Air Zoo

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The Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum — generally referred to as the Air Zoo — is located just down the street from the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport and only minutes from downtown Kalamazoo in Portage, Michigan. It is the first museum of its kind in the world with its "museum-meets-indoor-amusement-park" theme. It boasts many historical and rare aircraft, including the world's only remaining SR-71B Blackbird. Many of its antique planes are airworthy.

The main entrance to the old Air Zoo building
The main entrance to the old Air Zoo building

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[edit] History

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

The Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum was founded in 1977 under the idea that it would be: "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 to great local acclaim, and the museum quickly developed into the tenth-largest nongovernmental aviation museum in the United States.

In 1994 the Restoration Center was added, changing the museum's role from only displaying to restoring and rebuilding old aircraft to proper working order. This helped Kalamazoo to gain credibility and to be recognized as one of the country's premier aviation attractions.

In early 1999, the moniker "Air Zoo" was adopted and as the leaders began plans for a major reconstruction. On April 25, 2003, construction began on a new 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m²) facility that would double its original size and boast vintage aircraft, flight simulators, amusement rides, Smithsonian exhibitions, character actors, and a 4-D theater, which combines 3-D filmmaking with special effects such as rocking chairs and plumes of smoke simulating anti-aircraft fire. Bob Ellis, executive director for the Air Zoo, spoke with reporters when the new facility opened in April 2004:

"The new Air Zoo doesn't just teach people about history, it surrounds them with it. There will always be something new to see. Because of our partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, the Air Zoo has access to over 142 million artifacts and an endless source of world-famous traveling exhibitions."

The new building also holds a world record. The largest indoor mural greets visitors as soon as they enter with a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m²) tribute to the history of flight. Creator and aviation artist Rick Herter named the mural "Century of Flight". Tony Hendrick serves as the project's assistant artist and had this to say:

"I want people to walk inside the Air Zoo and escape to another place in time, the mural helps them do that by making the physical walls seem to disappear."

Miriel Williams, sub-contracted by Mr. Herter, completed the 168-foot (51 m) "Night to Day" mural located on the wall opposite "Century of Flight". This unique mural, positioned between "Century of Flight" and a computer generated background on an adjacent wall, adds the finishing touch, and creates a stunning mystical effect.

Stuart Claxton, research manager for Guinness, was on hand to officially induct the mural into the Guinness Book of World Records, saying:

"Guinness World Records is all about celebrating ordinary, everyday people who do extraordinary things. Today we congratulate the Air Zoo and artists Rick Herter and Tony Hendrick for developing a mural that is not only breathtaking, but it also has set a Guinness World Record as the largest indoor mural."

[edit] List of planes on display

Manufacturer Model Popular Name Loan Status
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 727 N/A 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 & Space Museum/Smithsonian Institution
Douglas A-4D 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 F7F-3P Tigercat N/A
Grumman F8F-1D Bearcat N/A
Grumman F-11A Tiger National Museum of the Marine Corps
Grumman F-14A Tomcat National Museum of Naval Aviation
Grumman OV-1D Mohawk N/A
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 P-51D Mustang (Winter Only) Private Individual
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 Recuit 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 (fuselage only) Private Individual
Sun Standard G Ratio 4:1 Hang Glider N/A
Timm N2T-1 Tutor National Museum of the Marine Corps
Travel Air N/A 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, Hickory Corners, MI
Zenair 250 Zenith N/A

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[edit] References

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