View Full Version : Flying Tigers Warbird Museum to be sold!
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
05-02-2005, 19:13
Just reading in Aeroplane magaizine this month that Tom Reilly is to sell this and move his operations to Douglas, Georgia. It was opened by Reilly in 1985 but suffered extensive hurricane damage in August of last year and is currently closed. Reilly will maintain a workshop at Kissimmee thought.
This is a real shame as I used to really enjoy the tours round the hanger there to see the status of the various restoration projects they were working on.
Nostromo
05-02-2005, 19:31
I meant to go there on our last visit but could not find time and told myself "maybe next time". It will be a pity if the museum goes. Does anyone know if it is merely a question of change of ownership or is the museum scheduled to close forever?
Ray&Sarah
05-02-2005, 19:32
That would be a shame John, Ray had planned to take our younger son there on our next family holiday as he loves car and plane museums.[msnsad]
Oh what a shame we loved it there and the strawberry shakes in the art deco bar were fab!!!
LiesaAnna
05-02-2005, 21:43
we went there in Dec 04 and the hurricane damage was so obvious!it was quite a mess, they didnt do the "tour" which really disappointed my steve! but they took the time to explain to him about the plane they were working on in 02 when he went last, and it was due to fly out for its maiden voyage the weekend after we came home! at least steve saw the plane in its glory! as he had spent 2 years wondering how it had come along!
we shall miss it but wish them all the best!
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
05-02-2005, 22:06
Here's a photo of the B17, "Liberty Belle" that they have just finished restoring:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=762228&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20O-17T%20Sylvat%20Sbegerff%20%28299C%29&WdsYXMg=Yvoregl%20Sbhaqngvba&QtODMg=Beynaqb%20-%20Xvffvzzrr%20Tngrjnl%20%28Zhavpvcny%29%20%28VFZ% 29&ERDLTkt=HFN%20-%20Sybevqn&ktODMp=Qrprzore%2021%2C%202004&BP=1&WNEb25u=Fgrir%20Crgpu&xsIERvdWdsY=A390GU&MgTUQtODMgKE=O17-T%20%22Yvoregl%20Oryyr%22%20yvsgf%20bss%20sbe%20ba yl%20gur%20frpbaq%20gvzr%20fvapr%20orvat%20erfgber q%20ol%20Gbz%20Ervyyl%20%28Sylvat%20Gvtref%20Zhfrh z%29&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=930&NEb25uZWxs=2005-01-21%2000%3A00%3A00&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=44-85734&static=yes&sok=JURER%20%20%28cynpr%20%3D%20%27Beynaqb%20-%20Xvffvzzrr%20Tngrjnl%20%28Zhavpvcny%29%20%28VFZ% 29%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=13
LiesaAnna
18-02-2005, 00:13
hubby said to thank you for putting this up!! we were looking through the photos this evening and he was dissappointed that we couldnt walk around with the guide!! he was glad he saw Liberty Belle renovated, when he first saw them in 02 they had the engines on the floor waiting to fit them,
thanks John [clap]
floridadreamvilla.co.uk
18-02-2005, 07:52
You are welcome Liesa.
WSe too had been following it's build progress from the first time we went in July 2001 and it was really nice to see such a beautiful aircraft restored to better than new and in the air again.
We were watching a program about warbirds on California TV last night and they were saying the B17's cost something like $3000 per hour to fly ... when I win the lottery maybe...:D:D:D
LiesaAnna
19-02-2005, 13:27
woooooooooo lot of dosh!!
Has it now closed. My brother was hoping to go in June, but looks like he will now have to plan something different
Southsider
17-05-2005, 00:56
I had guests stay in my villa a couple of weeks ago and they mentioned that the men in the group had been to see the war planes and had gone up in one, I know the one they went to is in Kissimmee so if it is the same one John posted about it Feb. then I think it must be open for business.
IanandSarah
17-05-2005, 03:11
Is this the one on/near Hogland ?
Ian and Sarah
Nick Sayer
17-05-2005, 13:22
Could be Fantasy of Flight just off the I4 between Kissimmee and Tampa.
I went there this year and love aeroplanes. It is a privatly owned museum by a man called Kermit Weeks.
It is the larges private collection of vintage aircraft in the world and a lot you will recognise from the films.
They also do the renovations and have a really good tour around the back which is included in the price and shows all the aircraft waiting to be restored.
When i was there in March they had just shipped in a B17 from England in six containers which was there next big project.
You can also do the flight in the Bi Plane at a reasonable price as it has been conerted to carry four passengers. I like the aerobatics option at Warbird Adventures near Hoagland personally but the money Kermit Weeks has is unbelivable. Apparently his Father and Grandfather made their millions in oil exploration in Australia which allows him to have the life that i would love, flying Spitfires and P51's all day.
Once he refurbs a plane he tries to get the original pilots to come down and fly them. The P51 they have there was the one flown by the first ever coloured pilot in the US air force. They show quite a good video there of him coming down and trying it out.
In my opinion, if you are into planes Fantasy of flight is a must do.
LiesaAnna
17-05-2005, 13:36
i think hubby would like this one, he loves the old planes! and thehistry behind many of them! must be a definate on our list of to do in florida!
CarolAnn
17-05-2005, 13:55
A friend of mine has a son with MD and he is now barely able to hold himself up on his own, but last year they went to the Warbird Museum and a pilot took the lad up and even let him (fly) the plane apparently? I believe that was one of the highlights of the lads trip to Orlando too:) So, though i have not been my self, I thought the news it would close in the area was a little sad.
LiesaAnna
17-05-2005, 15:25
yes we too thought it was sad, but after reading the above has it closed?
mind you we will still go and have a look around fantasy of flight we have seen this advertised in all the little booklets with coupons but never got around to going, we went to warbirds tho and found it very interesting!
Andy_Birt
17-06-2005, 18:45
We Got back from Florida on 28th May and the War Birds museum/flying school was still going strong.
My brother in law flew the Harvard with the Aerobatics part and My dad was due to fly the M.A.S.H Helicopter but ended up with Bronchitis instead.
Anyway, it was my first trip there and it was facinating. I wish all museums were like that. I realise they were hit hard by the hurricanes there last year. One flying scool at Kissimmee lost 13 of its 15 aircraft. Ouch....
Regards
Andy