Air Zoo

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 2-D film simulation of a B-17 bombing mission during World War II; and various amusement rides, including flight simulators of a rocket trip to Mars, a U.S. Navy (former Blue Angel) F/A-18 Hornet, a stunt biplane, a hot air balloon, a veteran U.S. Navy F-14A Tomcat that served aboard USS America, and more.[3][4] Air Zoo is a Smithsonian Affiliate.

Air Zoo
Air Zoo logo
Flight Innovation Center
Air Zoo is located in Michigan
Air Zoo
Location within Michigan
Air Zoo is located in the United States
Air Zoo
Air Zoo (the United States)
Former name
Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum
Established1977 (1977)
LocationPortage, Michigan
Coordinates42°13′39″N 85°33′30″W
TypeAviation museum
FounderSue Parish
Pete Parish
WebsiteAirZoo.org

History
Sue Parish's Curtiss P-40 Warhawk at the Air Zoo

The Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum was founded in 1977 by former Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), Sue Parish[5] and WWII pilot Preston "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] 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, Wildcat, Bearcat, and 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]

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.[13] 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 museum's latest project: An FM-2 Wildcat that had been lying at the bottom of Lake Michigan for 68 years.[14]

In December 2020, the Air Zoo was able to acquire an F-117A Nighthawk, tail number 85-0817, donated from the United States Air Force. This aircraft was the first stealth fighter to be donated to a non-governmental museum and is currently being restored.

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]

Aircraft on display
Inside the museum
Lockheed F-104C Starfighter
Early Flight (1700s-1918)
AircraftYear
Introduced		TypeNotes
Curtiss Model D
replica		1911Single-engined biplane[15]
Fokker Dr.I
3/4 scale replica		1918Single-engined Triplane[16]
SPAD S.VII
replica		1916Single-engined Pursuit biplane[17]
Sopwith F.1 Camel
hybrid reproduction		1917Single-engined Pursuit biplane[18]
Golden Age of Aviation (1919-39)
AircraftYear
Introduced		TypeNotes
Curtiss Robin1928single-engined Monoplane[19]
Fairchild 24K Forwarder1932single-engined STOL monoplane[20]
Ford 5-AT Tri-Motor1926three-engined transport[21]
Heath Baby Bullet1928single-engined racing monoplane[22]
Travel Air Type R Mystery Ship
replica		1929single-engined racing monoplane[23]
WACO INF1930single-engined biplane[24]
WACO VPF-71930single-engined biplane[25]
World War II (1939-1940s)
AircraftYear
Introduced		TypeNotes
Bell TP-39Q Airacobra1941Single-engined monoplane piston fighter[26][27]
Curtiss P-40N Warhawk1939Single-engined monoplane piston fighter[28]
Douglas C-47 Skytrain1941Twin-engined monoplane piston transport[29]
Curtiss XP-55 Ascender1943Single-engined monoplane piston prototype fighter[30]
Waco CG-4A1942Glider[31]
General Motors FM-2 Wildcat1940Single-engined monoplane piston carrier-based fighter[32] Replaced by the Grumman F6F Hellcat in service
Goodyear FG-1D Corsair1942Single-engined monoplane piston carrier-based fighter[33]
Howard PT-231940Single-engined monoplane piston primary trainer[34][35]
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat1943Single-engined monoplane piston carrier-based fighter[36]
Hispano Aviación HA-1112M1L Buchon1954Single-engined monoplane piston fighter[37][38]
Howard GH-2 Nightingale1939Single-engined monoplane piston ambulance transport[39]
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
replica		1941Twin-engined monoplane piston fighter[40]
Naval Aircraft Factory N3N Yellow Peril1936Single-engined biplane piston primary trainer[41]
North American B-25H Mitchell1941Twin-engined monoplane piston bomber[42]
North American SNJ-51935Single-engined monoplane piston trainer[43][44]
North American AT-6G Texan1935Single-engined monoplane piston trainer[45]
Radioplane OQ-2A Drone1939Single-engined monoplane target drone[46]
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt1942Single-engined monoplane piston fighter[47]
Ryan PT-22 Recruit1941Single-engined monoplane piston trainer[48]
Timm N2T-1 Tutor1940Single-engined monoplane piston trainer[49]
Vultee BT-13 Valiant1940Single-engined monoplane piston basic trainer[50]
Jet Age
AircraftYear
Introduced		TypeNotes
Bell AH-1J SeaCobra1971Single-engined turboshaft attack helicopter[51]
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog1950Single-engined monoplane piston liaison aircraft[52] Developed from the Cessna 170
Douglas A4D Skyhawk1956Single-engined monoplane turbojet attack fighter[53]
Douglas AD-4NA Skyraider1946Single-engined monoplane piston attack aircraft[54]
Grumman F-11F Tiger1956Single-engined monoplane turbojet fighter[55]
Grumman F-14A Tomcat1974Twin-engined monoplane jet fighter[56]
Grumman TF-9J Cougar1952Single-engined monoplane turbojet fighter[57][58]
Hiller UH-12A1948Single-engined piston utility helicopter[59]
WSK Mielec Lim-21947Single-engined monoplane turbojet fighter[60][61] Replaced by the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 in service
Lockheed F-104C Starfighter1958Single-engined monoplane turbojet fighter[62] Replaced by the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in service.
Lockheed S-3B Viking1974Twin-engined monoplane turbofan anti-submarine aircraft[63]
Lockheed SR-71B Blackbird1966Twin-engined monoplane turbojet reconnaissance aircraft[64]
Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star1945Single-engined monoplane turbojet fighter[65] Replaced by the North American F-86 Sabre in service.
Lockheed T-33A1948Single-engined monoplane turbojet subsonic trainer[66][67] Replaced by the Northrop T-38 Talon in service.
Martin B-57B Canberra1954Twin-engineed monoplane turbojet tactical bomber[68] Licensed version of the British English Electric Canberra.
McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II1960Twin-engined monoplane turbojet interceptor[69]
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet1983Twin-engined monoplane turbojet fighter[70]
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-211959Single-engined monoplane turbojet fighter[71] Replaced by the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 in service.
North American F-86F Sabre1949Single-engined monoplane turbojet fighter[72][73] Replaced by the North American F-100 Super Sabre in service.
North American T-28 Trojan1949Single-engined monoplane piston trainer[74]
Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever1949Single-engined piston utilty helicopter[75]
Republic F-84F-35-RE Thunderstreak1954Single-engined monoplane turbojet fighter[76][77]
Vought F-8J Crusader1957Single-engined monoplane turbojet fighter[78]
Space
AircraftYear
Introduced		TypeNotes
El KaBong[79]
Kits, Home Builts and Civilan Planes
AircraftYear
Introduced		TypeNotes
Avid Flyer198Single-engined[80]
Denney Kitfox II1984Single-engined[81]
Grumman G-73 Mallard1946Twin-engined[82]
Haigh SuperStar1975Single-engined[83]
Jodel D.92 Bébé1948Single-engined[84]
Learjet 231964Twin-engined Turbojet[85]
Pazmany PL-41972Single-engined monoplane[86]
Pietenpol Air Camper1929Single-engined[87]
Other
AircraftYear
Introduced		TypeNotes
Aeronca 65CA Chief[88]
Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper[89]
Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
Boeing-Stearman N2S-5[90]
Boilerplate Gemini Test Vehicle
Cirrus VK-30
Curtiss JN-4
scale Model		[91]
Heath Parasol
Hiller OH-23 Raven
Laister-Kauffman TG-4A[92]
Long Henderson HL-1 Longster[93]
Murphy Renegade Spirit
Osprey X-28A Sea Skimmer
Piper J-3 Cub
RotorWay Exec90[94]
Schweizer LNS-1[95]
Sun Standard G Ratio 4:1 hang glider
W.A.R. F4U Corsair
Wolf W-11 Boredom Fighter[96]

Aircraft under restoration
AircraftYear IntroducedTypeNotes
Douglas SBD-2P Dauntless[97]
General Motors FM-2 Wildcat[98]
Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk[99]

See also

References

Notes
  1. 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 (June 8, 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. Archived from the original on March 20, 2005. Retrieved December 1, 2006.
  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. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  6. Pradarelli, Melinda (September 1999). "Suzanne Parish: In The Pink" (PDF). Aviation for Women. pp. 30–33.
  7. Turner, Terry (November 1, 2015). "Air Zoo offers more than typical museum experience". Sioux City Journal.
  8. Butz, Bob (April 28, 2011). "Wild Aircraft Showcased at Air Zoo". Hagerty Magazine.
  9. Prichard, James (May 1, 2004). "New Interactive Aviation Museum Has Rides". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2006.
  10. "New Aviation and Aeronautics Museum Prepares for Takeoff". Aero-News Network. February 14, 2004.
  11. Prichard, James (March 21, 2004). "The sky's the limit for museum mural". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2006.
  12. "Expanded Kalamazoo Air Zoo prepares for takeoff". The Oakland Press. March 27, 2004. Archived from the original on September 18, 2004.
  13. Bissell, Joel (September 19, 2019). "A look at 40 years of Air Zoo history as Kalamazoo-area museum marks milestone". MLive. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  14. Bugnaski, Mark (July 1, 2016). "WWII bomber recovered from Lake Michigan arrives at Air Zoo for restoration". MLive.com.
  15. "Curtiss Pusher 1911". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  16. "Fokker Dr.1 Triplane (Replica)". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  17. "SPAD VII". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  18. "Sopwith F.1 Camel". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  19. "Curtiss Robin 1928". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  20. "Fairchild 24K Forwarder 1932". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  21. "Ford Tri-Motor". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  22. "Heath Baby Bullet 1936". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  23. "Travel Air Mystery Ship 1929". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  24. "Waco INF 1930". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  25. "Waco VPF-7 1937". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  26. "Airframe Dossier - Bell TP-39Q Airacobra, s/n 44-3908 USAAF, c/r N40A". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  27. "Bell P-39 Airacobra". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  28. "Curtiss P-40 Warhawk". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  29. "C-47 Skytrain 1941". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  30. "Curtiss XP-55 Ascender 1941". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  31. "Waco CG-4A Glider". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  32. "Grumman FM2 Wildcat 1937". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  33. "Goodyear FG-1D Corsair 1940". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  34. "Fairchild PT-23 1939". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  35. Bess, Jay (July 29, 2014). "Air Zoo's PT-23 – The Story of a Restoration". Warbirds News. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  36. "Grumman F6F Hellcat". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  37. "Hispano Aviacion HA-1112 Buchon 1944". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  38. "Airframe Dossier - Messerschmitt-Hispano HA-1112-M1L, s/n C.4K-100 EdA, c/n 171, c/r N76GE". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  39. "Howard GH-2 1939". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  40. "Lockheed P-38 Lightning (Replica)". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  41. "Naval Aircraft Factory Yellow Peril 1934". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  42. "North American B-25 Mitchell 1940". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  43. "North American SNJ Texan 1938". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  44. "Airframe Dossier - North American SNJ-5C Texan, s/n 91005 USN, c/n 88-22866, c/r N333SU". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  45. "Airframe Dossier - North American T-6G Texan, s/n 112493 USN, c/n 168-653, c/r N7057". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  46. "Radioplane OQ-2A Drone". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  47. "P-47D Thunderbolt". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  48. "Ryan PT-22 1940". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  49. "Timm N2T-1 Tutor 1941". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  50. "Vultee BT-13". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  51. "Bell AH-1J Seacobra 1969". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  52. "Cessna OE-1 Bird Dog L-19A-CE; O-1B-CE". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  53. "Douglas A-4D-2 Skyhawk 1954-1987". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  54. "Douglas AD-4NA Skyraider 1945". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  55. "Grumman F-11 F Tiger 1956". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  56. "Grumman F-14A Tomcat". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  57. "Grumman Cougar 1956". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  58. "Airframe Dossier - Grumman TF-9J Cougar, s/n 147283 USN". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  59. "Hiller UH-12A 1951". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  60. "Airframe Dossier - Mikoyan Gurevich-WSK-Mielec Lim-2 Fagot-B (NATO), s/n 1621 SPRP, c/n 1B 016-21, c/r N621BM". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  61. "Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  62. "Lockheed F-104C Starfighter 1945". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  63. "Lockheed S3-B Viking". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  64. "Lockheed SR-71B Blackbird 1963-1999". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  65. "Airframe Dossier - Lockheed F-80C-11-LO Shooting Star, s/n 44-85125 USAF, c/n 080-1148". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  66. "Airframe Dossier - Lockheed T-33B-1-LO, s/n 138090 USN, c/n 580-9035". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  67. "Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  68. "Airframe Dossier - English Electric-Martin GNB-57B, s/n 52-1584 USAF, c/n 174". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  69. "McDonnell F-4E Phantom 2 1967". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  70. "McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A Hornet 1978". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  71. "Airframe Dossier - Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21PFM Fishbed-F (NATO), s/n 4107 SPRP, c/n 94A4107". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  72. "Airframe Dossier - North American JF-86F Sabre, s/n 52-5143 USAF, c/n 191-839, c/r N25143". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  73. "North American F-86 Sabre". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  74. "North American T-28 Trojan 1949". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  75. "Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever 1948". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  76. "Airframe Dossier - Republic F-84F-35-RE Thunderstreak, s/n 52-6486 USAF, c/r N5046". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  77. "F-84F Thunderstreak". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  78. "Vought F-8J Crusader 1955-1989". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  79. "El KaBong". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  80. "Avid Flyer 1983". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  81. "Denney Kitfox II - 1989". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  82. "Grumman G-73 Mallard". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  83. "Haigh SuperStar 1975". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  84. "Jodel D-92 Bebe". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  85. "Airframe Dossier - Swiss American Aviation Corporation 23 Lear Jet, c/n 23-083, c/r N824LJ". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  86. "Pazmany PL-4 - 1974". Air Zoo. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  87. "Pietenpol Air Camper". Air Zoo. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  88. "FAA Registry [N31948]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  89. "Aeronca L-3B Defender". Air Zoo. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  90. "Boeing-Stearman N2S-5 Kaydet". Air Zoo. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  91. "Curtiss JN-4 Jenny (scale model)". Air Zoo. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  92. "Laister-Kauffman TG-4A". Air Zoo. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  93. "FAA Registry [N99492]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  94. "FAA Registry [N4307L]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  95. "Schweizer LNS-1". Air Zoo. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  96. "Wolf Boredom Fighter". Air Zoo. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  97. "SBD-2P Recovery and Restoration". Air Zoo. March 1, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  98. "The Story of our FM-2 Wildcat". Air Zoo. December 10, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  99. "Meet Shaba". Air Zoo. March 2, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.

Bibliography
  • Nowak, Ed; Pahl, Gerard (November 1996). "Kalamazoo Air Zoo". HistoryNet. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
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