From the Orlando Sentinel:
G. Willie, the Interstate 4 icon which dangled for years from a nose-down airplane along the highway near Polk City, has been kidnapped.
Sometime during the night of July 17, thieves took the popular flyer from his perch. G. Willie and his DC-3 plane were originally placed in the nose-down position in 1998. It resulted in regular calls to 911 operators by motorists who thought a plane had really crashed.
A few months ago, the plane was put in the take-off position with G. Willie waving from the cockpit door.
Fantasy of Flight owners began fielding calls by concerned G. Willie fans when he turned up missing. Fresh footprints around the area and on the plane wing give authorities reason to believe the kidnapping happened a few nights ago. There are no suspects.
Fantasy of Flight is an aviation-themed museum and attraction with a large collection of antique planes and other hands-on activities for children and adults. G. Willie was part of an advertisement for the newly revamped attraction, which includes new signage along the interstate near the Polk City exit.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/southwest/orl-bk-willie072007,0,5443216,full.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout
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