Kalamazoo Air Zoo expands

[airzoodocent]

The Kalamazoo Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Mi., will be opening a new addition to the main building in June 2011. With 50,000 sq ft of space, this will enable us to place all of our displayable aircraft and exhibits in one area. The old Air Zoo building (known as the East Campus) will then be used as the restoration center, with the old restoration hanger to be sold. Construction will begin in December. The East Campus will close on Jan 1, and not reopen, so that preparations for the move to the new addition can be started.

[kalamazookid]

Looks like I'm going to have to get over there soon. Are the Restoration Center tours still being offered? I'd like to go through one more time before everything gets closed off. I have a lot of good memories of early Saturday morning tours there. Got to watch a lot of cool stuff get rebuilt over the years, the CG-4A, SBD, Cornell, PT-22, XP-55, etc. Kinda sad to see the old building go.

Looks like the flying years really are done if the Navy aircraft are moving away from the airport to the new facility. I always held out hope that maybe they'd fly the Hellcat or Corsair again some day, but it looks like that isn't going to be the case. Hopefully with the new addition they'll at least be able to spread the aircraft out on the floor more and not have them packed in so tightly.

[airzoodocent]

Sorry, Matt. Restoration tours are closed.......no room in the RC now with a huge space display in there now. The old building will not be 'gone' . I'm sure tours will be available once things get settled. The AZ's Tri-Motor will be there, and I think the place will be getting a bit of a makeover.
As far as the new addition, yes.....there should be plenty of room for everything. I've seen the artist's rendition and it should be quite capable. The Fed Ex 737 will be brought over, a jetway will be attached, and the interior converted to classrooms. It's going to be real nice.
A passageway will connect the Main Campus building with the addition at the exit door between where the Jug and Airacobra sit now. You're going to be very pleased, I'm sure. I think it's going to be great that everything will be available to everyone, and nobody will have to brave the elements to see the whole collection. The F-4E probably won't be there, as it's in pretty rough shape, and we need time and money to fix it up. But the F-104, MiG-21, F-11, TF-9J, OV-1, and other displayable planes now in the current RC will be in the new addition. Keep checking the website or FB page for updates.

[kalamazookid]

Sorry, Matt. Restoration tours are closed.......no room in the RC now with a huge space display in there now. The old building will not be 'gone' . I'm sure tours will be available once things get settled. The AZ's Tri-Motor will be there, and I think the place will be getting a bit of a makeover.
As far as the new addition, yes.....there should be plenty of room for everything. I've seen the artist's rendition and it should be quite capable. The Fed Ex 737 will be brought over, a jetway will be attached, and the interior converted to classrooms. It's going to be real nice.
A passageway will connect the Main Campus building with the addition at the exit door between where the Jug and Airacobra sit now. You're going to be very pleased, I'm sure. I think it's going to be great that everything will be available to everyone, and nobody will have to brave the elements to see the whole collection. The F-4E probably won't be there, as it's in pretty rough shape, and we need time and money to fix it up. But the F-104, MiG-21, F-11, TF-9J, OV-1, and other displayable planes now in the current RC will be in the new addition. Keep checking the website or FB page for updates.

Thanks for the information! Sounds pretty cool. Any idea what the plans for the S-3 are? Shame to see it outside, especially with how complete it is. Nice to hear that the F-4E is in line to get fixed up too.

That's a great place to put the addition too. I kind of thought they'd try to add off the end where the SR-71 is, but putting it behind where the Airacobra and P-47 are sounds like a better place. I'm going to have to try to swing by when I get on winter break and check things out. Haven't had the chance to get over there since the model show.

[airzoodocent]

Can't put the extension by the Blackbird. That's where we roll in aircraft for the main campus. Behind the 'earth' section of the mural is a huge door.

The S-3.......I don't know what's going to happen with that. You're right though, it's pretty complete, and so far it doesn't look as if the elements have done any harm. I'm sure there'll be serious thoughts about bringing it in. I'll see if I can find out. I'd like to get all our static displays in, but they need a lot of work first.

Re the Phantom......I'm not really sure if it's in line for restoration just yet. I've been told we need money, and Air Force approval, since it's still owned by the government. If I had my druthers, I'd like to see it fully restored, and on display now, but these things take time.

Also, re Restoration tours........I think at some point we'll make them available again, because there will be things that people should see. I could see that happening again next summer....depending, of course, on the state of the building.

[mustangdriver]

Is there anythought of bringing the P-40 down and displaying it on it's gear? Also does the museum still have the T-33 that Sue Parish flew?

[kalamazookid]

Is there anythought of bringing the P-40 down and displaying it on it's gear? Also does the museum still have the T-33 that Sue Parish flew?

I don't recall Parish ever flying a T-33. I know she owned a T-34, which I think is either in storage now or at the Restoration Center. I know it's been displayed off and on at the museum for years and is painted in an identical scheme as the P-40.

[Django]

Every time I go to Detroit for work, I try to plan it so I can stop by the Air Zoo, as I really want to see the Ascender and the B-25. Yet somehow my plans always get foiled!

[mustangdriver]

That is what I meant, her T-34. Thanks. Django, if you ever plan on going let me know. I am about 45 min from the museum.