Kermit Weeks and the Fantasy of Flight

Kermit Weeks and the "Fantasy of Flight"

An Attraction On A Higher Plane

Kermit Weeks is the man behind the Weeks Air Museum in south Florida. Now he has come up with what is to me, one of the MOST interesting attractions to hit Central Florida that I can remember. The Fantasy of Flight attraction IS a great stop for Aviators and non-aviators alike.
It's in between Tampa and Orlando in Florida. If you stop in to see the mouse, the movies, or the whale, you owe it to yourself to visit the "Fantasy of Flight". It's a great way to spend a day and it's ALOT cheaper than a trip to Rodent World.
Kermit Weeks comes from a wealthy family who's money was made in Australian oil. This has left him free to pursue a life of flying, collecting and restoring antique airplanes, competition aerobatics, and general "coolness". It has also allowed him to build the "Fantasy of Flight" without having to make any concessions to anyone else. I really enjoyed myself.... so did the rest of the crowd.

Here are a few of the things that Mr. Weeks has lined up so far!

A Seaplane Base with many different types of Seaplanes. (Including a Sunderland Flying Boat)
30 or so Aircraft from Mr. Weeks private collection. (it numbers somewhere around 300 aircraft)
Large Hangers built in the style of the 1930's
Catwalks to view the restoration of many Vintage Aircraft. (Coming soon)
A walk through in a B17 with sights and sounds. Rumbling engines, 50 cal's blasting away. A catwalk trip through the bomb bay with a full screen underplane door opening, bomb dropping batch of coolness that I cannot adequately explain. You just have to see it. I mean.. I WAS there!
Fightertown Flight Simulators. F4f Wildcat to start. P38, F4U, P51, Zeke, and others to come later. THIS was fun too. I think they had the settings turned down a bit for opening day.. cause I'm not that good and I managed to down a Zeke and a Shinden, land, and get a TV camera stuck in my face by a news guy. The graphics are on par with Air Warrior, and the movement of the cockpit really adds to the realism. With the the realistic Stick, rudder pedals and throttle, cockpit, headphones (with actual communications with the "tower") and all the rest... it's pretty easy to get VERY into this. I gotta get one! There are 8 of these sims in a room along with an F4u painted as "Angel of Okinawa", and an indoor TOWER!
Immersion Experiences that will allow visitors to Realisticly experience other important moments in flight.
Sense-Around Chambers
300 acres of Flight related structures, exhibits, and Stuff!
There is an unrestored Zero fighter that was found in the jungle and returned as is. It's airframe is unrestorable but you can still make out the paint scheme and see the gun holes that dragged her down.
Static displays include a Jenny, Sopwith Pup, Morane A-I, a Spirit of St. Louis replica, Ford Tri-Motor, Spitfire, F4U, FM2, B24, B17, Zeke, Tony, P51, and a Mig 15 just to name a few.
I'll have some pictures of the Wildcat, Hog, a beautiful Spit and some Ponies etc. up soon!

Ticket prices are 8.95 for adults, 7.95 for seniors, 6.95 for kids 4-9. The Flight Sims are 5.95 extra and Season Passes go for around 39.95.

Warning! Legal Disclamer thing follows.

In case you are wondering, I am not affiliated with Mr. Weeks or the "Fantasy of Flight" attraction. I AM a WWII airplane lover, and I am extremely happy that I no longer have to travel 500 miles to get a look at one. I'm a TAD hyped about the FighterTown Sims too! I'm gonna own that town.

I had the good fortune to see Mr. Weeks at the 1995 Sun & Fun Fly-in in Lakeland, Florida. He's a pretty impressive dude. The B24 was Flown to the Show and you could climb in and crawl around for 4 bucks.... Life is good.

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