Fantasy of flight

Fantasy of Flight located at Polk City off I-4 exit 44 is not just for aviation enthusiasts or for adults. The party of schoolchildren visiting at the same time as us were enthralled. The creation of Kermit Weeks, a former international aerobatics champion, it is a fascinating place to spend a day. Unlike many displays of historical relics this is not a collection of dull, lifeless artefacts, Kermit and his team have breathed life and humanity into every exhibit.

This unique experience starts as you leave the lobby entrance and enter the ‘immersion experiences’. These are realistically staged scenes from aviation history starting with a moonlight parachute drop from a DC-3 Dakota. We were the only visitors going through at the time and it was unnervingly eerie. I felt relieved when we emerged into the first of several huge aircraft hangars.

These are packed with aircraft of every size and age and include the actual Ford Tri-Motor plane used in the movie ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’. My personal favourite was the huge four-engine Short Sunderland flying boat. Although the interior has yet to be restored it gave a glimpse into a more glamorous age of aviation.

Reluctantly persuaded by my husband to join him on the hour long ‘Sheet metal & aircraft assembly tour’ I expected it to be as thrilling as watching paint dry but and excuse the pun, the time just flew by. Much to my husbands and my own amazement I was the one asking questions at every given opportunity!

Although contested it is generally accepted that restoration involves around 70% of the original artefact remaining, any less and it is considered to be a replica. Fantasy of Flight use as much of the original as possible but for them the important thing is that an aircraft is restored to full flying capability. In the case of fabric covered aircraft they are usually restored using expensive traditional materials such as Irish Linen. Some authenticity is sacrificed if it is expected the aircraft will be flown more and modern materials such as longer lasting Dacron used. Kermit often insists that a particular unpainted aircraft is more highly polished than it would have been originally. This would probably upset purists but the result is that little more than sad lumps of scrap metal are painstakingly restored into gleaming, truly stunning, fully flying works of art.

We expected just to spend a couple of hours there but ended up staying until closing and still hadn’t seen and experienced everything there is to do. ‘Fightertown’ is the deck of an aircraft carrier. Here you can experience World War II aerial combat in one of 8 Vought Corsair flight simulators. There is also an area where you can make a paper plane and test its flying capabilities. As well as the sheet metal & aircraft assembly tour there are tours of the wood shop and a not to be missed tram tour of the backlot and normally restricted areas.

If all this is too much and refreshments are needed then the beautifully recreated 1930’s Art Deco Compass Rose Diner serves traditional diner fare, is excellent value and used as a regular eatery by the locals.

The highlight of the day, weather permitting is the flying of ‘the aircraft of the day’. A different aircraft is selected every day from the collection and is put through its paces. The day we visited it was the turn of The Piper L-4, the military version of the famous Piper Cub of the 1930’s. The accompanying commentary was entertaining and informative and the flying display awesome. Most memorable was seeing the aircraft appear to hover in mid air as the pilot skilfully matched his airspeed to the headwind. At the end of the display the aircraft is taxied in close to the hangar so that visitors can walk round it and ask the pilot any questions.

The passion, dedication and enthusiasm of Kermit and his team is infectious, everyone was so friendly and keen to share their knowledge and experiences that it made for a very special and unique day out. We’ll be back!