Kermits A-26

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:13 am

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 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:43 am

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 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:45 am

Thanks! Will she still be Whistlers Mother?

wls3 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:55 am

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

stetz · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:10 am

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

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:14 am

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

Django · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:40 am

stetz wrote:

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 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:44 am

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

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:25 pm

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 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:49 pm

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

Holedigger · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:24 pm

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 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:24 pm

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

stetz · **Posted:** Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:04 am

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 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:51 am

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 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:58 am

....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!

Warbird Information Exchange

Kermits A-26

Who is online