He does, but he has many jobs, and the other ones make money, a lot more people need to go through his wonderful museum for it to just float. He's been on I4 midway between Tampa and Orlando for decades Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome founded by Cole Palen is a 2 hour drive north of New York City with little nearby and closed during the winter seems to have never had an attendance problem. He needs to kidnap some of their management, or borrow a jar of pixie dust they have
Gee Whizz the B-2 even to give it company, that us just special! The imagination just lights within. The stubby chord of the wing and non retractable just gives it all kinds of character.
It looks to me to have a four cylinder B series Menasco rather than the later C series six which Brown put in his later B-2. I think I had a Hawk plastic model of this back in the early '50s. Sure looks good, tiny thing.
Nevada, especially the very short biplane race where a white plane routinely laps most of the field and has a huge lead over 2nd place, thanks to weird propeller. You can watch videos of recent events AKA horrible fatal crashes
Miss Las Angeles!!!! Saw it once at the Flabob air show/open house. Gentlemen in a flight suit talking about her was holding a trophy as big, if not bigger than he was!
Why did I not became a pilot and an old plane restorator, instead of a classical guitar player? Well, hell only mighty God knows. It seems to be more fun to deal with old aircrafts and fly them as well. Thanks for them videos from Kermit.
Beautiful one of a kind aircraft. Thank you for preserving it and giving it a home. and, hopefully, one day taking it back into it's element among the clouds.
I don't think Kermit will fit into the cockpit he is more than a foot to tall . I doubt that I would fit, I an only 5' 7" would need a pilot under 5'5" is my guess.
If I'm not mistaken, the B-2 replica was built at my home field of KRIR (Historic Flabob Airport). I remember seeing photos of this bird in the ole Hangar 20 where they had majority of the other replicas owned by Mr. Wathen kept.
>> This May Sound Silly,,, "But , Just How Lucky We Are",,,, To Have a Man With Such Talent ,and Resources To Share His LIFE,,,,, With Us,,, ... He Gives Us "Freely",,, The Chance To Become Part of This Great Adventure... Thanks, and a "Big Mahalo" To Kermit and Family,,,,
A machine from the "See where you're going? What a quaint notion!" school of design. What a gorgeous little craft. Presumably, given its long career, a little less vicious than the typical racer of the day.
Sir...You have reached the status, at least in my mind, of the likes of Dolittle,Yeager, Crossfield, Lindbergh, Richtofen, and maybe a little dash of Douglas Bader, Richard Bong, Joseph Frantisek, James Howell Howard, Erich Hartmann, and so many more...No better man ever graced the skies...Kudos from Wyoming ....
Wow, my dad lived across the river adjacent to Montebello in the 1930s. He spoke of a local airport long gone. He must have witnessed some of these classic racers being flown. He also spoke about seeing P-38s doing dive tests over the river and early Flying Fortresses flying low.
I AM NOT AN AERONAUTICS PERSON AT ALL BUT, AM VERY FASCINATED WITH YOUR FACILITY AND ALL OF THE FANTASTIC FLYING MACHINES ! I SEE THAT CHILD LIKE SMILE ON YOUR FACE WHEN SEEING ANOTHER ACCOMPLISHMENT OF AIRCRAFT NOBILITY ! THANKS KERMIT !
I spent a lot of time in my younger years hanging around Repeat Aircraft at Flabob Airport. I got to see some fascinating replicas built, including the DH Comet replica, among others.
Looks like the Shounfeldt (sp) Firecracker #70 race plane from the same time era. Same color! I wonder if they ever raced against each other? This will look nice sitting beside Kermit's Gee Bee 7.
I saw the B2 replica when Bill Turner owned it. I also saw what she looked like after Bill's son got her upside down between a couple of hangars somewhere. Fortunately Bill's son survived the accident, and so did "Miss Los Angeles".
The B-2 replica and I assume the B-1 are nice flying airplanes until they are not! Always respect these planes. I didn't while flying the B-2 at Osh Kosh. I got cocky and popped the tail immediately with full power and that big prop took me about 30 degrees to the left! I caught it and didn't hit anybody but boy, I sure heard about it when I landed.
@@rusty41251 who owned the aircraft at that time? Mr. Weeks? There's been a time or two in my life when I felt strips of flesh being torn from my body, and it was all verbally done...
Did the Brown B-2 live at Flabob Airport in Riverside, Ca? I remember seeing it as a teenager when I bummed a ride in a Waco Standard Biplane from Cable Airport and we flew into Flabob to visit the folks there.
Doing some digging it would seem the plane originally had a 185 HP Menasco engine not surprisingly also from California and had a top speed of 240 mph. The engine in it now is a Continental C-85 installed in the 40’s. Not to be confused with the very similar Alden Brown B-1 Racer from the same period. Glad Kermit has an interest in the race planes from the golden age.
@@bobhamilton298 Poor Kermit, he wished he could fly it, alas, you're too big Kermit. Maybe he could borrow the "Way Back Machine" to become a smaller Kermit. LOL.A great addition to the planes at FOF.
Hi!, The plane is beginning the turning around his left, over the pylon, this inclination caused the optical illusion from the lateral point of view of the film camera.
Given that there only now seem to be 4 exhaust stacks, has the Menasco C6 inverted inline 6, been replaced with a 4 cylinder engine like a De Havilland Gipsy Major or a Blackburn Cirrus Bombardier?
How many air racing events are left in the US? I read 2024 Reno Air Race will be the last due the extreme (rocketing) insurance premiums due to the Leeward crash. Or are these events gone>
Wow, nice! Just felt the urge to ask if there is a PnP version of it and where I can order it 😁 It looks like a slightly bigger RC model. In fact, there are RC models that are bigger 😉
That's just what I thought when I saw it coming out of the truck: there could barely a man fit in. As the cockpit seems to be a little too smal for you Kermit, will the Racer ever fly again?
@@KermitWeeks444 Not to be morbid but Kermit, when you aren’t around, how do you see the collection in the future. I’d hate to witness another Champlin fiasco unfold. To break up the collection would be sacrelidgeous!
Did it fly or was it specifically meant to be a static display. Only 1, I would be wary of flying it. Although it did survive the Thompson trophy races. Awesome video as alway. I am living vicariously through Kermit and crew.
So the next time I ya U Haul truck I'll wonder if it's headed to FoF! Great to see you as excited with this latest plane as you must have been with the first.Thanks for sharing Kermit
You might look for an old mid '60s "Air Progress" which had a feature with photos and descriptions of the history, races and evolutions of this bird.
Dude, you have the coolest job.
He does, but he has many jobs, and the other ones make money, a lot more people need to go through his wonderful museum for it to just float. He's been on I4 midway between Tampa and Orlando for decades
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome founded by Cole Palen is a 2 hour drive north of New York City with little nearby and closed during the winter seems to have never had an attendance problem. He needs to kidnap some of their management, or borrow a jar of pixie dust they have
I Love Air Race Planes ! Have a Good Day !
One of the better unboxing videos I've seen this year :D
Gee Whizz the B-2 even to give it company, that us just special! The imagination just lights within. The stubby chord of the wing and non retractable just gives it all kinds of character.
Nice to see Kermit so hands on . . . speaks to his employees like humans - a standup guy.
I wish I had employers speaking to me like a human when I was in Miami.....
yea unlike the airlines....
It looks to me to have a four cylinder B series Menasco rather than the later C series six which Brown put in his later B-2. I think I had a Hawk plastic model of this back in the early '50s. Sure looks good, tiny thing.
Beautiful little airplane, what a treasure! Thanks for making it accessible for the public to see!
Just how amazing is all of this.....Thanks Kermit....Shoe🇺🇸
Love that bright yellow.
It's YELLOW! I like it.
I wish they would have air races like that nowadays. I would definitely pay to go watch them.
Nevada, especially the very short biplane race where a white plane routinely laps most of the field and has a huge lead over 2nd place, thanks to weird propeller. You can watch videos of recent events AKA horrible fatal crashes
Looks fast. Great add to the collection.
Wow. You have some beautiful planes. Thanks Kermit
Miss Las Angeles!!!! Saw it once at the Flabob air show/open house. Gentlemen in a flight suit talking about her was holding a trophy as big, if not bigger than he was!
You see kids. That's a leader. He doesn't stand around giving orders, he helps do the lifting.
👍🇺🇸
Wonderful video
Beautiful piece of history.
Thanks Kermit.
Retired Air Force veteran.
Why did I not became a pilot and an old plane restorator, instead of a classical guitar player? Well, hell only mighty God knows. It seems to be more fun to deal with old aircrafts and fly them as well. Thanks for them videos from Kermit.
I didn't do either one of those or accomplish anything close, but eating and living indoors is better than the alternatives.
Beautiful one of a kind aircraft. Thank you for preserving it and giving it a home. and, hopefully, one day taking it back into it's element among the clouds.
I don't think Kermit will fit into the cockpit he is more than a foot to tall . I doubt that I would fit, I an only 5' 7" would need a pilot under 5'5" is my guess.
More history alive at FOF. Thank you Kermit. 👍👍
Spectacular airplane! My favorite era and type of airplane by far.
It is Great to see Talented People step right up and seem to know right away what to do although they probably never had seen it before 👍
Beautiful 😎👍
If I'm not mistaken, the B-2 replica was built at my home field of KRIR (Historic Flabob Airport). I remember seeing photos of this bird in the ole Hangar 20 where they had majority of the other replicas owned by Mr. Wathen kept.
Sharp little airplane! Yellow looks good on it.
Excellent film footage and sound. Great commentary.
Hey Kermit....now in FL....hope ot visit soon. What a pair of super airplanes. Love the new book idea too. Bless ya my friend.
really good looking aircraft
Imagine getting toys like this , they just keep rolling in. Man what a Bonner.
>> This May Sound Silly,,, "But , Just How Lucky We Are",,,, To Have a Man With Such Talent ,and Resources To Share His LIFE,,,,, With Us,,, ... He Gives Us "Freely",,, The Chance To Become Part of This Great Adventure... Thanks, and a "Big Mahalo" To Kermit and Family,,,,
You’re too kind. Thank you so much.
What wonderful video and a beautiful aircraft Mr Kermit. Thank you for sharing......🙂
One of my all time favorite airplanes. I am glad it is in your collection!
Wow, what a beautiful airplane! Happy to see you were able to put it in your collection.
The Browns are worthy additions to the collection, classic pre-war racers from the Golden Age of aviation.
Beautiful aircraft. I am looking forward to Kermit doing a vid about the flying characteristics and a comparison to other racers of the same era.
Thank you so much for sharing all this great stuff.
Awesome airplane. Thank you for posting
Ahhh . . . a treasure from the Golden Age of Aviation!
Wow ! Thank you so much for that. Wonderful little racer, and great vintage video shots. What a time it must have been.
Nice Kermit. You have the best vintage planes channel on yt, and youre a great guy
A machine from the "See where you're going? What a quaint notion!" school of design. What a gorgeous little craft. Presumably, given its long career, a little less vicious than the typical racer of the day.
After seeing this plane Kermit, I get it now. I just get it.
It reminds me of the 'Jeep' airplane. The yellow is gorgeous. I love the I-6 cylinder for balance on the B-2.
Awesome!! It looks great Kermit!!
Sir...You have reached the status, at least in my mind, of the likes of Dolittle,Yeager, Crossfield, Lindbergh, Richtofen, and maybe a little dash of Douglas Bader, Richard Bong, Joseph Frantisek, James Howell Howard, Erich Hartmann, and so many more...No better man ever graced the skies...Kudos from Wyoming ....
You are too kind. Thank you
@@KermitWeeks444 None of those amateurs had a GoPro Kermit. Your head and shoulders above all of them in my eyes
Wow, my dad lived across the river adjacent to Montebello in the 1930s. He spoke of a local airport long gone. He must have witnessed some of these classic racers being flown. He also spoke about seeing P-38s doing dive tests over the river and early Flying Fortresses flying low.
I AM NOT AN AERONAUTICS PERSON AT ALL BUT, AM VERY FASCINATED WITH YOUR FACILITY AND ALL OF THE FANTASTIC FLYING MACHINES ! I SEE THAT CHILD LIKE SMILE ON YOUR FACE WHEN SEEING ANOTHER ACCOMPLISHMENT OF AIRCRAFT NOBILITY ! THANKS KERMIT !
Good to see you have Bill Tuners Brown B-2 replica. Seen it many times at the Merced Antique Fly-In. Also the Miles and Atwood Special was there.
I spent a lot of time in my younger years hanging around Repeat Aircraft at Flabob Airport. I got to see some fascinating replicas built, including the DH Comet replica, among others.
Beautiful.
It reminds me of a control line model I had in the 60's called a Nobler. I'm wondering now if the Nobler wasn't modeled after this airplane?
My fav golden racer!
absolutely beautiful, that's what an aeroplane should look like.
Nice 👍
I really hope I can get out and visit Fantasy of Flight some day.
nice...thank you
Looks like the Shounfeldt (sp) Firecracker #70 race plane from the same time era. Same color! I wonder if they ever raced against each other? This will look nice sitting beside Kermit's Gee Bee 7.
fan for life
How cool is that… very!
So cool .......
I saw the B2 replica when Bill Turner owned it. I also saw what she looked like after Bill's son got her upside down between a couple of hangars somewhere. Fortunately Bill's son survived the accident, and so did "Miss Los Angeles".
The B-2 replica and I assume the B-1 are nice flying airplanes until they are not! Always respect these planes. I didn't while flying the B-2 at Osh Kosh. I got cocky and popped the tail immediately with full power and that big prop took me about 30 degrees to the left! I caught it and didn't hit anybody but boy, I sure heard about it when I landed.
@@rusty41251 who owned the aircraft at that time? Mr. Weeks?
There's been a time or two in my life when I felt strips of flesh being torn from my body, and it was all verbally done...
The gost of the golden age.
Great!
Awesome
Has anything as beautiful as this, ever emerged from a U-Haul? Doubt it....
Fascinating beyond words! 😮 Can someone remind me of the name of the white race plane in the hangar? Thanks! 😉
What a beaut' !
Did the Brown B-2 live at Flabob Airport in Riverside, Ca? I remember seeing it as a teenager when I bummed a ride in a Waco Standard Biplane from Cable Airport and we flew into Flabob to visit the folks there.
If I ever had the power, I'd love to get that D3A2 at Planes of Fame properly rebuilt and restored, and try to make a B5N2 Kate happen as well.
Doing some digging it would seem the plane originally had a 185 HP Menasco engine not surprisingly also from California and had a top speed of 240 mph. The engine in it now is a Continental C-85 installed in the 40’s. Not to be confused with the very similar Alden Brown B-1 Racer from the same period. Glad Kermit has an interest in the race planes from the golden age.
This is one and the same. For some reason there is some mis-information on it. This is the Alden Brown that Bushey flew in competition.
@@KermitWeeks444 Yes, there seems to be confusion on which is which. Don't doubt you have the complete history! Would love to see it fly.
@@bobhamilton298 Poor Kermit, he wished he could fly it, alas, you're too big Kermit. Maybe he could borrow the "Way Back Machine" to become a smaller Kermit. LOL.A great addition to the planes at FOF.
The wing streamline wires are tuned to Ab on 339 hz like in the old days.
3 to 5 threads showing on the lower wing strut support/tensioner Kermit full engagement to the barrel.
Wow!
Aloha; gorgeous! Can you provide its weight, duration of flight while racing and speed? Truly an invaluable addition to your collection. Mahalo
Nice little canary!
Is it an optical illusion or does the plane from the reel on 19:10 has longer left wing? To counter prop torque maybe?
Probably an illusion.
Hi!, The plane is beginning the turning around his left, over the pylon, this inclination caused the optical illusion from the lateral point of view of the film camera.
What size of a person would you have to be to fly it? It's tiny but very sharp looking
Given that there only now seem to be 4 exhaust stacks, has the Menasco C6 inverted inline 6, been replaced with a 4 cylinder engine like a De Havilland Gipsy Major or a Blackburn Cirrus Bombardier?
How many air racing events are left in the US? I read 2024 Reno Air Race will be the last due the extreme (rocketing) insurance premiums due to the Leeward crash. Or are these events gone>
How is the Me -108 coming along?
ready to build the italian sea plane.
Mówią, że faceci się nie starzeją, tylko im zabawki drożeją 😁👍
Kermit, is there a possibility the B-1 will be test flown in the future? What would it take to ready it for flight?
Probably not, unfortunately. I’m way too tall to fit in the cockpit.
Wow, thin airfoil!
Like to see a keith rider/ Marcoux Bromberg r3 one day.
Swiftly and with style? Hope Misuser Alfonse isn't coming!
Wow, nice! Just felt the urge to ask if there is a PnP version of it and where I can order it 😁
It looks like a slightly bigger RC model. In fact, there are RC models that are bigger 😉
That's just what I thought when I saw it coming out of the truck: there could barely a man fit in.
As the cockpit seems to be a little too smal for you Kermit, will the Racer ever fly again?
Probably not, for the reason you mention. I can’t fit in it.
@@KermitWeeks444 Not to be morbid but Kermit, when you aren’t around, how do you see the collection in the future. I’d hate to witness another Champlin fiasco unfold. To break up the collection would be sacrelidgeous!
The guy in the light blue polo is leaking like a Studebaker!
What engine for the B-1 ? Will it fly ?
That's a big rc airplane
If It makes you happy Kermit , I share your happiness, later life is for us, not others !
Now that is real model aircraft building. Sweet looking little " bird". What is the top speed?
In its racing days, it’d hit 220
Was it the B1 that had the engine break away during a flight, but still managed to land in a field, or is it just a story?
This is it
Profile CL these are fast too
cool. if someone would make a balsa wood model size could demo flight them that way.
Not another U-Haul !
Did it fly or was it specifically meant to be a static display. Only 1, I would be wary of flying it. Although it did survive the Thompson trophy races. Awesome video as alway. I am living vicariously through Kermit and crew.
It can fly, if someone can fit in it
👍👍👍👍👍👍🙏🛩💯
I'm 5'2" tall and just got back down to my fighting weight of 147 lbs.... if you want to get her back in the air I am willing ;)
So the next time I ya U Haul truck I'll wonder if it's headed to FoF! Great to see you as excited with this latest plane as you must have been with the first.Thanks for sharing Kermit
This is old footage from 2012? Had a chance to fly this yet?
OK, Cool...
I bet it whistles with all those holes in the chin cowl ?