Hurricane Irma Visits Fantasy of Flight
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Kermit Weeks gives a Hurricane Irma Kermie Cam update during and then in the aftermath of the storm. He tours Fantasy of Flight to check out the facility and the condition of his planes.
Subscribe with link above for notification of future Kermit Weeks videos.
Follow Kermit on Facebook...
/ kermitweeks
Watch all the other Kermit Weeks videos and Kermie Cam's here...
/ kermitweeks444
Ketmit Weeks the most down to Earth guy in aviation!
Kermit, I love your attitude all the time, even when you're looking at your damaged property. You're my Oprah.
Dear Mr. Weeks. thank you very much for the update. good to see Fantasy of Flight is more or less OK. I hope to visit one day. Regards Tomas, Denmark
When I heard tat Irma was heading for Florida, my first thoughts where about Mr. Weeks facilities. Thank fully all is well with some after reported but everything is intact! Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I thought about the people who live there. Who really gives a shit about airplanes? They can be replaced. What's with people that are concerned about machines? Get your priorities straight.
You surely donated your money to ARC when Irma came up. And to IFRC when earthquake in Mexico occurred. Otherwise you should dim your do-gooder-attitude and notice most of the planes preserved at Fantasy of Flight-facilities are extremely rare or even unique. Kermit Weeks employs people, delegate local firms to maintain his property and pays pretty much more taxes than most people around him.
OK.... why do you think I didn't care about the people living in Florida? I happen to think that Mr. Weeks is doing a very important job in maintaining his museum. In my opinion preserving these aircraft is important for younger generations to understand what WWII was about and the terrible things that happened to the young men and women who gave everything for us. Lest we forget! Regards Tomas
I was at your place in Tamiami the day after Andrew hit. We flew down in a Jetranger for Phillips and Jordan, and before landing at the Coast Guard compound on 152nd ave, I asked our pilot to fly over and see the damage at your place. When we landed I have to say I cried. All those planes you had restored laying all over, with looters already picking stuff off of them. We scared off most of them. I saw those giant bolts that were in the concrete that held the steel rafters of the hangar sheared clean off. The Pitts was sitting there and looked like there was no damage, same with your Extra. I remember you telling us at a gathering one night when we had Bruce Carr speaking that you moved to polk to get away from the hurricanes. Well, I survived in a camper in dover florida and it wasnt fun. But all I kept thinking about was how your place was fairing. So glad to see this video, cannot believe the Connie made it through. And not even a window busted in the restaurant where we all used to sit and eat blueberry pie and drink coffee. Thanks Kermit, so glad to see you doing well.
THE RUBBER DUCKY IS STILL FLOATING ON TOP OF THE WATER ! LIFE IS GOOD ! GOOD WORK FROM YOUR CREW ! KEEPIN' IT DRY !!
Great news Kermit! Congrats to all your staff and prepping so well - loved the ending!
You will not remember me but I worked for Darian Bansfeild and Craig Sinclair at 7B3 North Hampton NH . Very glad you made out ok. Met you about 10-11 years ago at the field. semper fi steve page
This place is awesome..!! Lucky guy you are Mr. kermit, not only because of the hurricane but the warbirds and planes in general you own..!! Congrats. Greetings from Brazil....
I've visited your museum years ago, it was one of the first things to cross my mind when the news gave the track of Irma. I'm SO GLAD you all weathered the storm so well! On behalf of all historical aircraft lovers, thanks so much for all the wonderful videos Mr. Weeks!
Sorry about your Dad's piano, and the rudder from the DC3, but mostly you came through that well. Congratulations from Brisbane Australia. It's not good exactly, but it could have been so much worse...
Never going to Florida. I'm fine up in huriccaneless Alaska. You should visit Fairbanks! Fly up here in that P-51D!
Kermit, thank you for being so thoughtful to record your inspection. Very relieved with the outcome and happy for you. And THANK YOU for the FANTASTIC backstage tour of FF!!!!! A friend just built me a model of a Curtiss BF2C (cause I am such a great guy--not really, although I am aways good comic relief at Kingsbury--no bucket too small to trip over, no Model T tire tube too strong to not be blown up by me!) and seeing the F3F was a real treat! You made me thirsty though, need to score a bottle of Naked in Jamaica Rum! I've been thinking about rum and coke for a couple of weeks now and this video makes me very thirsty.
Kermit, thanks so much for the update on fantasy of flight! I was really sweat'in it out and telling Irma to LEAVE YOU ALONE,, he 's already been thru one of these!!! very glad damage is minimal. good luck to you all!
MAN! When I saw the thumbnail and figured out you were doing a video right after the hurricane, two words crossed my mind - Connie & PBY! Wow! SOMEBODY'S on your side! How wonderful!
So glad you, and the magnificent collection are ok .
Nice of you to help the Hang Gliding community and the Wallaby Crew
That ending was really great Kermit - lol
Thanks for the update, good to see "Angle'" again. I was concerned for your collection. "GREAT VIDEO"
Thanks for filming your recon of FoF! Glad to see it's all relatively ok after Irma.Thought of you and the collection while we were watching it all unfold. Cheers from Hendersonville,N.C. Hmmmmm.....rum sounds good. Love your positive outlook!
In '57 I rode a C121 to the Azores, then Wheelus. At the Leeward Air Ranch near Orlando, I saw navy Guardian, too late for ww2.
Yes you did Kermit, compared to years back in Miami. I just made another comment on the PT-40 contest winners comment section asking about the DC-3 on I-4 regarding Irma so now I know and if its only a rudder y'all bit the bullet, thank god.. The Connie and PBY good to go totally cool, I was in Lake Wales and true it wasn't as strong as it could have been, glad your AOK...
There's a cartoon of an AF heavy crew waiting to take off - and a enlisted military person is boarding and says "I have my SEL - if you have any trouble during the flight, let me know" - and the crew says "if we lose 3 engines, we'll let you know". I spent 20 years in the AF flying and I feel like the SEL guy when I watch Kermit's videos..... Great to see everything survived!
We drove by on Sept.6, 2017. Looking at the DC 3, I told my wife I hope there is no damage to the buildings or planes. At that time the weather channels were saying Irma was coming up the center of the state. Thankfully for FofF, it came up the west coast. We drove home on Sept. 9 to avoid the storm, glad we did.
Hey, great news that you, Ducky and FOF were relatively unscathed! Greetings from NYC!
Hello Kermit, just discovered you...WOW Iam just amazed I havent found you sooner. Iam an USAF vet and love aircrafts and flight. So glad to see you survived Big I. I would love to see your place and meet you some day.
Thank you for sharing your love and passion with the the world..
As a client of mine once said..."a man can not have to many airplanes"
BRILLIANT! you escaped, visited this place when i was on holiday (vacation) from the UK, loved it and was genuinely worried, wonder how NASA did?
I liked the rubber duck companion.....That was a F****n take!! Lol!!!!!!
Hi Kermit, we were so worried for your home and museum...and yourself of course, but so happy to see that damage is relatively minor. We've visited Fantasy of Flight three times now. Can't wait for visit number four. Best wishes from Graham & Stephanie in England.
Congratulations from Australia, you did it well!!!. New carpet and you are back in business. Thanks so much for sharing.:)
I'm jealous Kermit! You have power at your house and FOF! We're still powerless here at Mount Olive. Very happy your stuff survived this time. Sad day when your Homestead facility got trashed. I love looking up when you fly over the house in one of the warbirds. Hope to get over there one day when it's open.
Don
It seems your planes and facility thankfully were only moderately damaged. In comparison it seems relatively ok. Good you prepared that well. A big thumbs up from Germany. Michael L.
Mr. Weeks, it's good to see your unique collection of airworthy aircraft suffered no irreparable damage. But as much as I've been hooked on aviation all my 68 years, I'm concerned about your dad's piano, which of course can't be replaced.
I can only imagine the feeling in your stomach before actually seeing the aftermath of the storm. It was either 1978 or 1979 when I visited the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks CT - 2 or 3 months after I visited it was hit by a tornado and they lost many of their aircraft. Mother nature is very cruel.
So very thankful to see this outcome, for what could have been a very devastating storm. Thanks for sharing Kermit. And thankful that my nephew Scott Lee, and all of my Florida family and friend came thru this storm okay...
You don't have any enemies, do you? Crazy the wind blew that gate clear the hell off the fence and that big ratchet strap ended up completely off the PBY.
greetings from Oregon....I am so excited to hear you guys dodge that bullet.. I have watched the hurricane from the beginning and was fearful you would get way WAY more damaged. My prayers have ben answered! Glad you guys came out ok! Hopefully your staff and their homes made it out ok too.
Kermit...what a legend. Glad everything turned out okay. Regards from the U.K, CH
Nice to see everything still okay. Hey Kermit.. You should do a video on your F3F-2 flying barrel. I saw it in there with the F4U Corsair.. but never hear about it. That's a rare one!
At least you know where the low spot in your floor is, lol. Looks like you could use new seals on the bottom of the shop doors. They won't stop all of it regardless but if you can see daylight under the doors they'll stop most of it. Get out the shop vac and start sucking. That'll do the carpet. Squeeges for the shop. Water is easy to clean up.
Kermie makes it through Irmie !
Great news ...
Your historical knowledge and airplanes that you collect , rebuild and fly are important to young an old alike . I want to visit Fantasy of Flight one day and bring my nephew . Aviation is an important part of American history . Thank you for all of your work Sir .
We had a dust storm at Falcon Field in Mesa a few years ago, with winds topping 60 mph. The DC3 parked nearest the road was blown through the fence out across the four lane road. I'm glad your Birds faired this storm well! Until I can get down for a visit, take care of our ladies!
Congrats!!! Kermit !!! I was thinking Andrew....OMG
Mr. Weeks, thank you for this, and I am so pleased that you have not endured as previously, the torment caused by a major hurricane.
Having been to your facility a couple of years back, it is good news.
Best regards from England
thank god the vast majority of the aircraft were ok! one dc3 rudders a small price to pay. thats the only thing that worries me about you being based down there with such a wonderful collection of aircraft. mother nature wrath.
Very happy nothing was badly damaged. So grateful for keeping those treasures in flying conditions !
Thanks for the update Kermit, I was thinking of your field when Irma went west and north. Was hoping for less damage than Matthew, and it looks like you and the FOF survived much better than some places.
Congratulations Kermit! Thanks for the facility tour!!!!!
Move your airplanes to KIngman AZ. Great flying weather, no hurricanes, tornados, Lots of ramp space, lots of room. I know it is not the flying capitol of the world but being happy about being missed will only last so long. And, then the next one might be the one that takes out all those wonderful aircraft.
Been anxiously waiting for an FoF update from you Kermet. I'm so relieved all is well with you, yours, and FoF. I look forward to future videos as FoF returns to normal ops.
Cheers from Thailand!
Wow, that's lucky. All those valuable aeroplanes could easily have been destroyed had Irma stayed a stonger storm. Move someplace less risky if you can please. Or house all those planes in a hurricane-proof hangar if you must stay in Hurricane Alley.
I'm very happy for you guys ! It's awesome that Fantasy of Flight came through the storm relatively unscathed. I'm glad your rubber ducky is ok too ! 🤣
Considering the strength of Irma, you are very lucky. Need to do a return visit. Last visited September 1999.
I've never made it down there so the tour was much appreciated. I'm glad all was well and we could enjoy the tour instead of all being sick over damage. Can you imagine the things he saw sitting on top of that DC-3 during the height of the storm? If only he could talk...
Hi Kermit, glad to see all survived, I bet it was not fun, what made this video was the relief on your dial as you were walking around, nice to get a tour around as well :-) I also hope to visit one day, love your work! Craig from Brisbane, Australia.
so glad you and Fantasy of flight survived pretty much intact...best news of the week.
Glad to see that your facility made somewhat with minor damage. Your last take was FUNNY. LOL.
So glad you shared this. Got a lot of friends in Florida... they were all on my mind, and so was Fantasy of Flight. Glad you survived!
So glad all was well, hope also all your worker bees and their families are OK too! Enjoyed the behind the scene tour. Firm believer that the state of a persons desk is an indicator of the joy they take in their job. That first office was my kinda place!Bruce
i was worried. I remember Andrew in South Florida . looks like you did great!!! so happy
I'll never understand why, in our lifetime, the outstanding people like Mr. Weeks with a more than honorable lifetime work dedicated to his pation for the delight of others(like myself), are never spared to these situations.
Excellent, i was concered about You and your fine collection. Glad for the lightness of the damages, hope the Piano didnt suffer too badly.
Kermit!! Nice to hear almost everything of Fantasy is OK after Irma. Can't wait to see your next flight sharing!!
am glad all the planes are fine. i was worried about them. and u guys too..OMG that is a huge place.. i gotta work for you !! Thanks for the footage !! Nice closing hahaha
Hey Kermit, I live in tampa and drive by the DC3 all the time on I4. I'm glad the rudder was more or less the only damage she took. Glad to see the Connie made it ok as well. You probly would have had a stroke if you came around the corner and seen her rolled over or worse. Hope to get the family by soon.
Awesome video! Loved coming along on this after storm inventory....helped me to understand what it is like for plane osners and other businesses to go through a hurricane....
Glad everything turned out basically unharmed!!! See ya soon!
You got VERY luck. Houston lost many planes. Glad you came out good. Must be all the clean living. Ha Ha!
wow, you did. make it thru with little damage, so glad to see that.......Thank you for the update, as your followers were worried for sure......
Man I wish I could visit your museum some day !
Glad everything made it with so little damage.
That tour was so nice though, maybe you should make that video some day, a comprehensive visit of the site !
Thanks for the tour :) ... and glad that you had no damage ... hope to be able to visit someday ... best regards.
Stop being a weatherman...Kermit . Stick to the program , your an aviator..;-) (late comment )
Kermit! Glad to see most everything survived. I hope the restoration of the big Sikorsky is coming along ok.
Not bad. Rudder on the DC3 is going to be a bit of work but past that a gate a soggy piano and a little carpet? Everything else could be cleaned up with a squeegee and a shop vac. Dodged a bullet there guy.
I was really concerned for the Catalina and Connie. Thank God they're ok. And your Dad's piano.
Mr. Weeks - Thanks much for the tour!! When you mentioned Irma eye wall 5 mi to the South, that would have been right over our home in Lake Alfred!! It was rough, with neighbors losing roofs, siding, vehicles, trees etc, even though we had no damage. Just like you, we had planned ahead, but overall both of us lucky for sure. Lucky defined by old NY Yankee Manager Casey Stengel after Yanks behind 12-0 in bottom of 9th, 2 outs, 2 strikes, and nobody on base. Yankees won 12-13 and Casey exclaimed "I'd rather be lucky than good any day"!! If all Irma took from you was a DC-3 rudder and a sign versus all you had to lose there, you should have gone out and invested in a lottery ticket, as a luckier day in your lifetime you will never see!!! Thanks again for tour as driven by a bunch since retiring in 2010, but could have never imagined so much aviation history and facilities to restore same contained therein!! Good job!!!!!!
Great to see all is well. But hey! Now you have to do a dedicated walk around showing all, an I mean all the aircraft you have there. Including those in storage!!! 😁
During the storm I was hoping CNN would report on how you were protecting planes and how it was going. Glad to hear none of the treasures were lost.
You sir, are insanely blessed not to have any damage to the aircraft or buildings! I'm so glad to see that not only are all the aircraft OK, but you're doing well.
Great to see and hear you've just dodged a bullet ..hope you are all cleaned and
Rearing to continue the fantastic work you do in keeping these icons safe us all
I hope to visit sometime this is on top 3 on my bucket list be blessed mark Liverpool uk
All things considered, not a bad outcome. At least the Connie and the Catalina weren't destroyed sitting outside and the planes in the buildings were protected. The rooftops. Apparently need a careful look and the sooner you get that done the less trouble you'll have pushing the rain back out and keeping it there.
I did not know you had the Angel. I grew up in La and remember when Merle Gustafson flew her. My favorite plane of all time.
Love the video Kermit, glad you and everyone are safe and the Airplanes are ok. All the best from England
Well, I've just seen the video and so far thank God Fantasy of flight was spared.👍
I'm glad all fared well and you guys are safe.... and I bet your sponsors are pretty proud of you on that plug hahaha thanks Kerm...
So happy to see you made it through well Kermi. We were thinking about you and worried about all of you. Your friends in Boston
So glad to see that you and the Fantasy of Flight made it through Irma. Did you see any Tornados coming by your area ? I had 2 coming by mine.
Looks like the only damage is the micro tornado that destroyed Paul's office.
So glad you fared very well from Irma hate to see something happens to your beautiful airplanes
Can you send a little of that water my way in Arizona please? Jokes aside, I'm very glad to see everything is more or less okay.
Good luck with Hurricane Dorian. Time to strap the Connie down again.
Good to see all is ok with your collection Mr.Weeks!! greets from Belgium
Happy to see you came trough it so well had are fingers crossed over here in the U.K.! Happy!
This is great! I heard about what Andrew did to the place so I was fearing the worst. Thank you for the update!
Really pleased and releaved that you , your crew and the aircraft at Fantasy of Flight made it for the most part great news , thanks for the video ,stay safe.
Glad to see everything made it for the most part. My two big worries were Disney World and Fantasy of Flight. :) Wishing you guys the best from Boise.
Was thinking about Fantasy of Flight last week. Glad that you made out OK.
Man did you ever luck out. I got friends down your way in Venus and their place got trashed by trees.
Congratulations Kermit! I'm glad FoF made it through.
Got lucky. I seem to recall a hurricane actually causing him to close down his old shop and move to where Fantasy is now. He lost several planes in that one.
Glad to see all of your priceless irreplaceable baby's did ok! And your facilities!
A national treasure! Very thankful you all came through with little damage!
glad to see u and your planes made it...watched kermie cam all the time...would have been sad to see allthose planes youve restored hurt