Warbird Information Exchange

I made a fighter sweep through the Kalamazoo Air Zoo on Dec. 28, 2013 to check the place out. Some exhibits had been shuffled around inside the main building but there wasn't too horribly much new worth mentioning. Much work has been done at the East Campus location. Exhibits have been moved around and you're allowed to walk among all of the displays. I liked what they've done at the East Campus. Much improved!


Waco INF


Travel Air Mystery Ship (Replica)


North American B-25J


Grumman G-73 Mallard


McDonnell Douglas A-4D Skyhawk


Grumman F-14A Tomcat


Lockheed SR-71B Blackbird


Republic P-47D Thunderbolt


Goodyear FG-1D Corsair


Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat


General Motors FM-2 Wildcat

Now over to the East Campus we go...


Sopwith Camel in one of the newly arranged restoration spaces...


Grumman TF-9J


Curtiss Robin


Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15


Heath Parasol w/Floats


General Motors FM-2 Wildcat Recovered on Dec. 7, 2012

Can you please pass on the N# of the Curtiss Robin? Thanks!

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Blue Skies,
Dan
http://www.flytoanothertime.com

Very nice photos !!! Out of curiosity what kind of camera / lens do you use??

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http://www.fuselagecodes.com

N7912



Thanks. I use a Canon 40D with an assortment of lenses.

Nice photos. Thanks for posting. ~J~

Nice photos, thanks! The Air Zoo is looking good.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I was just going through my photos from the 23rd and thinking about posting them. Looks like I don't have to now! Great pics!

I hadn't been to the Air Zoo in about four years, and it was nice to drop in again. There have been a lot of changes, and it was the first time I had seen the addition to the main campus building. It's nice that they finally have room to display most of the WWII aircraft together. Had a good time reminiscing with my Dad and one of the docents of the days when they all used to fly. The Trimotor is apparently now grounded again, but I'm not sure why.

The F-84F also looks very nice in the Thunderbirds repaint out front of the museum. The donated Curtiss Robin is beautiful, and I was glad to finally see the Fairchild 24 and see that the Howard DGA is back on display. I was also surprised to see the Pietenpol hanging in the old building. I must have missed the news when that was donated or acquired.

Looks like they are making nice progress on the Camel and Parasol, and they definitely have their work cut out for them with the Wildcat! The FM-2 seems like it's in a lot worse shape than the SBD was when they got it. From looking at the parts, it doesn't look like they got any of the lower rear half of the fuselage. If they did, it wasn't displayed with the rest of the aircraft. The docent on duty told me the plan is still to restore the aircraft for eventual display at NAS Glenview. It's going to be a long project. The Broussard also looks like it will be a cool project once they get working on it.

Now that I'm back in the midwest, I'll be making a point to stop by more often. Not good to go four years without dropping by your hometown aviation museum!

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Matt

They still have the Hellcat and Wildcat.
But I miss the Bearcat! I liked it when they had all the "Cats"
I was told they sold it to pay the bills to keep the place open.
I think they have a mixed collection of aircraft with no focus on any particular type. They have Navy, A.F., civilian all displayed together. I think they are unique in their amusement park theme. That is one way to pay the bills.