
North American F-86F Sabre National Museum of the Marine Corps
North American SNJ-5 Texan N/A
North American T-28 Trojan N/A
North American Boilerplate Gemini Test Vehicle El Kabong National Air & Space Museum/Smithsonian Institution
Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever National Museum of Naval Aviation
Piasecki UH-25 Mule National Museum of Naval Aviation
Piper L-4H Grasshopper(Cub) Private Individual
Piper J-3 Cub N/A
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak N/A
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt N/A
Ryan PT-22 Recruit N/A
Schweizer LNS-1 (TG-2) Trainer Glider National Museum of the Marine Corps
S.P.A.D. SPAD 7 SPAD N/A
Sopwith F.1 Camel Private Individual
Sun Standard G Ratio 4:1 Hang Glider N/A
Timm N2T-1 Tutor National Museum of the Marine Corps
Travel Air Type-R Mystery Ship Private Individual
Vultee BT-13 Valiant National Museum of the Marine Corps
WACO (Ford) CG-4A Hadrian (British name) N/A
WACO INF N/A N/A
WACO VPF-7 lN/A N/A N/A
Wright N/A Flyer (Replica) Gilmore Car Museum

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Nowak, Ed; Pahl, Gerard (November 1996). "Kalamazoo Air Zoo: The Kalamazoo 'Air Zoo' airplane collection features several lively aerial 'animals' and plenty more". Aviation History.
  2. ↑ Dittmann, Joan (8 June 2016). "Michigan 'Zoo' highlights mechanical beasts of the air". Chicago Tribune.
  3. ↑ O'Leary, Michael (April 2004). "New Aviation Museum prepares for takeoff". Air Classics.
  4. ↑ Burcar, Colleen (2012). "Cougars and Tigers and Bears, Oh My - And They Really Do All Fly!". Michigan Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff. Lanham: Globe Pequot Press. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-0-762-79067-8. OCLC 890982021.
  5. ↑ "Remembering an Aviation Legend: Sue Parish". Air Zoo.
  6. ↑ Pradarelli, Melinda (September 1999). "Suzanne Parish: In The Pink" (PDF). Aviation for Women. pp. 30–33.
  7. ↑ Turner, Terry (1 November 2015). "Air Zoo offers more than typical museum experience". Sioux City Journal.
  8. ↑ Butz, Bob (28 April 2011). "Wild Aircraft Showcased at Air Zoo". Hagerty Magazine.
  9. ↑ Prichard, James (1 May 2004). "New Interactive Aviation Museum Has Rides". The Associated Press.
  10. ↑ "New Aviation and Aeronautics Museum Prepares for Takeoff". Aero-News Network. 14 February 2004.
  11. ↑ Prichard, James (21 March 2004). "The sky's the limit for museum mural". The Associated Press.
  12. ↑ "Expanded Kalamazoo Air Zoo prepares for takeoff". The Oakland Press. 27 March 2004. Archived from the original on 18 September 2004.
  13. ↑ Bugnaski, Mark (1 July 2016). "WWII bomber recovered from Lake Michigan arrives at Air Zoo for restoration". MLive.com.

External links

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