Fantasy Of Flight

maradamx3 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:44 am

The P-35?? and the Hellcat don't look like they've been moved or touched since the last time I visited in '04. Not a fast-track resto facility, but I do love the place. Not living in state anymore makes it a bit more difficult to keep track of the progress on the projects.
Thanks for the info and pictures!

rwdfresno · **Posted:** Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:18 pm

I believe that Kermit is trying to be conservative with his resources so that he can sustain what he currently has with conservative growth. The longer you do this the more you realize you can only fly one at a time and Kermit has his favorites (Duck, Stortch, etc) like anyone else. With the costs of restoring and maintaing aircraft going up exponentially someone with as many aircraft as him has to make choices even when you have substancial resources. Aviation can make a rich man poor in a hurry if you aren't wise about what you do.

Ryan

Matt_in_NC · **Posted:** Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:34 pm

I'm curious about the F4U-4...I know it was damaged in the hurricane. What would it take to get the airplane back up and operational?

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:14 am

rwdfresno wrote:

I believe that Kermit is trying to be conservative with his resources so that he can sustain what he currently has with conservative growth. The longer you do this the more you realize you can only fly one at a time and Kermit has his favorites (Duck, Stortch, etc) like anyone else. With the costs of restoring and maintaing aircraft going up exponentially someone with as many aircraft as him has to make choices even when you have substancial resources. Aviation can make a rich man poor in a hurry if you aren't wise about what you do.

Ryan

Well Jerry Yagan is doing pretty well for himself and his collection is growing fast. I do believe that ALL of his airplanes are insured and ready to fly so he must be doing something right. I believe your only difference is that FOF only has ONE pilot! Hands down, FF will win my vote every time.

k5083 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:34 am

Well, I don't know if it is strictly true that FOF has only one pilot. Someone else flew the L-4 the day I was there. And, I have seen pics of Kermit's 2 Mustangs in formation; he's good, but not good enough to fly both at once. However, you may be right that he does not have a full time or "on call" pilot, so to speak, for the hot stuff.

August

Baldeagle · **Posted:** Fri Mar 12, 2010 10:55 pm

Ken Kellett (who works in the restoration shop) flies the L-4, Storch, Stampe, and some of the others, and I'm pretty sure Lee Lauderback has flown Cripes A' Mighty.
Kermit gave me a ride in the Storch last time I was there, what a kick.

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