Air Zoo

The Air Zoo, located in Portage, Michigan, has apparently undergone a number of name changes in its history. It started out as the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum. Later known as the "Kalamazoo Air Zoo," it seems to have dropped the "Kalamazoo" to simply be known as the "Air Zoo" (Kalamazoo is just north of the freeway, while the Air Zoo is located just south of the freeway).

Located on the periphery of the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport, the Air Zoo is comprised of three buildings: the Main Campus, which is the "front entrance" to the museum, containing the ticketing desk, simulators, and many of the aircraft; the East Campus, containing additional planes and the new Michigan Space Science Center; and the North Campus, containing their restoration center (and additional space artifacts).

The North Campus is not ordinarily open to visitors. However, I knew that the Air Zoo inherited most of the artifacts from the old Michigan Space & Science Center after it closed in 2003, and I was able to arrange a special tour to see these artifacts again.

Of course, of the exhibits on public display, the highlights for me were the F-1 and J-2 engines. The C-47, allowing access to its interior, was also a treat; I had never been aboard a C-47 before.

As of now, I have not yet sorted through all of my pictures from the Air Zoo, but some other page references this location. Thus, this is a "place holder" version right now, with only the pictures actually referenced. Come back some time later to see if I've finished up, or drop me an email to request me to prioritize the rest of these pictures.