TheKalamazoo Aviation History Museum was founded in 1977 by formerWomen 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 theUnited States.[8]
In early 1999, the nameAir Zoo was adopted. The name comes from the fact that so many of the planes in its collection have animal nicknames like Warhawk, Gooney bird, 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, andSmithsonian Institution exhibitions, characteractors, and a4-D theater that combines 3-D films with special effects such as rocking chairs and plumes of smoke to simulateanti-aircraft fire.[9]
The new facility opened in April 2004.[10] It holds the world's largest hand-painted indoormural: "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][failed verification][14][failed verification] 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: anFM-2 Wildcat that had been lying at the bottom of Lake Michigan for 68 years.[15]
In December 2020, the Air Zoo was able to acquire anF-117A Nighthawk, tail number 85-0817, on loan from the United States Air Force. This aircraft was the first stealth fighter to be donated to a non-governmental museum.
It was also announced that the museum was donated one of the anchors and several pieces of the flight deck from theaircraft carrierUSS Kitty Hawk for outside display. This will go on display in June 2024 with help of the USS Kitty Hawk Veterans Association.[16]
The Air Zoo contains different archival collections. Since September 23, 1995, the Air Zoo is home to theMichigan Aviation Hall of Fame. It also holds theGuadalcanal Memorial Museum, which is sponsored and maintained by the Guadalcanal Campaign Veterans Association featuring information about the fighting onGuadalcanal during World War II.[1]
^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.ISBN978-0-762-79067-8.OCLC890982021.
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