This neat video shows Kermit Weeks going to survey his latest purchase, Howard Hughes Sikorsky S-43. He was hoping to be able to fly it back to Florida, but after looking it over, he decides it wiser to have it taken apart and trucked. Really interesting footage.
By: Arabella-Cox - 30th January 2013 at 03:05
Pretty cool on the S-43. Can’t wait to see it at Fantasy of Flight.
On the Sunderland… I was there a few weeks back and it looks to me like she’ll need a lot of TLC before she’s able to fly again.
By: ThreeSpool - 28th January 2013 at 11:25
Too cool! 😀
I’ve watched a few of the videos on his channel and they are a fantastic insight. I hope he continues taking the time to make them.
By: markb - 28th January 2013 at 11:18
He’s got first dabs on the second Martin Mars as well. To be kept airworthy.
Sunderland is under cover, and in very good shape.
M
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th January 2013 at 00:58
As of late last year when Kermit was chatting to various folk at Old Warden, he was pretty confident that there are no major obstacles to the Sunderland becoming air- or sea- worthy.
His biggest concern is the vulnerability to damage when the craft is on the water. It was in his words, ‘worse than leaving a baby in the woods’. Everything becomes a threat. For that reason, thus far at least, he’s elected to keep it on dry land until he can create a more controlled waterborne environment.
As I posted earlier, I’ve heard that Kermit plans to build a themed seaplane base exhibit on the lake by Fantasy of Flight. To that end, this year alone… in addition to the S-43, he also bought an S-38 and S-39. Hopefully all his seaplanes will find a new home there.
By: low'n'slow - 26th January 2013 at 22:46
As of late last year when Kermit was chatting to various folk at Old Warden, he was pretty confident that there are no major obstacles to the Sunderland becoming air- or sea- worthy.
His biggest concern is the vulnerability to damage when the craft is on the water. It was in his words, ‘worse than leaving a baby in the woods’. Everything becomes a threat. For that reason, thus far at least, he’s elected to keep it on dry land until he can create a more controlled waterborne environment.
By: J Boyle - 25th January 2013 at 20:40
… Exhibition which may not include air under the tyres, sorry hull. 🙂
No, exhibition allows flying…at exhibitions etc.
There are no licensing requirements for static aircraft.
By: TonyT - 25th January 2013 at 18:26
I thought it was a travesty to see it parked up and covered in fairy lights, but then again the poor owner in the UK tried and tried to get something going over here and some help, to be knocked back time and time again with storm damage etc… If it hadn’t gone I think it would have succumbed to the scrap man..
As a little ‘erbet at RAF St Athans on my course it used to fly over regularly during the Sumer of 76.
By: XL189 - 25th January 2013 at 18:05
I stand corrected, it had a CofA in the “Private” category:
So no public transport!
By: Newforest - 25th January 2013 at 17:59
Not 100% clear on the workings of the FAA database, but would guess that the registration of N814ML is allocated until 2015 and the classification is Exhibition which may not include air under the tyres, sorry hull. 🙂
By: Mike J - 25th January 2013 at 17:03
Shame really, apparently it left the UK, after a lot of effort, with a full CofA intending it would be used for passenger flights.
Not true. The FAA database clearly shows it registered under the Experimental – Exhibition category since 1996.
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=814ML
By: XL189 - 25th January 2013 at 15:08
The Sunderland went to the US in 1993 and probably didn’t fly after 1996
Shame really, apparently it left the UK, after a lot of effort, with a full CofA intending it would be used for passenger flights.
By: Newforest - 25th January 2013 at 15:05
The Sunderland went to the US in 1993 and probably didn’t fly after 1996. 🙁
By: Beermat - 25th January 2013 at 14:56
Oh dear – I missed something – is it no longer airworthy?
By: David Burke - 25th January 2013 at 12:42
As long as you factor in the cost of rebuilding it first it should work out !
By: Beermat - 25th January 2013 at 09:19
I wonder – say 30 of us got together, what would be the cost of a Carribean trip in the Sunderland?
Mr Weeks, if you are reading this, there’s a business idea 🙂
By: philip turland - 25th January 2013 at 09:05
very pretty airplane
By: charliehunt - 25th January 2013 at 07:30
Me too…..if you’re paying!!!:D
By: Aces High - 25th January 2013 at 01:53
Florida to the Caribbean in the Sunderland would be fantastic! Agreed! Count me in… 😀
😀
By: j_jza80 - 25th January 2013 at 01:43
I wish Kermit would offer flights from Florida to the Caribbean in the Sunderland, what a fantastic adventure that would be 😎
By: CIRCUS 6 - 24th January 2013 at 23:59
I’ve been to F of F. I’d love to work there, but as an aside I’d love to see the Sunderland taken back to its original WW2 guise, restored to flight and Kermit take it on a World tour to promote historic aviation. Yep, that’d be great.
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January 22, 2013 at 2:13 am