Simviation Forums

Zeberdee asked me to post some shots of places of interest in Florida. These are some of the best I can find right now. Taken several years ago with my old Canon SureShot. They're more holiday snaps really. It's a pity that reasonably priced digital cameras weren't available at the time.

This is Kermit Weeks' "Fantasy of Flight". http://www.fantasyofflight.com/
It was very interesting but had only been open to the public for a few weeks when I visited & there's far more there now. The white tubes are part of the hangar air conditioning.


Mr. Weeks had personally flown the Sunderland from the UK shortly before I visited.


A Corsair in the "Fightertown" section of the museum with one of the simulators on the right.


I have no idea what this is. Anyone?


I always try to do something new when on holiday. These were taken at Kissimmee Airport on a previous visit when I took the opportunity of a ride in an airship. A wonderful experience but I don't think they still operate. The big advantage of an airship is that you can open the cabin windows & lean out to take photos.
This is our airship, named after Shamu the orca at Sea World.


Epcot Center with the famous "Spaceship Earth" silver ball.


Overhead shot of Tom Reilly's "Flying Tigers" warbird restoration museum at the airport. Tom gave us a personal tour of the facility. http://www.warbirdmuseum.com/

Some of these aircraft are being restored for different customers. It's amazing what's packed inside the hangar. There are brand new parts for the B-17 everywhere you look, including complete fuselage sections. Unfortunately the few shots I took inside didn't come out. When I was there you could have a flight in various types including the P-51D Mustang. Unfortunately I was running out of cash.

Awsome shots Hagar. Shame you did'nt have a Digital Camera.

Nice to see the Sunderland. I saw it at Chatham Dockyards shortly before it left for Florida. Must have a photo somewhere (at my parents - in Australia - when I visit them at Christmas I'll try abd scan one...). Also saw it at Great Warbirds at West Malling that year...

Charlie

That mystery plane is WEIRD!
P-40 U/C, Harvard nose, and vaguely Yak body... I'm flummoxed!!! KEN HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark

Ps. Love the aerial shots Doug

That mystery plane is WEIRD!
P-40 U/C, Harvard nose, and vaguely Yak body... I'm flummoxed!!! KEN HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Felix already told me what it is. I'll give the others a chance before spilling the beans.*

Ps. Love the aerial shots Doug

Thanks.

*PS. If you look through recent posts on this forum you can find out for yourself. I'm not telling you which particular forum. That would be too easy.

I missed the photo of the Wirraway and the red thing earlier! Too busy looking at the top view of Tom Reilly's place and the Sunderland...

Charlie

Here's another shot of the Wirraway. It seems it was badly damaged during the hurricane that wrecked Kermit Week's hangar in the early 90's



Charlie

Edit: I was looking at the wrong picture. Oh well, at least I ID'd the Corsair correctly!!!  :P

Here's another shot of the Wirraway. It seems it was badly damaged during the hurricane that wrecked Kermit Week's hangar in the early 90's

That's a darned shame. I hope it's repairable. Did you see the current state of Tom Reilly's place from my previous link?

Looks like the Vampire got away with it. Shame about the little Aeronca...

Again wonderful shots Doug

I was just wondering...the Sunderland...could it be flown with the beaching gear in place?

I do not remember if Shorts built an amphibious flying boat or not.

Did the Sunderland come in several different sizes, I will have to find a link to do some research on this wonderful aircraft.  Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[quote]Again wonderful shots Doug

I was just wondering...the Sunderland...could it be flown with the beaching gear in place?

I do not remember if Shorts built an amphibious flying boat or not.

Did the Sunderland come in several different sizes, I will have to find a link to do some research on this wonderful aircraft.

Wonderful site Doug and some very interesting facts

Some say here the STOL Commercial/Military Amphibious Flying Boat along with the Airship are on a come back...I guess it only makes sense here with the amout of lakes and lack of remote airfields.

It is amazing what can be built to-day with the technology we have available.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Wonderful site Doug and some very interesting facts

Some say here the STOL Commercial/Military Amphibious Flying Boat along with the Airship are on a come back...I guess it only makes sense here with the amout of lakes and lack of remote airfields.

It is amazing what can be built to-day with the technology we have available.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Hi Doug. Interesting you should say that. The Skyship 500 in my photos was in fact designed & built by a British company named Airship Industries. The same type was featured in the Bond film "A View to a Kill". This company is now US owned & part of Westinghouse Inc.

Airships can be useful for some purposes but I've always thought their sheer size & clumsiness makes them impractical for anything but perfect weather conditions. This is their latest project. http://www.aht.ndirect.co.uk/airships/Sentinel_5000/
The comparatively small Skyship 500 series we flew on can carry 9 passengers & up to 3 crew members although it can actually be controlled by one pilot. This required a crew of 30 or more highly trained ground personnel to operate.

Flying boats/floatplanes might be a more practical proposition but as you know these are also susceptible to bad weather.