Not your normal rush hour traffic... (Gee Bee on Route I-81)

Tue Nov 18, 2008 8:00 am

Driving to work this morning I noticed a big radial in my rear view mirror. Naturally I slowed down to catch a glimpse a snap a pic with my cell phone. The picture was taken on I-81S in Harrisburg PA, the truck had Florida plates. I am assuming this is Kermit's. Can anyone fill me in on why this bird is travelling?

Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:13 am

It doesnt really look like a Gee bee to me. The cockpit is too far foward.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:30 am

It's a Gee Bee Model Y.

Looks like it's last registration publicly available is for a guy up in MA.

Ryan

Tue Nov 18, 2008 12:54 pm

Wow... pretty cool to see that riding down the road. Over the years there have been at least 2 or 3 Y model Gee Bee replicas built or under construction. Pics of the originals below.

Aerofiles.com list - http://www.aerofiles.com/_geebee.html

Tue Nov 18, 2008 5:04 pm

There is one flying in Ohio here. Owned by John Venaleck up in Painesville.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:38 am

The one on the trailer was traded to Kermit to add to his collection of golden age race planes.

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Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:03 pm

Sorry for being ignorant here, but whatever happened to Delmar Benjamin? Didn't he sell his R2 to Mr. Weeks some time ago? What's he up to now?

Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:24 am

Baldeagle wrote:The one on the trailer was traded to Kermit to add to his collection of golden age race planes.

Does than make three Gee Bee (reps?) Kermit's got?

Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:46 pm

DenverWarbirdFan wrote:Sorry for being ignorant here, but whatever happened to Delmar Benjamin? Didn't he sell his R2 to Mr. Weeks some time ago? What's he up to now?

I believe it went the smithsonian? Corrrect me if I'm wrong?

Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:24 pm

Hey, Scott Rose (our editor) saw this this AM too! It's Don Main's old plane - was at the Aviation Heritage Festival in Nashua in 2004.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:19 pm

steve dickey wrote:
DenverWarbirdFan wrote:Sorry for being ignorant here, but whatever happened to Delmar Benjamin? Didn't he sell his R2 to Mr. Weeks some time ago? What's he up to now?

I believe it went the smithsonian? Corrrect me if I'm wrong?

There was talk of the R-2 going to NASM but I think they didn't want it since it's a replica. Kermit has the Z (built by Kimballs in FL), the R-2, and now the Y. Also the Laird Super Solution replica from the NW US.

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Sat Nov 22, 2008 9:17 am

Thanks Baldeagle for clarifing the info.