Kalamazoo Air Zoo pics

[Xray]

A few pics taken from a visit today ... Can be tough getting decent shots of some birds even though they are just sitting there due to space and lighting considerations.

[Thomas_Mac]

Nice photos! I'm actually hoping to check this place out myself next week after driving a leg of the Hot Rod Power Tour

[Xray]

Well worth the visit for the SR-71 alone, almost all aircraft are immaculate.
Also have a nice museum with general artifacts, models, guns ect ,,, And lots of engines, space related hardware and more.
Haven't been there is a few years, Phantom, which is obviously in the process of rehab, and F-104 are new. They also found a Hellcat I think it is, been sitting in lake Michigan for 70 years, they dredged the remains to the museum and are working on it in a roped off area in full sight.
Would be nice if they flew some of these birds like they used to, but they are so pristine, at least we know they will stay that way by not flying.

[Matt Gunsch]

>but they are so pristine, at least we know they will stay that way by not flying.<

I Don't know about that, the P-39 was damaged by a drunk driver that hit the hangar and the P-39 on the other side of the wall.

[K5DH]

Neat stuff! Thanks for posting.

Hmmm... Why did I not realize that the Curtiss Ascender was there?

[Xray]

>but they are so pristine, at least we know they will stay that way by not flying.<

I Don't know about that, the P-39 was damaged by a drunk driver that hit the hangar and the P-39 on the other side of the wall.

Nothing much to be done about drunk drivers, acts of god ect ,,, I think there is no doubt they are generally much safer than on the flying circuit.

Neat stuff! Thanks for posting.

Hmmm... Why did I not realize that the Curtiss Ascender was there?

Yeah, the XP-55 is quite a sight and ultra rare. Quite an ungainly looking craft, I guess it proved itself as such during its short testing phase.

[Pat Carry]

Neat stuff! Thanks for posting.

Hmmm... Why did I not realize that the Curtiss Ascender was there?

Dean, its on loan to the Air Zoo fom the NASM. The talented folks at the Air Zoo restored it in exchange for being able to display it for 10 to 15 years.

[martin_sam_2000]

Hmm. I was there a few years ago and didnt get access to the east hangar. May need to pop in again while I am down for the Thunder over Michigan show.

Sean

[kalamazookid]

Hmm. I was there a few years ago and didnt get access to the east hangar. May need to pop in again while I am down for the Thunder over Michigan show.

Sean

It's definitely worth checking out. The FM-2 Wildcat project recovered from Lake Michigan and the Sopwith Camel project are both over there, as are numerous jets including the F-4, MiG-15, F-104, F-86, Cougar and F-11. Last time I was over there, they hadn't started work on the Wildcat yet.

[John Ceglarek]

Hello. I'm a docent at the Airzoo. Neither the Phantom or the F-104 are new...the Airzoo has had them since I started in 2000. The Phantom was on display outside at the old facility for many years, which is why it is in need of restoration. When it was brought back inside, it was stored in the North Campus facility, along with the F-104 and other A/C. Currently that building is up for sale, and almost all the museum's aircraft are either in the East Campus (the "old" facility) or in Main Campus (the new building).

The Airzoo is currently working on an FM-2, not a Hellcat, which was recovered from Lake Michigan. The aircraft belongs to the Navy, but the Airzoo was selected from among several museums to do the restoration work...largely due the fabulous job our guys did on the SBD that came out of the lake in 1993.

John

[Steve Nelson]

Great to see the Phantom getting some much-needed TLC. She had a brand new paint job when she came to K-zoo from Moody back in the '90s..she's named "City of Valdosta" (or maybe "Spirit of Valdosta".) Unfortunately the clearcoat used started peeling fairly quickly, and within a few years she started looking pretty shabby.

Looks like the B-57 could use some srucing up..for some reason they've never been able to get paint to stick to the armor galss panel. I've always loved that black scheme. When she first went on display, the canopy was painted gold..that looked really sharp. It was repainted blue to match the other outdoor aircraft.

I drove by the Air Zoo the other day..the F-84F looks really sweet in her new T-birds scheme.

Jay, have you heard anything about future plans for the Tri-Motor?


SN

[Enemy Ace]

Who owns the Air Zoo planes now? is the Parrish family still in the picture at all? Never thought I'd see that pink P-40 strung from the ceiling...

[John Ceglarek]

Sue has passed on. Pete is still on the BOD...chairman I believe. The aircraft are owned by either the Airzoo, various other museums, or privately (very few of those). Not sure what is going to happen to the Trimotor, but I think it's flying days are done. It came home from it's venture with EAA, and it needs engine overhauls among some other things that I don't believe the Airzoo will want to pay for. I think the current plan is to bring her over to the main campus building...maybe put her where the Mallard is (although what that would mean for the Mallard I don't know).

John

[JohnB]

Any additions planned...perhaps something from Warner-Robbins or Hill?

[Warbird Kid]

What would be nice...

would be to see the Board of Directors, (or whoever has the authority) decide to rotate two or three aircraft to flight status and fly them to as many shows as possible. Getting booked of course, but also publicizing the Air Zoo align the way. After a few years they would be "retired" and another two or three aircraft would be brought out. Thus letting a few aircraft out of the museum for the general public to see, while still maintaining the majority of the collection in a "safe" and "controlled" environment.