This is a memory and experience that set me on a path toward accomplishing those dreams, and have used the lessons I learned that day to continue to inspire others. It seemed that my luck was changing and a door had opened up for another amazing opportunity. I had been working with the Cessnas2Oshkosh on their training videos and had flown my shared Cessna 182 alongside dozens of other Cessnas during the mass arrival. A show of an AVG “Flying Tiger” reunion hosted at Fantasy of Flight. As I walked through the exhibits, I was once again in awe at the level of detail and effort put into each exhibit. Change ), The Aviation Inspiration of Kermit Weeks Fantasy of Flight. ... Let’s reach into my archives and take a step back in time to 2004, when I hosted the AVG Reunion at Fantasy of Flight. ( Log Out /  I have kept in touch with Kermit since, and he was incredibly excited when I told him the news about getting a job at a major airline. Grumman Duck Acquisition - Sam Poole Interview. At 17, with only model airplane flying experience, he began building his own home-built Der Jager D-IX (a biplane powered by a four-cylinder Lycoming O-320 engine). I imagined that this likely inspired her, and figured that I would have been a barnstormer if alive in that era. For Fantasy of Flight founder Kermit Weeks, the opening of his aviation-themed attraction has been a natural extension of a lifelong, unbounded passion for aviation and aircraft. Kermit Weeks. Think about this - I'm in the only place on the Planet where 65,000,000 people a year are looking for something new to do. It seemed that my luck was changing and a door had opened up for another amazing opportunity. One of the museum staff saw me looking over the controls and contemplating my great escape and jokingly told me “don’t start it up”. I clearly remember the excited exclamations that filled the halls of the office when I received the email. Since then, all damaged wood and metal components have been replaced, including all The aircraft (S/N A5360 / C/N 2404) was damaged when Hurricane Andrew struck the Florida-based collection back in 1992. “We will have 11 to… This is Fantasy of Flight’s creator and founder, Kermit Week’s first book developing characters for Fantasy of Flight. As previously reported, the aircraft (S/N 41-39401) reportedly saw wartime service with the 9th Air Force and served with the Van Nuys Air National As we eloped into the sky the trees got smaller and my smile even bigger. Successful thirty-minute ferry flight October 19, 2001 from Sanford to Kermit Weeks "Fantasy of Flight Museum" in Polk, FL On five year loan to museum Aircraft sold to Jim Thompson, a Florida land developer, in the fall of 2005 However, I did not let the slim odds persuade me as I was a recently instrument and commercially rated single engine pilot eager for opportunities in the fine new world of aviation. He gave me a set of goggles and a cloth hat to put on since there was no cockpit at all. While I did have experience with cross country flights, I hadn’t flown around Florida and ended up a bit more off the coast than I would have liked. Fantasy of Flight Mechanic’s Corner Kermit Weeks mentioned on Facebook that the staff at Fantasy of Flight have been uploading videos of the work … After the ride, I was invited to sit in the pilot’s seat for pictures. A tour by Kermit Weeks describing some of the restoration projects at Fantasy of Flight. “We have opened a small scale museum housed in our former maintenance hangar,” explains Kandice Stephens, operations and events manager for Fantasy of Flight. Fantasy of Flight, Mechanic’s Corner, October 2020 Kermit Weeks’ posted this video to update us on some of the restoration work happening at the Fantasy of Flight. He explained that the airplanes are a metaphor for reaching beyond what you think you can do. © 2021 Fantasy of Flight All Rights Reserved. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I had started flying N148T, the Super Cub I would eventually buy and become my beloved Patches. Kermit Weeks. It began as an expectation to ride in an exciting plane, but became a journey of self-discovery and introspection. It was one of my first experiences in an experimental aircraft, and it looked very old but in immaculate shape. It was one of the most exhilarating moments of my career, and it gave me a great appreciation for those early 20thcentury aviators. The first thing I remember about the plane was how loud it was, and how that powerful engine shook that plane. For many years I was bound to secrecy about the extra rides until recently. For Fantasy of Flight founder Kermit Weeks, the opening of his aviation-themed attraction has been a natural extension of a lifelong, unbounded passion for aviation and aircraft. I arranged the dates and times with the organizer and figured the most efficient way to get from Texas to Florida was by way of the Cessna 182. I was in a state of euphoria, and had to be gently reminded to get out of the airplane as I would have likely stayed there the night if not prompted! A show with Fantasy of Flight’s red-tail P-51C in Tuskegee Airman Lee Archer’s colors with Lee onsite watching Kermit test fly the airplane after its 15-year restoration! 10/2002: mid fuselage section of KB976 at … I decided to go with the “I just won the lottery” response and immediately accepted the opportunity of a lifetime. It became the new home for much of owner Kermit Weeks' collection of aircraft that were previously housed at the Weeks Air Museum in Tamiami, Florida and were damaged to varying degrees by Hurricane Andrewin 19… I hopped into the Storch and was immediately impressed by it’s short field performance. What an honor it was to pay tribute to these great American hero’s. . He has been involved in aviation since childhood and his enthusiasm for furthering public interest in … Weeks and his family moved to Miami, Florida when he was 14, and he began flying model aircraft and competing on the high school gymnastics team. After a year of dormancy, Fantasy of Flight, Kermit Weeks' vintage aviation attraction in Polk City, Florida, has reopened to the public in a limited fashion. I would never want it said of me that I was to afraid to try new things. Read Kermit’s Bio, his Mission, or Fun Facts about Kermit and Fantasy of Flight. It was the first part of a journey that would eventually push me from my network engineering job to following my dream to become an airline pilot. Sold to Kermit Weeks, Weeks Air Museum/Fantasy of Flight, Polk City, FL, 1992-2002 stored with planed restoration in future. Learn More. I think he opens it once or twice but otherwise these historic aircraft gather dust or get the odd flight as and when he feels like it. Pretty soon it was closing time, but Kermit stayed and gave us a tour of his woodworking shop where he was building a Benoist XIV from scratch to re-create the world’s first airline flight from Tampa to St. Petersburg in 1914. Copyright & Trademark . Fantasy of Flight is an aviation-related attraction in Polk City, Florida, United States that takes visitors back to the pioneering days of early flight, as well as the First and Second World Wars and beyond. OK Gang, Phil and I have been working on a very interesting flash from the past video featuring my Sam Poole Grumman Duck project, so I hope this flash from my Aerobatic past, age 29, will entertain you while we finish. I had pitched a tent under the wing, endearingly known as the smallest tent at Oshkosh. Add to cart. I remember Mr Weeks and the fallen hero’s to push myself onwards. I had been to Fantasy of Flight 2 years before at Sun and Fun 2011, but never as an honored guest. Great museum but Kermit Weeks decided to close this to the public and keep his collection for his own pleasure. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. A few weeks pass after Oshkosh, and out of the blue I received an email that I had won the Fantasy of Flight “Fly with Kermit Weeks” sweepstakes. I had never been in a seaplane before, and it couldn’t have been a better introduction to something that I would eventually seek experience and obtain my license in. What's Fantasy of Flight got that no other aviation museum has? The attraction opened in November 1995, and houses the world's largest private aircraft collection on display. In a way, I felt like he wanted to change the world, and I respected him for it. It was a flying boat, a rare 1931 Sikorsky S-
39C, which was one of a few that are still flying. Later books in the series will introduce Ostynn's many friends. A few weeks pass after Oshkosh, and out of the blue I received an email that I had won the Fantasy of Flight “Fly with Kermit Weeks” sweepstakes. Share this: Kermit Weeks Very well written. Authored by Kermit Weeks, hard bound and beautifully illustrated this endearing tale is sure to be among your child’s favorites. Fantasy of Flight sports a grass runway that Kermit uses to fly his aircraft. Kermit Weeks' latest book is envisioned to be the first book of a series featuring Fantasy of Flight's main icon character, Ostynn the Ostrich. Kermit Weeks was born in … He came over and shook my hand, and said that since I had traveled so far that he would “drop the ropes” and give me the experience of a lifetime. I also keep in mind the people of the Second World War who sacrificed so much for future generations. It was a great day full of celebration and stories . I attribute my interest in STOL to this moment as we were able to take off and land on the paved area in front of his hangar! FullThrottle Aviation LLC Ferry Pilot Blog. I distinctly remember flying overhead and looking down past the wheel pants as fireworks lit up the air beneath my wheels over Disney. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT FACE MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED WHILE VISITING THE MUSEUM. I asked him why it was painted like a leopard, and he explained that these flying boats were originally intended for mission in Africa, and that they were painted to look familiar to the natives. The next morning, I was up early to make sure that the arrival into Orlampa (FA08), as Kermit has coined Fantasy of Flight, was uneventful. The journey started in Houston, TX with my first stop in Bay Minette (also coined “Babe Minette”), Alabama. I clearly remember the excited exclamations that filled the halls of the office when I received the email. Founder Kermit Weeks—a dedicated vintage-plane collector and former competitive aerobatic pilot—opened Fantasy of Flight to showcase his private plane collection, one of the world's largest. And while this book looks like, and is a children's book, it's actually a book Kermit Weeks reopened his Fantasy of Flight museum to the general public this past weekend, although on a much smaller scale. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the kind and generous actions of Kermit Weeks and Fantasy of Flight. Kermit began to give the history behind the plane, and then unbeknownst to me looked over and “Sarah, do you
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