A visit to the air zoo

Flight Journal, Apr 2001 by Werneth, Ron

When people think of museums, they often visualize a place filled with display cases of musty artifacts that have not been moved for at least a century. The Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum-more commonly known as the Air Zoo-in Kalamazoo, Michigan, definitely does not fall into that category. The museum has one of the best collections of vintage aircraft in North America, many of them in airworthy condition. When I look back on my visit there, I recall beautifully restored WW II warbirds, impeccable displays of aviation memorabilia and, most important, the people. Whether it is the friendly person who greets you at the ticket counter or the knowledgeable docent who accompanies you on a museum tour, the personnel-volunteers and paid employees-make the difference. The facility's excellent staff makes your visit enjoyable and informative.

In 1977, Preston and Suzanne Parish formed a nonprofit organization, and the museum opened in 1979 with just seven WW II aircraft. By 1986, the collection had grown to 20 aircraft. Today, it boasts an impressive array that ranges from a Wright Flyer replica to a Grumman F-14A Tomcat. The facility was expanded by 25,000 square feet so that rare aircraft could be stored inside and protected from the harsh Michigan weather. The last major expansion was in July 1994 when the Air Zoo opened the Flight and Restoration Center. This allows visitors to see rare aircraft being restored and some of the museum's airworthy flyers-many owned by the museum, while others are on loan from other collections and private collectors.

The Air Zoo also houses the Guadalcanal Museum and the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame. The former combines an interesting assortment of original artifacts with realistic battlefield dioramas to teach people about the battle in which these artifacts were used. The Hall of Fame exhibits relate to individuals who made contributions to the local aviation community.

Walking into the museum is like stepping into a time machine. The lobby is filled with rare WW II artifacts, including personal mementos and flight suits. These are displayed so that even those who aren't aviation enthusiasts will readily appreciate their significance.

After browsing through lobby exhibits, our free, volunteer-guided tour is ready to begin! You immediately notice that the facility is immaculatethe polished aircraft down to the shiny floor!

The museum's raisons d'etre are its stunning array of WW II fighters, including a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Curtiss P-40N Warhawk, Bell P-39Q Airacobra and Goodyear FG-1D Corsair. From its acquisition until its restoration to flying condition, each aircraft has an intriguing history. The number of hours put into each of these "time capsules" is simply staggering. The Air Zoo's walls are lined with machine guns, uniforms and aviation art.

Let's start with the rare, airworthy P-47D. In 1969, well-known collector Ed Jurist returned this example of the nearly extinct fighter to the United States from Peru, along with five other P-47 airframes. He acquired the airframes and more than 50,000 pounds of spare parts from the Peruvian government. After passing through two additional civilian owners, this particular P-47 was sold to the museum in 1979. It was completely restored and finished in the wartime markings of legendary ace Francis "Gabby" Gabreski.

The Air Zoo's P-40N Warhawk was a "basket case"-acquired from a Texas source in crates. It has a remarkable history: it was sold to Chowchilla Union High School on June 3, 1946, for the sum of $350. By the time the museum

acquired it, the P-40N had been altered (possi. bly to be an air racer); the cockpit had been drastically moved far aft. Meticulously restored by well-known aircraft rebuilder Frank Saunders, it emerged in an unusual 9th Air Force pink color scheme, com plete with the famous shark's-teeth motif on the nose.

The museum is probably best known for its "Flight of the Cats," which is comprised of an FM-2 Wildcat, an F6F Hellcat, an F7F Tigercat and an F8F Bearcat. These rare warbirds are displayed in a unique formation flight that dazzles spectators when they fly at airshows. All are maintained in perfect condition, and all have been awarded the coveted title of "Oshkosh Grand Champion."

The Air Zoo acquired the FM-2 Wildcat from Kalamazoo racing pilot Gunter Balz (he parted with it to fund his Bearcat). It was completely rebuilt from a derelict airframe several years ago and now sports a glossy sea-- blue paint accented with white markings. This scheme was used bv VC-58. which flew from the USS Corregidor. The Air Zoo later acquired Balz's Bearcat, which had been a racer. This particular airframe served with VF-19 and later with VF-18. The fighter subsequently changed hands several times during its post-military years before it was acquired by Balz, who transformed this military machine into a competitive racer. Balz modified the airframe with a non-stock spinner, a tail cone and modem avionics, and he installed extra fuel tanks. The Bearcat was donated to the Air Zoo, and it flew until Memorial Day weekend in 1995 when engine problems caused it to crash. This rare warbird is now being refurbished to stock condition. The team has already repaired the damage and replaced several of the nonstock parts such as the modified tail cone. Remarkably, the aircraft should take to the air early in 2001.