Kermits A-26

[Elroy13]

I was reading through an old magazine from '05 that featured Douglas A-26's. It talked about the one that Kermit owned "Whistlers Mother" that was damaged from hurricane Andrew. I looked on the Fantasy of Flight website but didnt see it listed. What ever happened to this aircraft? Is it still in Chino being rebuilt?

[stetz]

Our A-26 is still with Aero Trader going thru it's final stages of restoration.Aero Trader is waiting for the second engint to arrive from the overhaul shop and at that point it will be close to being finished. It will be a bone stock original restoration with all turrets in working condition.

[Elroy13]

Thanks! Will she still be Whistlers Mother?

Last edited by Elroy13 on Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

[wls3]

Here is a shot taken back at the old Weeks Air Museum near Miami.

[stetz]

Yes she will retain that nose art since it is original and the aircraft is a combat veteran from WW II.

[mustangdriver]

Wow! I didn;t know that. So it is the real One. Sweet.

[Django]

Yes she will retain that nose art since it is original and the aircraft is a combat veteran from WW II.

That is the original artwork or restored to how it looked during the war? That's pretty cool it's a vet, and painted the same.

[Elroy13]

I wasnt aware of that either. I wonder how come the registry doesnt state that?

[Chris Brame]

How about Kermit's other Invader, 44-35590 Nightmare - will it be restored or used as a parts source for Whistler's Mother?

[Pat Carry]

Stetz, Which other planes in Kermit's vast collection are currently being restored?

[Holedigger]

Well, if you look up the Weeks collection with the FAA, they list 110 aircraft, tis a fascinating read! Don't know how many of those are flight worthy and how many are currently in rebuild. He has more aircraft than most countries!

[Jack Cook]

A-26B-30-DL s/n 41-39424 643rd BS 409th BG 9th AF

[stetz]

Our other A-26 is in storage and has been as source of parts for Whistlers Mother. Has far as what else is being restored we have three Boeing 100's being built in Arizona,second Grumman Duck in Kansas,Corsair center section and Kingfisher in Australia and the Stinson L-1 and Seversky P-35 here in our own shop going thru restoration.

[stetz]

Yes we do have a P-39 and K-61 receiving attention at the same facility, but the P-39 is a back burner project. All the new parts have been produced for it but the Kingfisher is ahead of it. The KI-61 is on loan to Precision Aerospace to aid work on Jerry Yeagan's project. At this time we have not decided to rebuild the project.

[Holedigger]

....and the P-38 is so "back burner" it is behind the stove?

Thanks for all your insights into the behind the scenes there at FoF. I've done the "mob" tour a couple times, great fun, but spend too much of my time keeping my little one from crossing the ropes, climbing things, touching things, grabbing things...he loves it there too!