Kermit Weeks owns one of the largest private collections of flight-worthy historic aircraft in the world, most of which are at his Fantasy of Flight facility in Polk City, Florida. The collection contains over 140 civilian and military planes, including rare originals as well as reproductions of historic aircraft.
Original aircraft in the collection include a Short Sunderland flying boat. Weeks purchased the unique and large aircraft in England in February 1993 and after a long restoration it was flown to the USA, making stops in Ireland, Iceland, and Canada before arriving at the 1993 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event. Following the show it was flown to Fantasy of Flight and regularly flew for the following years.
Kermit purchased this aircraft from Englishman Edward Hulton, who in turn had acquired the Sunderland from Antilles Air Boats, the US Virgin Island Flying Boat Service owned by the Hollywood Actress Maureen O’Hara, wife of Charles Blair who purchased it and another Sunderland from Ansett Flying Boat Services.
I have had the pleasure of visiting Fantasy of Flight on three occasions, the last time having lunch with Kermit and his charming wife Teresa in their Compass Rose Restaurant.
A visit to Fantasy of Flight is can wonderful experience, not only for the amazing collection of historic aircraft, but also for the incredibly clean hangars and mind boggling special effects !