Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center

We can't believe it is finally here - the 2024 SR-71 Spy-posium! The Air Zoo will welcome thousands of guests from all over the world to celebrate the Blackbird program, see the cockpits of the unique B model housed here, and to meet and talk with dozens of men and women who made the secret Skunk Works Blackbird program a success. Dozens of talks, tours, and family friendly activities are included with general admission, and span Friday (today), through Monday August 12. For an intimate experience - check out our Blackbird Affair, on Saturday night from 6-10pm. Tier 2 tickets still remain and you can win a seat in the cockpit of this legendary plane, from one of the very pilots or reconnaissance officers who manned it. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gtW3SzMX Thank you sponsors: Parker Aerospace | KalBlue Group | Jamie Pleune & David Morgan | Discover Kalamazoo | One Well Brewing

Don't miss what is sure to be the coolest, most cosmic night in Kalamazoo this year. Join us and our friends at JackFM and Midwest Communications, Inc. and get your nerd on at Adult Space Camp. Enjoy delicious food, cosmic cocktails, and adult juice boxes (of the alcoholic kind) while you explore the Air Zoo after dark and enjoy tons of space camp activities. Boogie the night away to your favorite tunes with DJ Todd Brown and strut your stuff in one of our 4 costume contests (these prizes are great). Activities also include lightsaber duels, spaceship derby, UFO encounters, face painting, full-motion flight simulators, tin-foil hat station, and sooo much more. Wait, there's more, grab your tickets by midnight on July 15th to snag a camp bag full of galactic goodies. For details and tickets: https://lnkd.in/gFt63uKY #spacenerds #adultspacecamp #discoveryseries #datenight #nokidsallowed

How many people does it take to get a plane on a truck? All of them! Great job to the Air Zoo volunteers, staff, trucking, and craning teams for getting her safely on her way!

Yesterday was a big day for the Air Zoo's Restoration Team. After more than 10.5 years, 50,000+ volunteer-hours, and nearly 1,500 community participants, they bid farewell to the FM-2 Wildcat BuNo 57039. While it is sad for us to see her off, we are excited to have her "land" in her new home at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA, later this week. Safe travels, dear friend! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more photos and info. #RestoringHistory #USNavyPlane #WWIIhistory #AirZooRestoration

Looking for a fun night without the kiddos? We have just the thing for you. Join us for our second annual Adult Space Camp, Saturday, July 20 from 6-11pm. Enjoy food, cosmic (adult) beverages, DJ Todd Brown, costume contests, light saber dueling, hands-on activities, rides, simulators, and so much more. Purchase your tickets before July 10 and receive a bag full of goodies thanks to our friends at 106.5 JACKfm and Midwest Communications, Inc. Tickets on sale now: https://lnkd.in/gFt63uKY

Just in case you missed it - we have a new artifact, measuring in at nearly 20 feet tall and weighing just over 60,600 lbs. We are beyond proud to be the keepers of important USS Kitty Hawk history and to educate and inspire guests of all ages, for decades to come. We invite you to visit and experience the majesty of this anchor in person. As you might imagine, moving, restoring, and setting this anchor and decking is not an easy or inexpensive project, but the important history the artifacts document, along with what they bring to the community and the Air Zoo experience, is priceless. In a short time we have met nearly 20% of our $25,000 goal. Special thanks to the men, women, and organizations who have generously donated including First National Bank of Michigan and Schupan. Learn how you too can be part of this beautiful exhibit at?https://lnkd.in/gAMGimDT #USSKittyHawk #USSKittyHawkVeteransAssociation #USNavy #preservinghistory

We had a fabulous time with our STEAM partners this past Saturday! Thanks to Zoetis, The Austin Company, Sunseeker Solar Car Project - WMU, Charles River Laboratories, Performance Validation, GULL LAKE AREA ROBOTICS, Hobby Sports, Michigan Geological Survey and the Air Zoo's education team we had FREE, fun, hands-on activities for hundreds of families from across southwest Michigan. Our next Summer STEAM Day is Saturday, July 27. If your organization has hands-on STEAM activities to inspire and engage, please visit https://lnkd.in/gWy6VavC to sign up or for more information. Extra special thanks to Zoetis for underwriting again this year! #WeLoveSTEAM #SummerSTEAMDays #Inspire #CommunityImpact

Looking for some inspiration and fun this weekend? Join us this Saturday as we kick off our 3rd Annual Summer STEAM Days. To keep guests safe (and less "steamy") we have moved all activities inside from 10-2pm. Summer STEAM Days are completely free, thanks to our underwriter Zoetis and our local partners. This weekend enjoy hands-on activities and demonstrations from GULL LAKE AREA ROBOTICS, Sunseeker Solar Car Project - WMU, The Austin Company, Performance Validation, Hobby Sports, Charles River Laboratories, Michigan Geological Survey, Zoetis, and more! If you are interested in hosting an activity in July or August, let our Group and Events team know at [email protected]! #STEAMeducation #CommunityAccess #Inspire #WeLoveScience

We couldn't agree more Kyle Cozad, partnerships and relationships are everything. We are honored to work with your team as we restore history and create opportunities for education and inspiration in our region (and beyond!). Thank you for sharing this!

It has been an exciting week at the Air Zoo. From celebrating the completion of a 10.5 year (50,000+ hour) restoration project on Saturday with an open house and private event to dedicating our new 60,000+lbs anchor from the USS Kitty Hawk, this morning, it has been an incredible few days. Special thanks to our friends from the National Naval Aviation Museum, Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, American Heritage Museum, The Collings Foundation, Naval History and Heritage Command, A and T Recovery, USS KITTY HAWK CVA 63-CV 63 VETERANS ASSOCIATION INC, and International Shipbreaking Limited, LLC, as well as our sponsors, donors, community, and our local media partners for celebrating these exciting opportunities with us. Come see the Wildcat this week for a last look before she sets off for Hudson, MA! (The anchor however is staying put, just incase you wondered ??) Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gAMGimDT & https://lnkd.in/grrkX4nr #restoringhistory #USSKittyHawk #USNavy #navalhistory #anchorsaweigh