Sergei Sikorsky Visits Kermit - Howard Hughes Sikorsky S-43
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 มี.ค. 2020
- Sergei Sikorsky Visits FoF - Part 2 of 3 - Howard Hughes Sikorsky S-43
It was a special treat, and my pleasure, in February 2020 to have Sergei Sikorsky visit Fantasy of Flight. He was there to film an interview for an upcoming IMAX film on the adventures of Martin & Osa Johnson, and their plane expeditions into Africa and Borneo.
Of course, I used the opportunity to do some interviewing myself, as we walked around my facility, and viewed some of the Sikorsky planes in my collection.
Our fascinating chat continues in Part 2 here, of a now 3 Part series. This episode is dedicated entirely to Howard Hughes Sikorsky S-43 in my collection. Check it out.
(We had so much great footage of Sergei talking about the S-43, that we didn't want to cut and keep anything from you guys - hence the need to add a Part 3.)
Look for the newly added Part 3, coming out the end of March, with more from Sergei - With the shifted footage of us viewing the Seversky P-35 and the Messerschmitt Bf-108.
I'll say it again . . . Cool stuff!
Kermit Weeks
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I am 87, a little younger than mr sikorsky , in 1939-40 our sunday treat was to go to a small cove on lake washington near the sand point nas and watch the pan am clippers load up and take off ---- did not see ginger rogers though -- saw her a few years later at marine base san diego with bob hope troupe -- very interesting interview !!
Igor Sikorsky was one of my heroes as a kid. His auto-biography is among the list of my most treasured books. His son Sergei is no less impressive, a man who was given great opportunities and did not shrink from the responsibilities. This video series was awesome 👏
Thanks Kermit , this was special!
He really loosens up because you let him speak without interruption. Good job.
Gotta agree with everyone else here. Thanks for uploading this!!! This is aviation history for history geeks!!! This man Sikorsky is the son of one of the preeminent aircraft designers during the golden age of aviation!!!
I could listen to his stories all day long.
Two decent and proper grownups, respecting each other. Can't get any better than that.
Please make this one fly!
Things that fly...Then and now.....History then and now....This is awesome.....Mr. Kermit Weeks and Mr.Sikorsky then and now W0W....l love flying.....l am 77 years old then and now....But this is outstanding stuff.....Thanks very much my friend...Kermit !!!
A great interview Kermit. So good to have for posterity.
Thank the lord for lunch breaks as i ran on to this historic play by play of aviation history!
OMG, Sergei is a living treasure to humanity. I wish I could sit and listen to him recount memories for ages and ages!
He looks so much like his dad, now that he's older also , !! so it's alot like being with his dad !! WOW !! thanks Kermit , what a special treat !
This is some amazing stuff. Talking great history, creating great history. Thank you Mr. Weeks and if you happen to see this Mr. Sikorsky, thank you!
LOL Sergei rapidly forgot his hero Howard Hughes and became a fan of Ginger Rogers. (With a little help from the chilly weather.) Priceless! It's nice to hear an engineer that speaks at a level we mere mortals can understand with a very human touch of humor.
That's because, in addition to being a pilot and engineer, he is a qualified flight mechanic. He can break it down to any level he needs to. It has been an honor and a privilege to have had the opportunity to talk to him on several occasions over my own 38 years at Sikorsky. He is a marvelous gentleman and a vast store of knowledge and experience.
Sergei the very greatest. Thanks for sharing as ever Kermit and team.
What a gentleman! You too Kermit!
Thanks!
PFG Kermit.. I could listen to that conversation for ever..
This series is fantastic... „at the risk of boring you“ 😆😆😆😆😆 no way he would ever ....
and really great that Kermit gets him to tell all the stories and let’s him tell them !
Funny to think that 80+ years later Sergei can recall the Ginger Rogers meeting still with that glint in his eye.
@MichaelKingsfordGray He is getting on a bit and if he got the name wrong we could forgive him.
@MichaelKingsfordGray.
Howard Hughes was dating Ginger Rogers at the time of his visit, c1938.
Some women you just don't forget 😁
Wow fantastic video, thank you for sharing Kermit. Sergei would be a great man to have lunch with and just listen to all of the wonderful aviation history he has been a part of, just amazing.
Again Kermit this is priceless, thank you for sharing this with us.
What great stories ! Thank you for sharing !!!
It's great to see that one of this country's icons is still sharp as a knifes edge and tells his story about his pop and Howard Hughes first time encounter.
They don't make like that anymore, where everything was done by slide rule and pencil, then trial and error manufacturing
What an honor to listen to him!
Kermit I love that you can share an experience like this with everyone. Years ago I visited FOF during Sun n Fun and you were flying your TP-40. As you landed and got out of the airplane a stooped back old gentleman approached you pulling a curled photo out of his wallet to share the photo and a story with you. You must have been very busy with all the activities that week but my impression was that you had no where more important to be than right there listing to this stranger's story. I knew then and there that you are a class act. Carry on and I wish all success to you.
A special treat indeed. These are among the best of your videos. Thanks Kermit !
Brilliant stories from Sergei about his father, Howard Hughes, Ginger Rodgers and the others. Interesting man.
This series of interviews with Sergei are not only historic but wonderfully enjoyable. Thank you! Excited about the possibility of Phase III. I was at Phase I.
Mr. Sikorsky is an amazing man. He pronounced the name Andre Priester almost perfectly. Can you imagine this guy is 95 years old!
Sergei Sikorsky is part of a pioneering aviation family, yet he wrenched on birds as an enlisted kid during the war. There's not an squeak of entitlement in the humble man's voice as he entertains us with his recounts of remarkable adventures. Ginger Rodgers...Lord sweet JEEZUZ.
I think the greatest night of my life was back in 1996 at the Sikorsky Plant in Bridgeport. My wife and I were seated with Sergei Sikorsky for a dinner / dance, and some of the original members of the Glenn Miller Band were there playing for us. We spent the entire evening talking with him, and it was fantastic.
That was a fast 40 Minutes! eyewitness of a bygone era
God dang it Kermit! I can't go on waiting for part 3... i am so enjoying this series. I think Sergei Sikorsky has moved into spot number 3 behind Bob Hoover and General Yeager for my next favorite Aviator. I really hope you get Fantasy of Flight back open soon, I am not getting any younger you know. BTW, you have to be about 4th or 5th with Mikey Mcbryan. May God bless the aviators of old and the historians that keep them alive.
Kermit what a Privilege to have Mr. Sikorsky in FoF and the fact you get to interview him. Priceless. Legends of Aviation.
Absolutely awesome. Thanks, Kermit and Sergei!
Amazing stories of an exceptional life. And through it all, he's just a regular down to earth soul. God Bless him.
Kermit, I just love your videos and your knowledge of antiques..what a treat you are and your brilliance is amazing . Obviously, you do extensive research and love aviation to no end. It’s cool you have the bucks to indulge in your passion and take us along for the cool ride. You have given all of us aviation buffs a special gift. Thank you, sir!
I had the honor of helping sand and body work the S-43 as A young boy with my father when it was restored at Wolf air park in Texas i would love to see it again someday !
And used to see it all the time when it was stored at Hobby airport
40 minutes flies fast, when pilots reminisce.!.! Outstanding...
I liked that third favourite aviation memory. A good learning experience. We have all had those, to some degree.
Fucking Brilliant..!
Wow, Kermit, Thank you for this interview with Sergei Sikorski. I watched Part 3 before going back for Parts 1 and 2, and I have really learned a lot about you plans for ActIII. I had been kind of doubtful about it until I saw this interview, but after seeing your interactions with Mr. Sikorski, I am really looking forward to your re-opening with ActIII. This has probably been one of the best interviews yet. Thank you again and please keep up with the Kermie Cams, Mechanics Corners and other features, I love them all.
I have watched this a few times. Such wonderful history.
Sergei is having so much fun. He's enjoying every second. Can hardly wait to see his face when he sees the P-35. Always a fan of Howard Hughes; Wish I could have met him.
In my earlier days in aviation, I was fortunate to have met many aviation notables Jimmy Doolittle(with whom I share the same birthday), Olive Ann Beech, Louise Thaden, Bob Hoover, Chuck Yeager AND Kermit Weeks but seeing the bra less Ginger Rogers would have been incredible! I could listen to this for weeks. Eagerly awaiting part 3 and one of my favorites the P-35! Thank you for sharing this piece of aviation history with Sergei and all his stories!
P.35 WAS A SEVERSKY (REPUBLIC AVIATION) DESIGN, NOT SIKORSKY
Wow! What a list!
Sergei Sikorsky is a living time machine 👍
Kermit, you have all of these airplanes that are treasures in themselves. And as you well know, most of them can be saved and restored with enough knowledge, skill, very hard work, and of course money! But what a real treasure getting to interview and hang out with a man like Sergei Sikorsky! So much knowledge, history, and so many experiences that he has to share with all of us! Thank you for sharing! Wonderful videos with this man whom is a part of our aviation history! As wonderful as it is for us to hear Sergei's stories and memories, I bet it warmed his heart to share them also! :)
Talking about the flight in NY over the Hudson. My dad flew in that show. VB-75 off the FDR, SB2c5 Helldiver, Radioman/Gunner. He flew in 3 different parades . Have his flight logs.
These videos are GOLD to hear his stories are priceless events. My goodness we need more videos from people like this.
Fascinating to hear Sergei's stories it must have a great day at FOF. It's all very cool I think you were always destined to own and fly Howard Hughes' S-43. Just want also say your films and really well put together, I love all the extra details you include like all the photos and earlier film clips it's nice to get the full story - roll on Act 3 and the S-43's refit.
Thanks for the kind comments. Philmer says thanks too!
Awesome interesting interview.. thank you Kermit
Wow Kermit thanks so much for sharing this, fascinating stuff.
The smile on Mr. Sikorskys' face when he got into the pilots seat on that flying boat said it all. Thanks for the great video, I look forward to part 3. Thanks-
How great to this information from Sergei Sikorsky documented. So much here that I'm sure does not appear anywhere else. How much longer will it be before he passes on & all that is left is what has been documented. Great video, awesome plane too.I actually own an S-43 myself, but mine is only 12" long & plastic.....
Thank you for producing and posting this video! Great to hear Mr. Sikorski telling his stories. Truly a peek into history. Like how you let him unreel his tales. You are a host who lets his guests talk, not like some Moderators who do all the talking. 👍👍
what a great guy and some great stories
It was an honor to pressure wash your museum with my father a few weeks back! I hope to meet you in person one day!
A consummate gentleman, Sergi, like his father. Such a treat to see him enjoy the FoF collection. Thanks so much for sharing.
Priceless, thanks.
what a great interview. man classic back story for this plane
Thank you for video taping this and sharing it with us. Truly fantastic!
thanks again Kermit for sharing this with us, such an intresting man with great stories - what a treat.
Fabulous stories. Those days of aviation he experienced and relates are golden! Thank you so much for keeping those days alive, Kermit.
Kermit, thank you so much. It was a fascinating interview.
What a treasure. Stories like this are priceless.Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Kermit and FOF , what an interesting man. Wonderful that you are recording this, looking forward to part 3
What an interesting and intelligent man. Looking forward to part three.
Of all the video's you've made so far, these are the most historically important of them all. Absolutely incredible interview. One that will seriously be remembered by all for meny years. As this IS history told by someone that was there. Not second hand, but by the man actually that lived it. Sergei Sikorsky is a true treasure.
Wow Mr Weeks what a man to have at your shop. I could listen to him speak for days with his history. Did he give you goose bumps in the admirations you must have felt spending time with him. That’s the emotional journey I get from listening to you. Thank you 🙏
It was a very special day for all or us here at FoF, me included!
Thank you for sharing this. I have read every book and watched every interview with Mr.Hughes. He is by far my most admired human being. I feel sad how he was treated and portrayed. He closed himself off from others once he realized the ignorance.
Thank U for sharing UR kind thought of Mr. Hughes.
Awesome videos Kermit . My fathers cousin worked for Sikorsky from 1958 until his death 9 years ago .His name was Richard Deichmann . My son is now a helicopter tech with the RCAF . We loved your Fantasy of Flight ...
Mr Sikorsky has a great memory.. I’m 48 and can’t remember what I did yesterday! Could listen for hours..
Great stories. I enjoyed the interview.
What an amazing airplane Kermit. All the best in the restoration!
Perhaps the "no passengers for takeoff and landing" is for crash purposes. I've seen it on several other prop aircraft. In the event of an accident and the prop come off the engine there is a chance it could penetrate the fuselage.
Aviation history right there, so good to hear the account of meeting Hughes. Awesome 👍
Fabulous!
Riveting stuff, thankyou.
Excited to see Sergei in the FOF. His father was a real important piece of aviation history! I have to say Kermit has great taste in aircraft but these Sikorsky Flying Boats are some of my favorites.
If you're a aviation history addict, and these interviews and stories don't give you goose bumps, you need a goose bump mod. WOW
Thanks Kermit, this is spellbinding.
Thank you! Happy landings :-)
This interview/visit had me smiling the whole time.
I can hardly wait for part 3.
Thanks Kermit!
I worked on that S 43 at wolf park in 88 won first place in 1990 at wings over Houston
Also it had two B17 1250 HP nine cylinder
Radial engines compared to the original 800 HP engines was very powerful with the B17 engines.
Wow!! What a great interview.😀
A looked at his face during the interview. You brought out a pride in him that was very obvious and in some instances I think he could not believe the commitment that you are making to this beautiful airplane. I will never forget the expressions on his face. Well done Sir.
A very interesting and sharp bloke. And he must be well older than he looks as he was in the WW2
If you do the math, Sergei was 95 in 2020.
Love these videos , watching while working in a S-61 doghouse in the Stratford plant .
Bloody drone, the director needs a good pineappling.
What an opportunity to here Sergei stories, what a life he's had.
Thank you for sharing
That was the other crew, not ours!
@@KermitWeeks444 It's all good mate, It was just so consuming listening to Sergei and yourself. You could tell by the look on your face, this is the price to get this opportunity.
There's just not many people around anymore who have lived such a life.
This is our chance too be the fly on the wall.
Thanks Kermit.
I enjoyed this very much just as part 1. And Thank You for letting him tell his stories uninterrupted. I can't wait for part 3. I'm hopeful he gets in the air with you. I can really tell that he is enjoying this meeting with you. It's probably not that often he gets to meet someone like you that he knows he can relate to that has a shared passion and knowledge for the history of aviation.
Kermit your living the life I want to live... Nothing but airplanes and all the fun, headaches and frustration that comes with flying and maintaining them. There is still time for me yet but I gotta play my cards right.
Edit: whoa, I'm in this vid‼️ In the bit of vision when the Howard Hughs Sikorsky was delivered, visiting from Australia, and got lucky that day it seems. This vid, what a charming man Sergei is 👍😀
This is a most enjoyable series. Can't wait for the next installment. BTW, you could probably fund a substantial part of the restoration if you put that bra up on Ebay.
If only it was real!
That was absolutely awesome!! Thank you!
This. Was. Glorious. Word- for-word. Start-to-finish. And I thought the same thing about Part One!. Mortgage Co.: "Mr. Alfonso, you missed your monthly mortgage payment." "Yeah, but it was either pay you or buy a ride on Mr. Weeks S-43." "Oh..." I cannot wait for Part 3. ( But gonna say it, the comments are Golden. Proof that this is really appreciated.)
Absolutely amazing interview. The stories are aviation treasures and I’m glad they got recorded! Thanks so much!
Thanks for the memories !
Excellent, thanks for making these historical videos.
great to hear about his stories
Back in the 1980’s and 1990’s I lived in the Houston area. My husband at the time knew people who were restoring Hughes S-43 Sikorsky. In 1985 we lived near the LaPorte Municipal Airport where the plane was being restored in the Bayport Aviation Hangar. We wanted to see the plane. And in the summer of 1985 we saw it and I took a photo. Looks like parts are covered in preparation for painting. The plane is green so I guess that is a primer? So long ago I don’t remember many details I was told. In November 1990 went back to the airport to take photos outside the hangar. I have several photos inside and out. It looks like the plane was complete. I can’t remember though if it was in flyable condition. I made notes on the backs of my photos at the time so that’s how I have the dates and places. If Kermit Weeks would like digital copies of these photos I would happily provide. I found these photos I had stored many years ago and I was recently going through boxes. If I discover there are a lot of people who would like to see these photo’s I will figure a way to post them online.
Great! Reach out to my media guy, pzizza@fantasyofflight.com. Thanks
IN FIRST! Part two!!! WOOT! I want to see the Kermie cam of a FLIGHT together! Sergei has some awesome genes. You would swear he was at least 10-15 years younger than he actually is (age 95 as of 31 January 2020).
Juan Trippe was a visionary, he pioneered international flight routes scouted by Charles Lindbergh.
I like the frankness of both Sergey Sr and Jr. Sr saying that the helicopter will never be as fast as the airplane, but it will do things the airplane can't do. And Jr. Saying in this video, that he wouldn't have had the life he had without his father's prior accomplishments.
Could listen for hours ,thanks for the history lesson
Great video...I would love to have my family fly in the S-43
Another great story !!! Really appreciate these videos! Thanks for sharing. Regards from Alaska!