Kermit Weeks is cooler than you are

[Scherf]

as his Kermie-cam P-51C trip proves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z1Z-WEZZGM

(three parts, as awezum demands...)

[Rogue9Volt]

Very cool video!
 However Kermie's SA needs work!!! He didn't check 6
One time!

[SilverZ06]

I posted these in another thread but Ill post them here as well since they are relevant. I am not a huge fan of the 51B/C styling, but I must admit it sure looks great in the air.
These were taken on Friday April 4th. He closed down Fantasy of Flight to the public on April 7th. I enjoyed seeing him fly the p-51 but I was bummed when I found out he flew his FM-2 the previous day as I would have much rather seen that fly.





Landing

[Puma44]

Why did he close it to the public?

[SilverZ06]

Why did he close it to the public?

He said it was not a sustainable business model. He did state that he has greater plans for fantasy of flight in the future to expand it and make it a huge attraction. He considered the current Fantasy of Flight as the ending of act two with act three being the opening of the expanded Fantasy of Flight which he states at best would be open in 2020.

[Banshee7]

Thanks for posting!  After watching I had to watch some more videos and this video was posted on the suggestions bar. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBVj4I3bHik


It took me about midway through the video (yes, I watched the whole thing) until I realized....THIS IS IN MY HOMETOWN!  Pretty cool 

[Brooke]

Thanks for the links. 

[icepac]

Now if he would just finish the napier sabre engine'd tempest...........

[Nath[BDP]]

what a beauty

[DaveBB]

Was the plane really mirror polished in WW2?  Or did it have just a natural aluminum finish? 

[Brooke]

Was the plane really mirror polished in WW2?  Or did it have just a natural aluminum finish? 

The Museum of Flight in Seattle has  P-51 that they claim is restored to complete WWII authenticity, including the wing finish, which is different than the fuselage finish.  The fuselage metal is very shiny, but the wing is more matte.  You can tell only a little bit in this picture the difference between the wing and fuselage finishes.

[SilverZ06]

Was the plane really mirror polished in WW2?  Or did it have just a natural aluminum finish? 

It looks like it was NOT polished in the war.

[Brooke]

I think that the aluminum parts were shiny if the plane was clean, but not once it started accumulating dirt.

[Puma44]

He said it was not a sustainable business model. He did state that he has greater plans for fantasy of flight in the future to expand it and make it a huge attraction. He considered the current Fantasy of Flight as the ending of act two with act three being the opening of the expanded Fantasy of Flight which he states at best would be open in 2020.

That is sad.  What a fantastic facility!  We visited in December 2012 and could have easily spend a whole weekend drooling over his cool toy collection.  

[morfiend]

 Great pix,thz for sharing Puma!




   

 PS: I could spend a week in the workshop alone!!!