Kermit Weeks is a National Treasure for all he has done to preserve aviation history and to further goodwill,the smiles on the passengers face say it all!
...watching this again 3 years later..enjoying it every bit as much I did the first time!...probably as close as I'll ever get to actually riding in one..man, I love the P-40!..always have, even more after watching this!...Thanks, Kermit :)
I was able to tour FOF several times when living in Florida. What a wonderful collection and facility. Kermit Weeks gets my vote for the "Most interesting man in the world "!!
If I ever had a chance to fly in a Warbird, Mr Weeks is the man I would want to share the experience with. As a lover of Warbirds but absolutely no flight experience, this is the Man to go with, as he shares his love of flying, and makes you feel comfortable and not intimidated by his ability and knowledge.
P40 is like the Hawker Hurricane. Overshadowed by its more glamorous sibling, but still serving in almost every theater of the war right up to the end. Salute!
Kermit is a true gentleman and a great ambassador for aviation. My son and I saw him in the 80's at Breckenridge, Texas when he flew his newly acquired D.H. Mosquito to the annual 'Fighter Meet'. I thought I'd never see a Mosquito fly. One of my life's highlights.
wow!!!thank you kermit!! and such a deserving winner!!!if i had known there were other cameras i would have left my phone behind and absorbed every precious second in the p-40 i could!!such an amazing experience!!!!
I've never seen Kermit fly so aggressively. . . . . A lot of high speed , low level 3 G turns. Wicked . . . man ! Happy Birthday Kermit ! I've been following your you tube videos after I found you and that guy is one lucky son of a gun. WOW very cool.
There are old pilots and bold pilots. There are no old bold pilots. Watching Kermit for all this time I sense he has a higher understanding of how these vintage planes should be handled. You're right though. You usually never see him coming close to 50% of the manuevers these planes pulled off in combat. Neat to see him wring her out a little bit
@@stevemadak6255 Kermit was an aerobatic pilot with a lot of success and fame, his weeks special and weeks solution planes are incredible. Also, my dad is an old bold pilot, and Bob Hoover and Chuck Yeager were mighty bold and lived long lives. Dolitte was pretty bold, Sean D Tucker and Delmar Benjamin, there are a lot of old bold pilots still kicking. Aviation is extremely unforgiving though and having had my own situations and friends that have passed I will say there is a lot more planning that goes into "bold" flying than people see, training as well. Kermit is truly one of the best. Hope you have a great day sir.
Congratulations John! Parachute??? I didn't get any parachute... As I recall taxiing out to the end of the runway I think it was more like, "That thing you're sitting on is a cushion." "I'll be the only one with a parachute for this flight." "Feel free to take the controls if I depart the aircraft." The AVG connection is strong too,knowing that my childhood heroes had occupied the same seat I was in had me checking our six and half expecting to see a "Nate" or "Oscar". As always, Thanks to Kermit for sharing!
Kermit, that was an awesome thing you did, I am so looking forward to visiting your facility and hopefully meeting you and your crew!! You guys are awesome!!
What a memorable flight. - - - Kermit, ... " will ya get yer foot off the stick". John ...." I think I just lost my chewing gum somewhere". "I feel a bit queasy" . Kermit .... "you say your gum has jammed the stick ", " never mind we'll just go around again or something". He had the flight of a lifetime. Great stuff.
Yep, I'd be smiling for months getting to do that. What a great way to have a fun day. You guys are very fortunate. Thanks for sharing your joy with us.
My Uncle flew the P-40 in Africa during WWII. He passed just 10 years ago. What a man he was. I looked up to him from a very young age. Rest In Peace uncle Powell, we miss you.
I'm a little late to add here, Kermit your a nice guy to do that for him it's not often that anyone gets to ride in a warbird, especially a PT-40, and I know he enjoyed it as much I enjoyed watching it..
Watched this for the 3rd time, every time it puts a huge smile on my face! Kermit you rock man!! And the winner enjoyed the hell out of it, what a memory!
I thought I was living the dream when I became an. Airline pilot but that was nothing compared to the dream Kermit lives every day. He gets to fly a different piece of history every time he flies.☺️
Strange to see an older guy playing with a phone like that. ...but it's almost Black Mirror-esque that he's doing it while getting a one-in-a-million opportunity to take a ride in an old warbird. Quite strange indeed.
Totally awesome and beautiful plane..thats some amazing FLYING GUY'S.WOW..you done an excellent job on this.Thank you so so much for everything that you do..
Another day for Kermit, but on my top 10 list of great days. I watched all the videos on the drawing-I'm still baffled how I won the drawing- I think my dad had some spiritual pull on the water balloon. I didn't know you were filming the flight, so I was making sure to get some good shots. I'm pretty sure, by the way I was chewing my gum my heart was beating about 200 the whole flight. Thanks Kermit. I'm gonna make you a Fantasy of Flight logo rug soon- I'll be in touch - we'll have lunch.
Hey John! Great to hear from you. Glad you enjoyed the flight. We enjoyed having you out here. You might be right about your dad's influence in your win. We're happy it worked out that way for you. The logo rug sounds cool. Take care!
Frickin awesome !! I was fortunate enough to meet "Tex" Hill and his beautiful wife Mazie at the Houston Gun Collector's Association gun show at the Reliant Center in Houston, TX quite a few years ago and obtain his autograph in his book "Tex Hill Flying Tiger". He signed it, "To my good friend Max, who was born 25 years too late. All the best. Tex Hill" True American hero as was all of the AVG pilots.
He must have a great memory to be able to keep track of all the little features and quirks of so many different airplanes. I have enough trouble with one.
Boy does this bring back memories, as you might imagine. Of course the TP-40 rear cockpit is a lot roomier than the jumpseat of the P-40M I rode in, and I had no controls to play with. But I can still hear Fred Sebby's voice on the radio as he looped behind Bruce Guberman in the Seneca photo plane, yelling "Takatakatakatakataka!" as he claimed another victory. Still have an audio recording of that, along with all the photos I took... gotta dig that out of the archives sometime. As always, thanks for sharing. Had to wait for the right time to watch this one!
Seriously, what would it take to be in this guy's shoes? My bucket list! My mother in law said a was a frustrated pilot. I've always been drawn to these warbirds. Maybe, in another life....
Add: often wondered about the DC-3 you guys have on I-4 at Fantasy of Flight because of storms the likes of Irma coming right thru Lakeland, but I caught a couple of glimpses of it from the PT-40 flight with you and winner John Smart, good to see its still hanging out on I-4....
That was awesome.. lucky guy. Brings back memories when I had 3 flights in a De Havilland Chipmunk! Not quite a P-40, but she was a tail dragger. My dream is to have a Spitfire flight!
I remember back in 2013 before the bigger attraction closed watching the old planes take off and the simulators when I revisit that memory I cry because that's all over and I was devastated when the big attraction close :(
It will all be back, and much much more in Act III. Check out Kermit's Facebook page for a recent post about Act III. And then follow him there for future updates.
What a fabulous thing. Its a shame the early P40 didnt have the climb performance they needed in Europe, but they made an excellent account of themselves in North Africa, often against 109E they would have faced over England.
Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience my dream is to one day pilot a P-51 Mustang they are the most beautiful aircraft ever been made thank you for posting these videos and preserving history my grandfather was in the Navy and fault World War II they were truly the greatest Generation the walk this Earth God bless all their soles you're a good man Kermit thank you
Hope you get your chance, you won't regret it! In the mean time, here's a little taste of what's that like here's my flight on Crazy Horse a TF-51D Mustang in 96 just across over at Stallion 51 in Kissimmee (Also flew a low level pass over Fantasy of Flight) ruclips.net/video/0vapvp_YvSc/видео.html
Great video good sir!! I'm currently in Aviation Maintenance School. I'm wanting to plan a trip to somewhere really fun when I finish school and I'd love to come see your collection! Thanks for all the work you do and sharing your passion for these amazing aircraft!! Greetings from Oklahoma.
I cant believe that chap. Wins a competition for a flight, and spends most of it playing around with his phone rather than looking at what was going on around him, or listening to Kermit. If you must chew gum, keep your mouth shut......strewth !!
Kermit this is Bill I used to live in Titusville Florida and I used to pass fantasy of flight when I went to the West coast of Florida and I enjoy watching your videos I've have never got close to a P-40 but I enjoy this video in one before that thank you for good videos I love flying I've been around airplanes almost all my life I've been to the air shows at Tico air show in the mid-90s keep up the good work brother I subscribe to your videos thank you very much Kermit
Yea,the hat, the gum and the phone, and when he did look out of the window he looked bored.Oh well each to his own.Otherwise this was great.Thanks Kermit.
I’d love to fly a P-40 and P-51... scratch that every American plane from WWII but I’m only 12 and if I can make it to being an air force pilot (which is hopefully how I’d get my pilots license) after all that they would probably mostly gone and it’s a rare enough experience as it is
i got to fly a mustang in aus on a flight like that. the pilot was an ex aerobatics pilot and he put that plane in every possible attitude and finished with a vertical dive toward the sea and flattened off just over some guys in their boat...they looked like they were gunna jump! the biggest thing is how sensitive the flight controls are...
The light weight P-40 performs well with the Allison 1710 engine. Instead of enjoying the experience, this guy is preoccupied with his phone to show his friends .
Sadly, yes, those AVG pilots are all gone, made more poignant by those signatures on the seat. I wouldn't be too hard on the fellow with the phone. He was simply documenting his one in a lifetime experience.
That was awesome! Wish I had been that guy! Thanks for sharing the cool ride with us. I would have asked for a lesson on rolling and then asked permission to do the roll. LOL Best Wishes n Blessings Kermit. Keith Noneya
Kermit has a very polite, friendly and humble approach - that's so refreshing to see in a man in his position.
Kermit Weeks is a National Treasure for all he has done to preserve aviation history and to further goodwill,the smiles on the passengers face say it all!
...watching this again 3 years later..enjoying it every bit as much I did the first time!...probably as close as I'll ever get to actually riding in one..man, I love the P-40!..always have, even more after watching this!...Thanks, Kermit :)
I was able to tour FOF several times when living in Florida. What a wonderful collection and facility. Kermit Weeks gets my vote for the "Most interesting man in the world "!!
If I ever had a chance to fly in a Warbird, Mr Weeks is the man I would want to share the experience with. As a lover of Warbirds but absolutely no flight experience, this is the Man to go with, as he shares his love of flying, and makes you feel comfortable and not intimidated by his ability and knowledge.
P40 is like the Hawker Hurricane. Overshadowed by its more glamorous sibling, but still serving in almost every theater of the war right up to the end.
Salute!
Kermit is a true gentleman and a great ambassador for aviation. My son and I saw him in the 80's at Breckenridge, Texas when he flew his newly acquired D.H. Mosquito to the annual 'Fighter Meet'. I thought I'd never see a Mosquito fly. One of my life's highlights.
Kermit is just a great guy he would treat ya really really well.
wow!!!thank you kermit!! and such a deserving winner!!!if i had known there were other cameras i would have left my phone behind and absorbed every precious second in the p-40 i could!!such an amazing experience!!!!
Kermit. That was magnificent. That fella has a lifetime memory. Good for both of you.
This channel deserves millions of subscribers.
WOW THAT WAS A THRILL!!!
THANKS KERMIT. 👍
Just can't get enough of Kermits' "Fantasy of Flight" videos. Thanks Kermit, keep up the good work and keep' m coming.
I've never seen Kermit fly so aggressively. . . . . A lot of high speed , low level 3 G turns. Wicked . . . man ! Happy Birthday Kermit ! I've been following your you tube videos after I found you and that guy is one lucky son of a gun. WOW very cool.
There are old pilots and bold pilots. There are no old bold pilots. Watching Kermit for all this time I sense he has a higher understanding of how these vintage planes should be handled. You're right though. You usually never see him coming close to 50% of the manuevers these planes pulled off in combat. Neat to see him wring her out a little bit
@@stevemadak6255 Kermit was an aerobatic pilot with a lot of success and fame, his weeks special and weeks solution planes are incredible. Also, my dad is an old bold pilot, and Bob Hoover and Chuck Yeager were mighty bold and lived long lives. Dolitte was pretty bold, Sean D Tucker and Delmar Benjamin, there are a lot of old bold pilots still kicking. Aviation is extremely unforgiving though and having had my own situations and friends that have passed I will say there is a lot more planning that goes into "bold" flying than people see, training as well. Kermit is truly one of the best. Hope you have a great day sir.
Congratulations John! Parachute??? I didn't get any parachute... As I recall taxiing out to the end of the runway I think it was more like, "That thing you're sitting on is a cushion." "I'll be the only one with a parachute for this flight." "Feel free to take the controls if I depart the aircraft." The AVG connection is strong too,knowing that my childhood heroes had occupied the same seat I was in had me checking our six and half expecting to see a "Nate" or "Oscar". As always, Thanks to Kermit for sharing!
Kermit, that was an awesome thing you did, I am so looking forward to visiting your facility and hopefully meeting you and your crew!! You guys are awesome!!
What a memorable flight. - - - Kermit, ... " will ya get yer foot off the stick". John ...." I think I just lost my chewing gum somewhere". "I feel a bit queasy" . Kermit .... "you say your gum has jammed the stick ", " never mind we'll just go around again or something". He had the flight of a lifetime. Great stuff.
Thanks for sharing your life Kermit.
Yep, I'd be smiling for months getting to do that. What a great way to have a fun day. You guys are very fortunate. Thanks for sharing your joy with us.
My Uncle flew the P-40 in Africa during WWII. He passed just 10 years ago. What a man he was. I looked up to him from a very young age. Rest In Peace uncle Powell, we miss you.
This guy deserved this ride , great for him.
Yeah, that was absolutely awesome!
John you did AWESOME for your very first time flying a plane!! 👍🏼 You couldn’t have had a better instructor. Kermit is the BEST!
I'm a little late to add here, Kermit your a nice guy to do that for him it's not often that anyone gets to ride in a warbird, especially a PT-40, and I know he enjoyed it as much I enjoyed watching it..
Thanx, Kermie... that wuz a good one.
Boy, get me in there and I'll be barrel rolling all day long (even with my glass stomach)
cheers
Kermit is quite the gentleman!
Would love to meet him one day.
Thrill of a life time, thanks for sharing it with the rest of us.
Watched this for the 3rd time, every time it puts a huge smile on my face! Kermit you rock man!! And the winner enjoyed the hell out of it, what a memory!
thats cool as hell you got the flying tigers to sign the seat
I thought I was living the dream when I became an. Airline pilot but that was nothing compared to the dream Kermit lives every day. He gets to fly a different piece of history every time he flies.☺️
That was AWESUME!!!! That would be a serious dream come true for me!!! Count your blessing buddy.
Man what I wouldn’t give for that ride with you in my first warbird love Kermit!
Kermit's a great guy,a real love of aviation as we all do,the difference he can afford all his toys but most of us can't unfortunately...👍😁🇪🇦🇬🇧
The coolest 'let go the stick' in the middle of a landing I can imagine. WOW
A mule eating briars could use some of that chewing gum.
Cool that you did that!
Thanks Kermit
Strange to see an older guy playing with a phone like that.
...but it's almost Black Mirror-esque that he's doing it while getting a one-in-a-million opportunity to take a ride in an old warbird. Quite strange indeed.
That was my first thought. I am so glad that I am not addicted to those face magnets.
There are places you can pay for a ride any time you want.
He was more interested in his damn phone than a one in a million chance of flying in a P40, wasted ! Kermie was great as usual.
Totally awesome and beautiful plane..thats some amazing FLYING GUY'S.WOW..you done an excellent job on this.Thank you so so much for everything that you do..
Another day for Kermit, but on my top 10 list of great days. I watched all the videos on the drawing-I'm still baffled how I won the drawing- I think my dad had some spiritual pull on the water balloon. I didn't know you were filming the flight, so I was making sure to get some good shots. I'm pretty sure, by the way I was chewing my gum my heart was beating about 200 the whole flight. Thanks Kermit. I'm gonna make you a Fantasy of Flight logo rug soon- I'll be in touch - we'll have lunch.
Hey John! Great to hear from you. Glad you enjoyed the flight. We enjoyed having you out here. You might be right about your dad's influence in your win. We're happy it worked out that way for you. The logo rug sounds cool. Take care!
How fun. What a lucky guy. Hope there is another contest. Both warbird options were so cool.
I might have chewed the gum if I was a little nervous...but the phone...no way!
Fantastic, I am envious of his ride.
Lucky lucky lucky. That's a dream come true..go pro it next time. Ouch on the stick around landing
Some people find it more important for people to know what they are doing rather than trying to enjoy what they are doing
That fellow enjoyed every second of that ride lol.
Frickin awesome !! I was fortunate enough to meet "Tex" Hill and his beautiful wife Mazie at the Houston Gun Collector's Association gun show at the Reliant Center in Houston, TX quite a few years ago and obtain his autograph in his book "Tex Hill Flying Tiger". He signed it, "To my good friend Max, who was born 25 years too late. All the best. Tex Hill" True American hero as was all of the AVG pilots.
In his book, if I'm not mistaken, he only mentioned Boyington twice and I don't think Tex approved of him at all. Just my opinion.
I've been in the back seat of a P51 (no controls though) several times, done full display routines & it really is the most awesome thing ever!
That is an experience of a lifetime what a memory to have
You are really spreading and sharing the Spirit! What a nice give away and what a nice dude.
I love the Storch! That would be my choice to ride!
He must have a great memory to be able to keep track of all the little features and quirks of so many different airplanes. I have enough trouble with one.
Is he the Jay Leno of aeroplanes? Fantastic. Like the P-40. Cool shaped nose, nice lines.
What a great ride! I was smiling with you!
The P-40 suits Kermit. I could definitely imagine him a FLYING TIGER!
I gotta do that! What a way to make a living!! Kermit you should smile more!!
Boy does this bring back memories, as you might imagine. Of course the TP-40 rear cockpit is a lot roomier than the jumpseat of the P-40M I rode in, and I had no controls to play with. But I can still hear Fred Sebby's voice on the radio as he looped behind Bruce Guberman in the Seneca photo plane, yelling "Takatakatakatakataka!" as he claimed another victory. Still have an audio recording of that, along with all the photos I took... gotta dig that out of the archives sometime. As always, thanks for sharing. Had to wait for the right time to watch this one!
Seriously, what would it take to be in this guy's shoes? My bucket list! My mother in law said a was a frustrated pilot. I've always been drawn to these warbirds. Maybe, in another life....
wow... once in a lifetime! nice
Good deal Kermit! I also love sharing our world of aviation with earthlings!
Add: often wondered about the DC-3 you guys have on I-4 at Fantasy of Flight because of storms the likes of Irma coming right thru Lakeland, but I caught a couple of glimpses of it from the PT-40 flight with you and winner John Smart, good to see its still hanging out on I-4....
one day ill come down from canada to visit your place and even have a ride if i can. your collection is impressive and awsome!
That was awesome.. lucky guy. Brings back memories when I had 3 flights in a De Havilland Chipmunk! Not quite a P-40, but she was a tail dragger. My dream is to have a Spitfire flight!
I remember back in 2013 before the bigger attraction closed watching the old planes take off and the simulators when I revisit that memory I cry because that's all over and I was devastated when the big attraction close :(
It will all be back, and much much more in Act III. Check out Kermit's Facebook page for a recent post about Act III. And then follow him there for future updates.
"what do YOU want to fly in today? what a choice!
Good stuff, Awesome piece of history
What a fabulous thing. Its a shame the early P40 didnt have the climb performance they needed in Europe, but they made an excellent account of themselves in North Africa, often against 109E they would have faced over England.
looking great
When you think of iconic aircraft the P-40 is near the top of the list. There is no mistaking that profile for anything else, sharks teeth or not.
Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience my dream is to one day pilot a P-51 Mustang they are the most beautiful aircraft ever been made thank you for posting these videos and preserving history my grandfather was in the Navy and fault World War II they were truly the greatest Generation the walk this Earth God bless all their soles you're a good man Kermit thank you
Hope you get your chance, you won't regret it! In the mean time, here's a little taste of what's that like here's my flight on Crazy Horse a TF-51D Mustang in 96 just across over at Stallion 51 in Kissimmee (Also flew a low level pass over Fantasy of Flight)
ruclips.net/video/0vapvp_YvSc/видео.html
My Dream airplane! I was in the seat with him! Thanks!
Awesome gift, good choice.
What a nice guy Kermit is, would love to see him get his hands on a D H Hornet if he could find one
"the sticks stuck " --- sorry but I was playing with cell phone . Sad.
I’m pretty sure he had fun!
Yes I love seeing a human being pilot the machines - thank you and aloha.
Flew in a Boeing Stearman Biplane recently. The guy that pilots it is my neighbor and just like Kermit.
I'd love to do that again.
Great video good sir!! I'm currently in Aviation Maintenance School. I'm wanting to plan a trip to somewhere really fun when I finish school and I'd love to come see your collection! Thanks for all the work you do and sharing your passion for these amazing aircraft!! Greetings from Oklahoma.
I was afraid dude was gonna drop his phone and jam the controls.
I cant believe that chap. Wins a competition for a flight, and spends most of it playing around with his phone rather than looking at what was going on around him, or listening to Kermit. If you must chew gum, keep your mouth shut......strewth !!
And buy a New Hat....
John had a ride of a life time. I would LOVE to fly a war bird other than my J-3 Cub. 😃👍🏼
Love the grass strip ,1940s, WW 2, , Northern Europe.
Kermit this is Bill I used to live in Titusville Florida and I used to pass fantasy of flight when I went to the West coast of Florida and I enjoy watching your videos I've have never got close to a P-40 but I enjoy this video in one before that thank you for good videos I love flying I've been around airplanes almost all my life I've been to the air shows at Tico air show in the mid-90s keep up the good work brother I subscribe to your videos thank you very much Kermit
Wondering how long it's been since that hat had an oil change...lol!
Yea,the hat, the gum and the phone, and when he did look out of the window he looked bored.Oh well each to his own.Otherwise this was great.Thanks Kermit.
I’d love to fly a P-40 and P-51... scratch that every American plane from WWII but I’m only 12 and if I can make it to being an air force pilot (which is hopefully how I’d get my pilots license) after all that they would probably mostly gone and it’s a rare enough experience as it is
Don't worry these warbirds will be around for many more years to come because of people like Kermit.
Guy spent more time on his phone than enjoying the flight lol
i got to fly a mustang in aus on a flight like that. the pilot was an ex aerobatics pilot and he put that plane in every possible attitude and finished with a vertical dive toward the sea and flattened off just over some guys in their boat...they looked like they were gunna jump! the biggest thing is how sensitive the flight controls are...
That was a smart choice!
Definitely.......
BUCKET LIST
His facial expressions says it all wah hoo
Kermit, you are living my dream...
That was wasted on that bloke. Good on you Kermie you are a legend. I am glad you flew the P-40. Way cooler than the Mustang in my opinion.
The light weight P-40 performs well with the Allison 1710 engine. Instead of enjoying the experience, this guy is preoccupied with his phone to show his friends .
pilot heaven
Nice 4 point roll
Wow! Lucky dog!
I envy that guy. 👍
Chewing gum in someone's ear always helpful with comms.
Brilliant, thanks for that!
Sadly, yes, those AVG pilots are all gone, made more poignant by those signatures on the seat. I wouldn't be too hard on the fellow with the phone. He was simply documenting his one in a lifetime experience.
That was awesome! Wish I had been that guy! Thanks for sharing the cool ride with us. I would have asked for a lesson on rolling and then asked permission to do the roll. LOL
Best Wishes n Blessings Kermit. Keith Noneya
"I`m ready for loops and rolls or whatever this thing will do." LOL Probably what I would have said too. :)
He got nausea from a 3 g turn? He is lucky that Kermit did not show him "whatever this thing will do" ! That was a great demo flight Kermit!