Kermit Week's B-29 Fertile Myrtle

[Ken711]

So him in Florida and I asked him about Fertile Myrtle, if he plans to restore it to airworthy someday. He answered he sure does. I suppose it still depends on his time and of course money.

[Mike]

https://fb.watch/4fzN_7q08T/

For those who haven’t heard it, the section from about 9.00 to 10.00 is quite instructive.

[StangStung]

https://fb.watch/4fzN_7q08T/

For those who haven’t heard it, the section from about 9.00 to 10.00 is quite instructive.

That is charmingly diplomatic.

[StangStung]

Not to mention the gobsmacked interviewer's response.

[Mick G]

Wow, I had respect for Kermit, but sadly it has rather quickly ended. What a joke

[dred]

https://fb.watch/4fzN_7q08T/

For those who haven’t heard it, the section from about 9.00 to 10.00 is quite instructive.

Wow. I only listened for about 30 seconds, but wow.

[Kyleb]

https://fb.watch/4fzN_7q08T/

For those who haven’t heard it, the section from about 9.00 to 10.00 is quite instructive.

Wow. I only listened for about 30 seconds, but wow.

I don't question people's beliefs, 'cause mine aren't that defensible under objective review.

[OD/NG]

So him in Florida and I asked him about Fertile Myrtle, if he plans to restore it to airworthy someday. He answered he sure does. I suppose it still depends on his time and of course money.

He says that with all of his aircraft. In fact, I don't know of any aircraft he has been asked about that he said, "no, it's only static and will not be restored to airworthy condition or fly again", besides maybe his wrecked DC-3 and/or Connie that he uses as giant billboards on the side of the road. It's his standard diplomatic answer. Kermit is an eternal optimist who says every aircraft in his care will eventually be rebuilt to fly again. I like that attitude, but it is in no way realistic. If you look at his track record of how long it takes for each aircraft to be restored, including some that are still multi-decade efforts, it does not bode well. Kermit is 67 years old, soon to be 68 this summer.

Let's do some public math. Let's assume that 20 aircraft are more or less airworthy, or could be with not too extensive annuals/IRANS. There are currently 160 aircraft in his collection. That means there are approximately 140 aircraft that need restoration. Let's assume that Kermit wants to have this goal completed before he turns 87, which is 20 years from now. I think we can likely surmise that he probably won't be flying anything beyond this age. Since he almost never lets anybody fly his aircraft, we can assume that the collection will be grounded then as well. So, he has 140 more aircraft to restore in 20 years. That equates to 7 completed aircraft restorations each year from now until the next 20 years. Kermit has probably restored 7 aircraft to flight in the last 20 years. There is no way this is going to happen, especially since he is the first to admit that he doesn't have enough money to even keep his museum open, much less spend a significant amount on that many restorations in the future.

All of this means that it is highly likely that only a few more aircraft will be restored to flying condition. Though he says the B-29 is one of those goals, I would be willing to bet it will never happen. The cost of restoring his B-29 to flying condition would likely cost at least 10 to 20 Million dollars, possibly more, assuming no major corrosion issues are found (i.e.- new wing spars, etc.) I don't see him shelling out that kind of money for a B-29, when he could restore 5 to 10 single engine fighters for the same cost.

All of this is not a knock against Kermit, whatsoever. I'm simply trying to illustrate that people must manage their expectations. It is highly unrealistic to expect Kermit to restore to airworthy, the B-29, B-17, Sunderland or any of his other "big" projects during his lifetime. At best, we can expect maybe a half dozen more complex (i.e.- other than light) warbirds to be restored, in my opinion.

Kermit is an absolutely fantastic ambassador to aviation and warbirds specifically, but the vast majority of his collection will never fly under his ownership. As long as people know that, us hardcore fans will never be disappointed. Sometimes I think Kermit gives that standard answer of "everything will be restored to airworthy", just to keep people from hounding him about timelines and which aircraft is going to be restored next. In fact, I would probably do the same, if I were in his shoes.

[OD/NG]

https://fb.watch/4fzN_7q08T/

For those who haven’t heard it, the section from about 9.00 to 10.00 is quite instructive.

That is charmingly diplomatic.

Wow, I had respect for Kermit, but sadly it has rather quickly ended. What a joke

I don't know why any of this is a surprise. Kermit has been very public about his fascination and interest in the paranormal and metaphysical New Age realms/philosophies/beliefs for several decades in many, many interviews. He's talked about it in his old blog and social media very frequently. He got married in Sedona, Arizona - the New Age capital of Earth, for goodness sakes! He's even posted pictures of a B-17 waist gunner "ghost" that he took in his B-17 at night time during a spooky "seance" he held at FoF many years ago. None of this bothers me at all - it's his beliefs and/or religion. I don't think any of us should criticize him for his beliefs.

What does bother me, however, is that he has hoarded so many warbird projects, engines, and spare parts on the market, and virtually never lets anything go. Once something goes into his collection, it's like a black hole - it never escapes. If he were to sell a good chunk of his hoard, he could easily finance a major portion of his collection to be restored to flying condition. As with everything, he is a private owner, and it's his right. So, it's his money, his choice.

[maradamx3]

So him in Florida and I asked him about Fertile Myrtle, if he plans to restore it to airworthy someday. He answered he sure does. I suppose it still depends on his time and of course money.

He says that with all of his aircraft. In fact, I don't know of any aircraft he has been asked about that he said, "no, it's only static and will not be restored to airworthy condition or fly again", besides maybe his wrecked DC-3 and/or Connie that he uses as giant billboards on the side of the road. It's his standard diplomatic answer. Kermit is an eternal optimist who says every aircraft in his care will eventually be rebuilt to fly again. I like that attitude, but it is in no way realistic. If you look at his track record of how long it takes for each aircraft to be restored, including some that are still multi-decade efforts, it does not bode well. Kermit is 67 years old, soon to be 68 this summer.

Let's do some public math. Let's assume that 20 aircraft are more or less airworthy, or could be with not too extensive annuals/IRANS. There are currently 160 aircraft in his collection. That means there are approximately 140 aircraft that need restoration. Let's assume that Kermit wants to have this goal completed before he turns 87, which is 20 years from now. I think we can likely surmise that he probably won't be flying anything beyond this age. Since he almost never lets anybody fly his aircraft, we can assume that the collection will be grounded then as well. So, he has 140 more aircraft to restore in 20 years. That equates to 7 completed aircraft restorations each year from now until the next 20 years. Kermit has probably restored 7 aircraft to flight in the last 20 years. There is no way this is going to happen, especially since he is the first to admit that he doesn't have enough money to even keep his museum open, much less spend a significant amount on that many restorations in the future.

All of this means that it is highly likely that only a few more aircraft will be restored to flying condition. Though he says the B-29 is one of those goals, I would be willing to bet it will never happen. The cost of restoring his B-29 to flying condition would likely cost at least 10 to 20 Million dollars, possibly more, assuming no major corrosion issues are found (i.e.- new wing spars, etc.) I don't see him shelling out that kind of money for a B-29, when he could restore 5 to 10 single engine fighters for the same cost.

All of this is not a knock against Kermit, whatsoever. I'm simply trying to illustrate that people must manage their expectations. It is highly unrealistic to expect Kermit to restore to airworthy, the B-29, B-17, Sunderland or any of his other "big" projects during his lifetime. At best, we can expect maybe a half dozen more complex (i.e.- other than light) warbirds to be restored, in my opinion.

Kermit is an absolutely fantastic ambassador to aviation and warbirds specifically, but the vast majority of his collection will never fly under his ownership. As long as people know that, us hardcore fans will never be disappointed. Sometimes I think Kermit gives that standard answer of "everything will be restored to airworthy", just to keep people from hounding him about timelines and which aircraft is going to be restored next. In fact, I would probably do the same, if I were in his shoes.

And he is trying to finance Act III at the same time. Lots of irons in the fire.

[JohnB]

Finances aside, it takes a huge team to restore and fly an aircraft as complex as a B-29.
Look at the size of the group (with lots of sponsors and community support) that restored "Doc".
Good thing too that the CAF restored "Fifi" years ago when it could still get parts from boneyards.

This isn't a criticism of Weeks, he has done a lot for aviation, but a B-29 isn't like a Mitchell or Mustang where you can give a specialist shop a check and get an airplane.

[Stoney]

when i kept my SNJ at OAK i got to go all thru the B-29, wish it would fly again, but probably it will not. was supposed to fly with Art Stagg in it, but the flight was canceled.

[Mark Allen M]

Reincarnation before restoration. Sounds reasonable to me!

Last edited by Mark Allen M on Tue Mar 16, 2021 12:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[bdk]

Mike, I see about 9 videos there. Can you supply the title of the one you are talking about?

Thanks!

bdk

https://fb.watch/4fzN_7q08T/

For those who haven’t heard it, the section from about 9.00 to 10.00 is quite instructive.

[quemerford]

Just a small note: It's "Weeks", not "Week".