Kermit Week's B-29 Fertile Myrtle

[Xrayist]

Sort of off topic, but when I lived in Tucson, about 1978-1980 I would visit all the airports/fields and see what was happening. I managed to catch Fyrtle Myrtle in the air. Also went back at night and got some real nice shots of it sitting on the ramp. This was back when you could actually walk around an airfield and take photos.

[Zac Yates]

Good catch on the 109 and P-51A!

[whistlingdeath77]

That A-26 invader project has been painfully slow i forget its even around still.

Still at Aero Trader at Chino and has had its initial engine runs.

how long has it been there? 7-10 years?

[Matt Gunsch]

That A-26 invader project has been painfully slow i forget its even around still.

Still at Aero Trader at Chino and has had its initial engine runs.

how long has it been there? 7-10 years?

it has always been a back burner project for Aero Traders, in the time they had it they completed several B-25 restorations. There is not a large demand for A-26s, so maybe you should be glad that one was restored to the level that the B-25s have been restored to. After the hurricane the plane could have easily been scrapped as it was badly damaged by the hangar crushing it
As for those complaining about Kermits collection, put your money where your mouth is and offer to buy a plane from him, or pay the restoration. I see Kermit as someone who employs a number of companies and individuals to restore planes for his collection, Art Teeters has the P-51A, Aero Trader the A-26, Matt Denning the Boomerang, The Me-109, the Boeing F4B, The F4U in Australia, The Tony and Kingfisher in New Zealand, the Standard Me-108 and P-35 at his place in Florida, the Vega in Florida, every one of those is being funded by Kermit and no one else, and everyone of those doing the restorations benefit from the work. So what if Kermit does not get the B-29, or Lancaster flying in the time the YOU think it should, the fact is, he has those airframes protected from the environment and stored for future restorations.

[Michel Lemieux]

the fact is, he has those airframes protected from the environment and stored for future restorations.

Ditto!

How many of these airframes would have rotten to the ground if not saved / salvaged!????

Been there 3 times. Loved it.

[Dan Jones]

Well said, Matt. He might not be currently working on many airplanes compared to his holdings and we all have our favorites (myself, I want to see the F6F come to life) but he's laying out one hell of a pile of money each and every month and has been for decades. The man has fed a lot of people and families. He doesn't owe anybody anything.

[Mark Allen M]

As for those complaining about Kermits collection

Who's complaining!!!!! ....

I like the idea of a "reincarstorator". I can think of a few others who would be nice to come back in some way too.

[Michel Lemieux]

"reincarstorator"

So back in his car to store stuff????? Funny Mark

[Lon Moer]

<>
As for those complaining about Kermits collection, put your money where your mouth is and offer to buy a plane from him, or pay the restoration. I see Kermit as someone who employs a number of companies and individuals to restore planes for his collection, Art Teeters has the P-51A, Aero Trader the A-26, Matt Denning the Boomerang, The Me-109, the Boeing F4B, The F4U in Australia, The Tony and Kingfisher in New Zealand, the Standard Me-108 and P-35 at his place in Florida, the Vega in Florida, every one of those is being funded by Kermit and no one else, and everyone of those doing the restorations benefit from the work. So what if Kermit does not get the B-29, or Lancaster flying in the time the YOU think it should, the fact is, he has those airframes protected from the environment and stored for future restorations.

And he has also turned away a number of people who do have the time, money and resources to follow through with a restoration project. Airframes that still sit in long term storage.

[Matt Gunsch]

And he has also turned away a number of people who do have the time, money and resources to follow through with a restoration project. Airframes that still sit in long term storage.

they are still his planes, his choice, maybe they did not offer enough $

[whistlingdeath77]

how long has it been there? 7-10 years?[/quote]
it has always been a back burner project for Aero Traders, in the time they had it they completed several B-25 restorations. There is not a large demand for A-26s, so maybe you should be glad that one was restored to the level that the B-25s have been restored to. After the hurricane the plane could have easily been scrapped as it was badly damaged by the hangar crushing it
As for those complaining about Kermits collection, put your money where your mouth is and offer to buy a plane from him, or pay the restoration. I see Kermit as someone who employs a number of companies and individuals to restore planes for his collection, Art Teeters has the P-51A, Aero Trader the A-26, Matt Denning the Boomerang, The Me-109, the Boeing F4B, The F4U in Australia, The Tony and Kingfisher in New Zealand, the Standard Me-108 and P-35 at his place in Florida, the Vega in Florida, every one of those is being funded by Kermit and no one else, and everyone of those doing the restorations benefit from the work. So what if Kermit does not get the B-29, or Lancaster flying in the time the YOU think it should, the fact is, he has those airframes protected from the environment and stored for future restorations.[/quote]

who's complaining? I asked how long a a-26 has been under restoration. Your comment is a tad rude towards other people. We are all on the same team here. geez

[Saville]

"What does bother me, however, is that he has hoarded so many warbird projects, engines, and spare parts on the market, and virtually never lets anything go. Once something goes into his collection, it's like a black hole - it never escapes."

Well think of it this way:

I make the assumption that he keeps the stuff he has well - protected. So someday he will...uh...no longer be taking care of that stuff and it will then be spread out to other owners. It's a nice hoard well kept and will someday be useful

[menards]

As for those complaining about Kermits collection

Who's complaining!!!!! ....

I like the idea of a "reincarstorator". I can think of a few others who would be nice to come back in some way too.

No one was complaining. That was Matt Gunsch being Matt Gunsch....

[menards]

"What does bother me, however, is that he has hoarded so many warbird projects, engines, and spare parts on the market, and virtually never lets anything go. Once something goes into his collection, it's like a black hole - it never escapes."

Well think of it this way:

I make the assumption that he keeps the stuff he has well - protected. So someday he will...uh...no longer be taking care of that stuff and it will then be spread out to other owners. It's a nice hoard well kept and will someday be useful

Kermit is not going to live forever. And when his collection is auctioned off it will be a grand one. The interesting part is that he probably doesn’t even know the extent of his own collection.

[Chris Brame]

Just curious about the Invader: Was A-26C 44-35590/N3248G/Nightmare parted out to contribute to the restoration, or does it remain a separate project? I've asked this before years ago but I don't remember if I got a definitive answer.