Kermit, you should give some thought to making some "Jay Leno" type videos of the aircraft in your collection. 15-20min videos describing some of the history, design, use, engines, etc. for each aircraft would be fascinating to hear/see. Thanks.
As a kid I remember standing by a Spitfire that just started its Merlin Engine and began to taxi. The sound of the Merlin and the flames from the exhausts was amazing. As it turned the prop wash nearly blew me over! I was having a tour of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in the UK. Hats off to everyone trying to preserve these beautiful old aircraft. Best wishes to everyone stay safe.
Nice Kermit! Brings back great memories of the SAAF Museum Spitfire Mk IX, I had the extreme good fortune to fly as the display pilot in 1999/2000. It looked just like yours, was a rare Merlin 60/70 series engined aircraft, whereas those fitted with a Packard built engine were designated Mk XVI’s. She’s a babe totally voiceless and easy to fly. I had around 800 hrs on the Harvard at the time, I can honestly say, the old T6 is harder to fly! You are a bit busy with rudder on landing (no prop slipstream) but otherwise she talks to you! I remember, pause in the full up or down position with the gear handle. Moving it too fast also, can have the system go to idle with a half retraction blocking the radiators. It will shoot back into the up/down gates will cause it to go to idle too soon also. Big nose down pitch with the flaps deployment, on that broad chord wing, but it pitches her nicely into the approach. Canopy bubble is heavy I used to leave the cockpit door slightly open, to keep it effectively locked open in case on take off, otherwise it will slam forward. There is an intermediate setting on the cockpit door latch which will hold the door slightly open, locking the canopy. Yes, need to close it fully after take off but it’s easy. full nose right rudder trim on take off, the rudder is hugely powerful in flight. Great machine.....no wonder wartime pilots loved it so much!
Even the most ignorant or underappreciative of people MUST be compelled to recognise that this is a BEAUTIFUL piece of machinery. Everything about it is perfect.
Clip-wing has always been my favorite Spitfire Mk IX and MK XVI , I have watched this video several times, can't hardly wait to see it fly, Great video Mr. Kermit.......;-)
I remember when this was restored at Booker in the UK and saw it flying before it was sent over the pond ? There was a good documentary years ago of it flying and on-board filming by Kermit.
Sounds a lot like my life. My grandfather flew B - 17’s. My dad was a fighter pilot and airline pilot just like myself. Dad flew more airplanes than anyone I’ve ever known. He also bought and sold many warbirds and antiques during the 60’s all thru till his passing a few years ago. His most famous plane he bought and saved was the only Focke Wulf 190 D13 in the world. Dads last fighter he flew was the F-104 and his last airliner he flew was with Delta airlines L-1011. Dad started with Delta airlines flying to DC -3. In his career, he flew the DC -3, DC4,DC6, DC7, DC8, DC9 Convers 440 , Convers 880, Boeing 727, 747, L-1011. I grew up flying with dad. As a kid and teenager I was flying all kinds of aircraft- P-51’s, T-28’s, Fairchild’s, Stearman, Great Lakes, Decathlon’s, etc. My first multi engine aircraft I flew with dad as a teenager was a B-26. I was the only Pilot in my Air Force training class at Vance Air Force Base that had their commercial instrument multi engine rating. My fighter pilot experience in the Air Force included the Phantom RF-4C the F4D and the F 16. My airline experience included the Boeing 727 , 737 -200 - 300 and 400 , the 767 , 737 and the Airbus 330 which I retired on. I am currently the owner of a very beautiful Aviat Pitts Special S2C. Needless to say I was born with aviation in my blood. I’ve got over 55 years of flying experience and at 64 I’m still going strong!
It only seems like 5 minutes ago when you posted this film! Hope you get it flying again. It would be very cool to see you hop out of your P51D straight into the mkxvi and comparing the two after flying. Got to go drag Andy back out of retirement and hope you are able to get the 'manual' out soon!
Some typos! Viceless not voiceless! The gear lever will shoot back into the up/down gates, then the system will go to idle, if you move the lever right and put it into the gate, the system may go to idle too soon, before the gear cycle is complete.
That plane looks different from the Spitfire's I've seen in the movies. The wing tips are flat edged, while the ones in the 'Battle of Briton' have rounded wing tips.
Got to keep a Spitfire alive ! same as all your gems , COVID or No Covid. We need to see this spit fly again boss. What is needed to make that happen ?
When I flew RC aircraft, we used to see one of these flying out from Filton Airport, Bristol UK (a wartime field) sounded beautiful. Would also see an occasional Tiger Moth. In another life, I wish I had done a career with World War I.
I was a surprised to see you taxi it in the grass, especially after having repaired a fuel leak. I can imagine a bit of fuel catching fire on the pavement being easier to put out than a fuel-fed wind-blown grass fire. I'm glad everything worked out okay.
With all the cameras mounted on planes and cars today and all the LCD screen in use on their panels it seems like it would be a simple matter to mount cameras for forward vision on tail draggers while taxiing.
Is this an original "numbers matching" example, i.e., does it still have a Merlin 266 (Packard built) engine? It purrs like a pussycat compared to the P-51C.
I seen it again and she looks so great again. I see that the oleo struts on the undercarriage looks empty of air or oil. Wheel well covers are pretty over the wheells or she gets some weight over years ? :)
Call the P-51 the best overall WW2 fighter airplane, the P-47 Thunderbolt the most rugged, the Me-262 the most advanced, yet there is no way to escape the fasination of a Spitfire on the apron!
There are always fire extinguishers present. In first start, our fire jeep is just out of frame at the front of the plane. On the second start, one of our staff has it right beside him.
To all my viewers. Dealing with COVID the last year has thrown a big wrench in our work schedules. The only plane that is currently in annual is the Sikorsky S-39. Like everyone else, we hope to get things back to normal as soon as possible. Until then, we’re trying our best to mix together some new restoration and informational clips, along with some from our archives. Stay with us, as we see this through.
Kermit, A&P/IA here. Awesome video. Always a pleasure to see an operation with such high standards. Quick question. Is your facility an ex-military facility or did you scratch build it to look like old military hangers?
@@KermitWeeks444 maybe a “Flashback” video on how the place was built. That would be cool. Also, do you need highly skilled A&P’s? In am retiring soon from 35 years in the industry and looking for something interesting to get involved with.
Yes he does have a corsair Keith I've seen it a previous video and it looks more like a static display now where visitors could set in it when his main museum use to be open
@@rossmccready2657 With fatigue life and time/use based safety schedules/maintenance, it must be the ultimate plate spinning act to have so many birds.
@@kmc7355 I totally agree plus Kermit is focussed on getting the Third Act to become a reality! Still great to see though and I always enjoy Kermits videos! 👍👍
Finnish it and go fly it. We were at you place in Florida 5 years ago and noticed a nice hellcat sitting there also .. I would have one of each ww2 fighters all flyable. plus your zero . the P38 needs help back to flight status also that i saw . p39 and p63 ? ki-61 is were ?
So much for being on "QRA" during the "Battle of Britain" and being able to kick the tires and light the fires and ready to "intercept" the Luftwaffe at a "moment's notice" without that "moment" stretching into 15 minutes to TAKE OFF after "warm up" with a "carburetted" but oh so ICONIC "Rolls-Royce" Merlin Mark Eleventy Billion.
Does your maintenance team go through the aircraft on a weekly or perhaps monthly basis to keep them in running/flying condition? At least spin them over to keep surfaces lubed, etc... ?
Lower altitude air superiority fighter and fighter-bomber. The big tits on the wings are for the barrels of the 20 mm cannon. The red dots inside those are probably "300 mile an hour" tape covering the 0.50 cal. gun ports.
Look at time 2:22, the long pole is the 20mm cannon barrel fairing, there would be a .50 cal browning on the inside. The wing was built to the ‘E’ spec’.
Need to put batteries in stuff let em run for fun. I’ve been a plain nut since I was little. My dad flew and built model airplanes yes both hobbies got expensive. Cheaper to do a ground run than fly
Kermit, you should give some thought to making some "Jay Leno" type videos of the aircraft in your collection. 15-20min videos describing some of the history, design, use, engines, etc. for each aircraft would be fascinating to hear/see. Thanks.
As a kid I remember standing by a Spitfire that just started its Merlin Engine and began to taxi. The sound of the Merlin and the flames from the exhausts was amazing. As it turned the prop wash nearly blew me over! I was having a tour of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in the UK. Hats off to everyone trying to preserve these beautiful old aircraft.
Best wishes to everyone stay safe.
Nice Kermit! Brings back great memories of the SAAF Museum Spitfire Mk IX, I had the extreme good fortune to fly as the display pilot in 1999/2000. It looked just like yours, was a rare Merlin 60/70 series engined aircraft, whereas those fitted with a Packard built engine were designated Mk XVI’s. She’s a babe totally voiceless and easy to fly. I had around 800 hrs on the Harvard at the time, I can honestly say, the old T6 is harder to fly! You are a bit busy with rudder on landing (no prop slipstream) but otherwise she talks to you! I remember, pause in the full up or down position with the gear handle. Moving it too fast also, can have the system go to idle with a half retraction blocking the radiators. It will shoot back into the up/down gates will cause it to go to idle too soon also. Big nose down pitch with the flaps deployment, on that broad chord wing, but it pitches her nicely into the approach. Canopy bubble is heavy I used to leave the cockpit door slightly open, to keep it effectively locked open in case on take off, otherwise it will slam forward. There is an intermediate setting on the cockpit door latch which will hold the door slightly open, locking the canopy. Yes, need to close it fully after take off but it’s easy. full nose right rudder trim on take off, the rudder is hugely powerful in flight. Great machine.....no wonder wartime pilots loved it so much!
Dam,I forgot Kermit had one of these. Beautiful example of a Spitfire!
A True Masterpiece of Aeronautical Art !
I hope one of these days, after this pandemony, to be present and see this magnífica machina.
Kermit Weeks, & everything he does, well it's just too cool! & if I'm jealous of anyone in the world, it would be him.
Beautiful plane. Would love to see it take to the air again.
Love to see how the tempest' s are coming along!!!
Kermit... just thank you!
Even the most ignorant or underappreciative of people MUST be compelled to recognise that this is a BEAUTIFUL piece of machinery. Everything about it is perfect.
Clip-wing has always been my favorite Spitfire Mk IX and MK XVI , I have watched this video several times, can't hardly wait to see it fly, Great video Mr. Kermit.......;-)
@Art Deaton - What version of this Spitfire? ....... Is it an F-24?
@@flaviomarcio8789 It id a MK XVI don't know the sub model without the serial Number!
I remember when this was restored at Booker in the UK and saw it flying before it was sent over the pond ?
There was a good documentary years ago of it flying and on-board filming by Kermit.
Thanks for sowing this Kermit! Love to see a Kermie Cam on your B-26.
Thank you Kermit
Just great to enjoy this again. :)
Gorgeous, simply gorgeous
Hope to see this and the Tempest fly one day.
Oh, and the Boomerang!
The UK Typhoon and Sabre engine will probably fly before Kermit's Tempests (he has a II and a V).
@@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935 yes I think you’re probably right - and it’s interesting keeping up with that restoration as well.
Verry nice plane.....thank you👍
Totally Awesome. Thanks for sharing Mr Weeks.
Great airplane, thanks for sharing.
What a good looking airplane...thanks for sharing
What a machine, just need to race Paul in the BF-108
Always good to see you Kermit with a new old toy
Beautiful airplane, life is good. Thanks for sharing Kermit
Nice ride :) Thanks for sharing Yf....
I LOVE this airplane!
My fav plane, Please get her flying soon
Thing of beauty
Talk about beauty
We Hope you Take time out getting it back FLYING soon 🤩
When the flaps when down one at a time I heard the creak noise and knew right away something wasn't right with that. XD
Thanks Kermit...l surly hope you and yours are doing well...??...Thank for the clip....!!
Sounds a lot like my life. My grandfather flew B - 17’s. My dad was a fighter pilot and airline pilot just like myself. Dad flew more airplanes than anyone I’ve ever known. He also bought and sold many warbirds and antiques during the 60’s all thru till his passing a few years ago. His most famous plane he bought and saved was the only Focke Wulf 190 D13 in the world. Dads last fighter he flew was the F-104 and his last airliner he flew was with Delta airlines L-1011. Dad started with Delta airlines flying to DC -3. In his career, he flew the DC -3, DC4,DC6, DC7, DC8, DC9 Convers 440 , Convers 880, Boeing 727, 747, L-1011. I grew up flying with dad. As a kid and teenager I was flying all kinds of aircraft- P-51’s, T-28’s, Fairchild’s, Stearman, Great Lakes, Decathlon’s, etc. My first multi engine aircraft I flew with dad as a teenager was a B-26. I was the only Pilot in my Air Force training class at Vance Air Force Base that had their commercial instrument multi engine rating. My fighter pilot experience in the Air Force included the Phantom RF-4C the F4D and the F 16. My airline experience included the Boeing 727 , 737 -200 - 300 and 400 , the 767 , 737 and the Airbus 330 which I retired on. I am currently the owner of a very beautiful Aviat Pitts Special S2C. Needless to say I was born with aviation in my blood. I’ve got over 55 years of flying experience and at 64 I’m still going strong!
beautiful bird 🌟👍
I've all ways loved the spitfire it would be a dream job to work there with that plane and it runs so good very beautiful old girl
It only seems like 5 minutes ago when you posted this film! Hope you get it flying again. It would be very cool to see you hop out of your P51D straight into the mkxvi and comparing the two after flying. Got to go drag Andy back out of retirement and hope you are able to get the 'manual' out soon!
Some typos! Viceless not voiceless! The gear lever will shoot back into the up/down gates, then the system will go to idle, if you move the lever right and put it into the gate, the system may go to idle too soon, before the gear cycle is complete.
hope to see it fly
So Awesome
That plane looks different from the Spitfire's I've seen in the movies. The wing tips are flat edged, while the ones in the 'Battle of Briton' have rounded wing tips.
I think this is what they call a clippling version and I think maybe it added to the maneuverability not sure
I meant to say clipped wing, not clipped
Got to keep a Spitfire alive ! same as all your gems , COVID or No Covid. We need to see this spit fly again boss. What is needed to make that happen ?
When I flew RC aircraft, we used to see one of these flying out from Filton Airport, Bristol UK (a wartime field) sounded beautiful. Would also see an occasional Tiger Moth. In another life, I wish I had done a career with World War I.
Great videos. Much more interesting than Netflix. lol. My uncle was a spitfire pilot. He was trained in Canada and flew for 417 squadron in Egypt.
such a lucky man
I was a surprised to see you taxi it in the grass, especially after having repaired a fuel leak. I can imagine a bit of fuel catching fire on the pavement being easier to put out than a fuel-fed wind-blown grass fire. I'm glad everything worked out okay.
good one
im in china im so very like you video thanks
I wonder if this is the same plane once owned by the late Bill Ross back in the 70s. That was a bubble canopy Spit kept at DuPage Airport.
That young lady needs to FLY!
Troll. (I understand there is a position open under the Queensboro Bridge in NYC. You should apply.)
Ty kirmit
With all the cameras mounted on planes and cars today and all the LCD screen in use on their panels it seems like it would be a simple matter to mount cameras for forward vision on tail draggers while taxiing.
That’s not period then, is it?
Wonder what you will be thinking the first time in flight you put those flaps down.
Clipped wings for low altitude action...
Let's go flying.
Could you do a Kermie Cam of her?
Damn this spit has clipped wings that's kinda cool
@Pete Singletons also increased roll rate
Also rare in that it's a Merlin powered spit with a bubble canopy
theyre just the grandest girls arent they
Mk XVIe clip wing Packard Merlin 266
Lovely aircraft. I know the great niece of R. J. Mitchell (same surname) she has his flying helmet.
Is this the Mk XVI that came from the Hellinic Airforce? They have a Mk IX that they recently got it flying.
Is this an original "numbers matching" example, i.e., does it still have a Merlin 266 (Packard built) engine? It purrs like a pussycat compared to the P-51C.
When are you gonna make the spitfire flying again? It's been long since you said it last time.
Kermit, I'm 71 years old. In my next life... I want to be you.
Thing really turned the guns on the huns....
Is there any work being done on this aircraft now, or is it going to be a project for another day?
Nothing now, but hopefully, soon!
Can i ask what's the background of this Spit?
The boys that flew these.... were not worried about a little miss fire
Kermit and his toys. How I envy him
I seen it again and she looks so great again. I see that the oleo struts on the undercarriage looks empty of air or oil. Wheel well covers are pretty over the wheells or she gets some weight over years ? :)
Call the P-51 the best overall WW2 fighter airplane, the P-47 Thunderbolt the most rugged, the Me-262 the most advanced, yet there is no way to escape the fasination of a Spitfire on the apron!
The Americans had speed and numbers, the British spots had maneuverability and number. German 262 had technology in low numbers
I just wonder whay ther are no exstingishers in close proksimity if something bad went wrong so the fire cude be exstingished right away?
There are always fire extinguishers present. In first start, our fire jeep is just out of frame at the front of the plane. On the second start, one of our staff has it right beside him.
Kermit's place is one huge fire supression system.
That sounds like a Merlin. Is it?
Does this guy not fly anymore or do any new videos?
To all my viewers. Dealing with COVID the last year has thrown a big wrench in our work schedules. The only plane that is currently in annual is the Sikorsky S-39. Like everyone else, we hope to get things back to normal as soon as possible. Until then, we’re trying our best to mix together some new restoration and informational clips, along with some from our archives. Stay with us, as we see this through.
Whats the old saying? You climb into an American Firghter, but you strap on a Spitfire
It's under warranty don't worry..
Kermit, A&P/IA here. Awesome video. Always a pleasure to see an operation with such high standards. Quick question. Is your facility an ex-military facility or did you scratch build it to look like old military hangers?
Scratch built from my design.
@@KermitWeeks444 maybe a “Flashback” video on how the place was built. That would be cool. Also, do you need highly skilled A&P’s? In am retiring soon from 35 years in the industry and looking for something interesting to get involved with.
Does a warm start require a different starting procedure in the Spitfire, like in other piston-engined airplanes?
Probably fewer wobbles.
Sending a hello Kermit, from Perth Western Australia. Do you read the comments?
Hello from Adelaide 👍
It will fly again by the way I have the model of this exact spitfire ahahah
Where is the new Andy Satler for Kermit?
We’re looking!
Does kermit own a corsair?
Yes he does have a corsair Keith I've seen it a previous video and it looks more like a static display now where visitors could set in it when his main museum use to be open
Any update as to whether you have got this gorgeous Spitfire flying?
Got to read his description friend. "don't know when that will be."
@@monkeybarmonkeyman my mistake! Kermit has so many wonderful aircraft and of course they ALL deserve to fly but I get it’s a juggling act! 👍👍
@@rossmccready2657 With fatigue life and time/use based safety schedules/maintenance, it must be the ultimate plate spinning act to have so many birds.
@@kmc7355 I totally agree plus Kermit is focussed on getting the Third Act to become a reality! Still great to see though and I always enjoy Kermits videos! 👍👍
Plus I’m sure Kermit won’t mind me being biased towards the Spitfire as I’m from the UK plus a visit to his museum is on my bucket list! 👍
FLY@ FLY2 FLY!
Is the upperwing roundel correct?
Yes. 2nd Tactical Air Force, northern Europe from January 1945.
@@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935 I'm so used to seeing Spits and other WWII RAF aircraft with the yellow outer ring. Thank you.
Finnish it and go fly it. We were at you place in Florida 5 years ago and noticed a nice hellcat sitting there also .. I would have one of each ww2 fighters all flyable. plus your zero . the P38 needs help back to flight status also that i saw . p39 and p63 ? ki-61 is were ?
Oh, sure, Florida, windows down an short sleeve shirt (-:
I would be nice to see it with tips on the wings more sexy I think.
Let's give it to the Huns jolly good
Would You get a mig-15 or a p-47?
P-47 for sure!
Was the DOGE identification on purpose?
So much for being on "QRA" during the "Battle of Britain" and being able to kick the tires and light the fires and ready to "intercept" the Luftwaffe at a "moment's notice" without that "moment" stretching into 15 minutes to TAKE OFF after "warm up" with a "carburetted" but oh so ICONIC "Rolls-Royce" Merlin Mark Eleventy Billion.
Does your maintenance team go through the aircraft on a weekly or perhaps monthly basis to keep them in running/flying condition? At least spin them over to keep surfaces lubed, etc... ?
wondered about them sitting and how they keep them up
Nope, park em and sort it out years later if ever!
Needs some 3" rocket launch rails to make it live up to those tank claims...;-)
Was that a hot start? Is that a reconnaissance model? I see no guns or ports! Did they have six British 303?
Lower altitude air superiority fighter and fighter-bomber. The big tits on the wings are for the barrels of the 20 mm cannon. The red dots inside those are probably "300 mile an hour" tape covering the 0.50 cal. gun ports.
Look at time 2:22, the long pole is the 20mm cannon barrel fairing, there would be a .50 cal browning on the inside. The wing was built to the ‘E’ spec’.
👍 👍 👍!!!
Need to put batteries in stuff let em run for fun. I’ve been a plain nut since I was little. My dad flew and built model airplanes yes both hobbies got expensive. Cheaper to do a ground run than fly
Rolls Royce baby
I dare you to taxi through a drive in and order a cheeseburger in it....
Sexiest plane in the collection
Kermit Weeks for President, he likes Winston Churchill and would probably have his bust in the Oval Office!