Throughout February, visitors to the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center, Kalamazoo, MI, will have the chance to step inside aviation history during Open Cockpit Weekends. Held every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the program allows guests to get closer than usual to a selection of aircraft on display. During these weekends, visitors can look into or sit inside the cockpits of several notable aircraft, offering a perspective normally reserved for pilots.
The experience spans both of the Air Zoo’s connected facilities, the Flight Innovation Center (the main building) and the Flight Discovery Center, giving guests access to a broad mix of aircraft types across the museum. The lineup includes everything from experimental aircraft to World War II-era fighters and high-speed jets, making it a hands-on way to explore how different aircraft were designed and flown. Open Cockpit Weekends are included with regular admission and are free for Air Zoo members.
Adult admission is $19.50. Tickets for children ages 5 to 17 cost $17.50. Senior admission is $16.50. Children ages 4 and under are admitted free. Two-day tickets are also available. A two-day adult pass costs $30.00. Two-day tickets for children ages 5 to 17 are priced at $27.00, while seniors can purchase a two-day pass for $25.00. You can get the tickets HERE. Following is the 2026 Open Cockpit Schedule
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All Month SR-71B Blackbird – Flight Innovation Center (view only), Rutan VariEze – Flight Discovery Center (view only). February 6–8 F6F Hellcat – Flight Innovation Center, P-39 Airacobra – Flight Innovation Center, A-4 Skyhawk – Flight Innovation Center (view only). February 13–15 Stearman – Flight Innovation Center, HA-1112 Buchón – Flight Innovation Center (view only), AD-4NA Skyraider – Flight Innovation Center. February 20–22 FM-2 Wildcat – Flight Innovation Center, P-47 Thunderbolt – Flight Innovation Center, F-104 Starfighter – Flight Discovery Center (view only). February 27–March 1 T-6/SNJ Texan – Flight Innovation Center, Cirrus VK-30 – Flight Discovery Center, MiG-15 – Flight Discovery Center (view only). |
Also, note that because of differences in aircraft design and structure, a 250-pound weight limit applies to all sit-in cockpit experiences. Guests must be able to climb in and out of the aircraft on their own and must be at least 42 inches tall. Children who enter the aircraft must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian. For more information and to support the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center, click on this link: www.airzoo.org.
