I was lucky enough to take a trip to the Fantasy of Flight museum near Orlando while visiting family this month. The museum is really top notch. It's owned by Kermit Weeks, and seems to be his passion in life. It's a bit light on "history" compared to something like the Air Force of Navy museums, but very heavy on his personal collection of aircraft. You're able to get close to many of the aircraft, and he has broad collection: Mustangs (D & C), a Spitfire, Gee Bee replicas, WWI replicas, a Spirit of St. Louis replica, an FM2 Wildcat, F4U-1D, T-6 Texan, B-24, B-25, B-26 PBY, Storch, etc. His webpage has a pretty detailed list: http://www.fantasyofflight.com/aircraft/
You can also take tours of the engine shop, restoration shop, storage area, and get a closeup look at the packed maintenance hanger. There are more V-1710 Allison engines stacked in the various shops than you'd believe. The storage area has some great stuff in it, and you're allowed to roam around and look to your hearts content. The staff said that Weeks will only buy things he expects to get flying again. He had a B-17, B-29, F9F Cougar, P-38L in many pieces, a Hellcat, a reasonably sound recovered Zero wreck, and what looked like airship gondolas. There were tons more I can't recall, or didn't know the significance of.
The museum runs a daily flight demo. They said that it's often one of the staff flying the Storch, but if Weeks is around he will personally fly something else. The days we were there, he was flying his P-51D, 45-11507 (painted as Preddy's "Cripes A'Mighty 3rd"). He bought the plane for $155,000 in 1979 when he was 25. It was restored around 2004, and it's amazing, fully polished to a basically mirror finish.
I shot a video and uploaded it to YouTube, but I got a lot of wind noise, sadly, however you can hear the Merlin pretty good when the Mustang passes by. This is an edited version showing the highlights: taxi, run-up, takeoff, then several passes over the runway, and finally landing. The video is in HD, so you can watch it in 1080p if you want. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDDsRge8Zbc
Really enjoyed watching that video Matt. Thanks for letting us know that was out there. Nothing like the sound of that MUstangs engine as it roars by!
Any others you want to call out?
Bill L.
Thanks Matt! Enjoyed the video!
The Fantasy of Flight Museum is one of the best around! We toured it about 10 years ago and Kermitt has aquired more aircraft since that time. When I retire I want to buy a mobile home in the trailer park next to the museum so I can go out on any given day and hear them start something up.
RonV
Great video, Matt. I visited Fantasy of Flight a few years ago, and I agree that it's a great place. Mr. Weeks is a true enthusiast. He flew a Po-2 when I was there (WW2 vintage Russian biplane). The engine shop/warehouse is amazing. I got close to a Bristol Centaurus from a Sea Fury - very impressive, as are the many crates containing complete engines of various types.
Cheers,
Lee G.