Page 43 - Volume 15 Number 3
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actors, and a 4-D theater, which combines 3-D filmmaking with other special effects. As of this writing, a second addition to the off-field portion of the Air Zoo is under construction.The original facility located on the airport property is now called the Air Zoo East Campus Michigan Space Science Center WW II Naval Aviation; having added the collection from the Michigan Space and Science Center, Jackson Mich., Community College, to their inventory.Upjohn became Pharmacia & Upjohn, then Pharmacia, then Pfizer and now contributes about $767 million to the local economy. Sue Parish passed away in 2010. Mr. Gustafson married a successful beer distributer from Pontiac, Mich., in the early 1980s and passed away just a couple years ago. Anthony Joseph Foyt retired from driving in 1993 and lives in Hockley, Texas. The Woodhams’ Austin Lake Airport is now a subdivision covered with houses and KalAero long ago became Duncan Aviation.This humble author went on to fly airline, and does some astonishingwriting for Twin & Turbine. Who Challenged Suea Piper Chief. Some tail numbers end with the suffix “SP.” This, in aviation vernacular, would normally be Sierra-Papa. Not in Kalamazoo. It’s Sugar-Pop, or Sue Parish, and rightfully so. She sometimes used the suffix SU as well. You may find the planes at the Air Zoo, the new AZO commercial terminal, or somewhere on Western Michigan University grounds.General admission and ramp parking is free; tell ground control you want to taxi to the Air Zoo. Discounted 100LL is at the Kalamazoo Pilots Association pump near the Zoo. Again, ask ground how to get to it. Give a little “Right Stuff” nod to Sue’s pink P-40 when you see it, and you will see it.“The new Air Zoo doesn’t justteach people about history, itsurrounds them with it,” says BobEllis, executive director/CEO ofthe Air Zoo. Happy time traveling,and enjoy the things you’ll see. F-16’s in the USAF then to a major •You almost certainly won’t see any miniskirts but you will be on Top Of the World. T&Tto Open a Museum?As you tour the Air Zoo, allow yourself to slip back in time. Now you know the story behind the story: The Upjohns, Parishes, Gilmores, Woodams, Ellises and Gustafsons. Next, enjoy as your mind journeys further back to World War II, then World War I and then to the Wright brothers.Who was the friend that challenged Sue to open a museum? Jeannie Gustafson? Richard Gilmore? I think it was Pat Shiffer in the dining room with a candlestick. Nope, it was actually Gunther Balz according to my sources. His F8F Bearcat in 1977 was the first aircraft donated to the Zoo. Regrettably, you won’t see it at the Zoo any longer; it now lives in Arizona.Look for Sue’s pink T-34, pink C-425 Conquest and the pink P-40. Maybe a white Baron (448SP) andKevin Dingman has been flying for 38 years. He’s an ATP typed in the B737 and DC9 with 17,000 hours. A retired Air Force Major; he flew the F-16 then performed as a USAF Civil Air Patrol Liai- son Officer. He flies volunteer missions for the Christian or- ganization Wings Of Mercy, is employed by a major airline, and owns and operates a Beech- craft Duke. Contact Kevin at Dinger10d@gmail.com.MARCH 2011 ­TWIN & TURBINE • ­41


































































































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