Warbird Information Exchange

Kermit put this video out yesterday. This is the first I've heard of his future plans for Fantasy of Flight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TV8nqc4nZ8

Thanks for posting. A few interesting highlights that jumped out to me.

- @ 6 new hangers, with several themed areas, with definitive feels to them (like Disney where each "land" like frontier land has a distinct feel to it). More of a theme park with period architecture, costumes, and experiences. Wants a clear transition into each area.
- A WWII area, and a Pioneer/Golden Age area and later on a Pan Am inspired clipper/seaplane base on the lake behind.
- He stressed "not a museum" several times. He acknowledged that the small number of enthusiasts can not "keep the lights on" at a museum type setting. While there will still be an opportunity for enthusiasts to see the planes, it won't be a typical musty museum (which I actually prefer, but I recognize that I am an warbird enthusiast, not a theme park type.)
- Sneak peak of the layout drawings at @minute 13. A U shaped main area with @ three hangers and themed areas on each side. If you pause the clip You can make out much his current aircraft fleet in the layouts.
- Lots of focus on the experience, restaurants, feel....and a mention of self discovery and "finding the spark within" theme.
- Obviously a lot of thought and money going into the project. While it may not scratch the itch for everyone, I commend all he has done for aviation over his lifetime and wish the effort well.

We were lucky enough to have the 506th FG reunion there about a year and half ago. Kermit was there, he was working on his planes.....but stopped by to say hi and meet everyone. Before that I was talking to one of the 'hosts' which basically is one of his employees that was helping to run the event. She mentioned his 'vision' of having a 'theme park' type atmosphere (minus the rides per say)and destination park......where people can come and see his collection and get immersed in WWII. She said though that he's been thinking of this for a while now and told me, "to be honest, I didn't know if it will ever happen" and that none of the employees now are holding their breath about it.

Nice to see his dream is still alive and I wish him nothing but success. I really hope this works out for him and for everyone. It would be awesome if it all works out.

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506th Fighter Group Historian
Member of Glidepath Photography

Thanks for posting the video.

I found the engine noise of the lift, quite irritating and the video time of getting into position annoying.

As regards his plans, I don't see them as making money. BUT....I'm not a businessman so what do I know? He compared it to Disney and the one big difference at Disney is that you actually DO something. You go on rides. I didn't get the impression that airplane rides are part of the attraction.

Perhaps I missed it but what I heard was that the entire plan is to create several different atmospheres and have restaurants at each one and maybe a bar in the tower. So I gather from that, that the main attraction is to eat and watch airplanes. So the main income is maybe an entry fee and restaurant income.

If that's true (and maybe I just don't understand), then that implies lots of airplanes from lots of eras are going to be taking off and landing all the time. Otherwise it seems to be restaurants at several museums.
I don't see how they are NOT museums.

As I say perhaps I don't understand what he has in mind. I do applaud his desire to light the "spark". That I do not see how these plans achieve that could me my limitation not the plans' limitation.

Brilliant idea to recreate an airline/ commercial seaplane terminal and ramp. No one has ever thought of that.
An idea popped in my head when watching this video. What if they connected those water filled trenches to the lake and made it so they could do tours by airboat? This would allow paying customers to “fly” along the surface of the lake and imagine a seaplane takeoff. The canals provide access to areas of the campus so the passenger has a “ wind in the hair” experience while transitioning from era to era. Doesn’t have to be airboats, could be something cheaper , more practical or amphibious. I don’t recommend DUKWs, however. Remember the scene in the movies”Out of Africa” where Redford is flying the DH 60 moth over the water on a game preserve. Meryl Streep as passenger is having a “ religious “ connection with the airplane, the wind, and the beauty of flight. If that can be captured, it will be incredible.

I wish him all the luck.

I remember a time when FoF was the premier destination for a young Northern Canadian like me.

Seems to me that Mr Yagen place is now the place to visit....Which I still have not done yet!

Cheers.

Yagen's Military Aviation Museum is a fantastic place, and the annual May airshow is absolutely great, with really close access to all the aircraft, hangars and the flight line. Definitely a more personal, comfortable feel than a military airbase show on acres of tarmac. Mostly just airplanes and a few artifacts, not an amusement park type place. I am local and go to the show almost every May, especially if there is something new to see- I wasn't going to miss the Me-262, Mosquito or the Me-109 when they made their debut in years past. Looking forward to the Tony.

Check the weather before you fly/drive down from Canada. The show has had poor weather luck about every other year- but it is worth it. Do the Smithsonian's on the way down in Washington DC. About 4 hours north.

Had to chuckle when Kermit said he couldn't afford one hangar at the moment. Then later he said there are a total of 6 hangars to be built. Hmmm. This might take a while to complete. Hope it happens eventually though.

I have been a fan of Kermit for years, and no doubt like many on here I have also known him as an acquaintance for close to 30 years, but the simple fact is the only pilots (with some very specific short term exceptions) who fly Kermit's aircraft are Kermit!
That alone is a roadblock to the plan.
Beyond that, its still a very specific venue, airplanes, and therefore no matter how diverse the display aircraft are, it will still be an aircraft only attraction, and will attract specific interest people.
Disney is diverse, and interactive, its appeal is universal, and massive.
They cannot be compared, even if Kermit might be the earthly embodiment of Howard Hughes and Walt Disney

Kermit marches to his own drum, always has, always will. I cannot hep but think that “Orlampa” will remain a dream, but we cannot fault this vision and passion!

I've asked through messaging if there are other pilots that fly Kermit's aircraft, but never received a response. Solely based on the videos he uploads, I guessed Kermit was the chief, reserve, test, and all-time pilot of the fleet. He's going to be a busy bee when his dream gets going and there are supposed to be WWI, WWII, Golden Age, and seaplane rides happening. Will be interesting to see it come together - hopefully.

I only met him once, briefly back in 1989 when I visited the old facility at Tiamiami. He was manning the till in the gift shop and we chatted about the Mosquito which he'd bought only a year or two before.

While he's clearly saved a lot of artifacts, engines and obviously complete aircraft.........I personally think his 'dream' is beyond achievable at his age now, not to mention the one mentioned already of him being the only one that plays with his own trainset. You just get the distinct impression he's turned into a multi-millionaire version of one of those collector horders you see on TV programmes when you see them still refusing to sell stuff on because "I'll get around to fixing/building it one day" as they sit there saying it holding onto a zimmer frame.......

I would think that the increase in insurance costs to add pilots and give rides would be colossal.