Kermit Weeks is at Old Warden

A recently restored Marauder? Have they done more than repainted it then? I wouldn’t mind seeing that one flying again….

It was about 12 years ago when I last saw it!

Saw it last month and it didn’t look very airworthy, paint was very weathered (an modellers dream) same as the Sunderland. Paint peeling everywhere. Wonder if they ever fly again.

Cees

A recently restored Marauder? Have they done more than repainted it then? I wouldn’t mind seeing that one flying again….

Martin Marauder 😉

That’s the one 🙂

There was also a recently restored Douglas Marauder out in the sun.

Martin Marauder 😉

I visited Kermits Museum in 2000. While I never spoke to him personally he did give the visitors a talk about an (I think) Avro 504 he was restoring and ran the engine up for us (we also got an air display by an Ag Cat and a banner pickup demo. Not something you normally get for a few pounds entrance fee!). He also mentioned plans to build a seaplane base. We then had a tour of his storage facility and engine cash. Everything from Lancs, Blenheims, Migs, Merlins, Alisons and DB engines. There was also a recently restored Douglas Marauder out in the sun.

I am sure eventually those airframes in store will be restored and I wouldn’t mind betting some will return to the UK.

We should be glad people buy and store these old airframes. Doug Arnold, Kermit Weeks and many others by their hoarding activities are giving us the chance to see them again. After all if they are not stored they will be smelted.

we follow each other on twitter great banter and when at Duxford in sept Kermit actually videoed the aircrew toilets as he was amazed that they had piped music!!

Does anybody else on here follow Kermit Weeks on facebook. I am going to have to unfriend him. The things he does just make too jealous 🙂

He has just boarded a Greyhound. I guess he is flying out to a carrier :(:)

EDIT – Its the USS Nimitz !

Thought you guys would appreciate the aircrew banter as new members join the Kermit Klub at Duxford sept 2012

The last U.K owner of the Mosquito was the Strathallen Collection and I recall no problems with access or the warmth of welcome at the collection .

Sorry must be the wrong Mosquito. I was thinking of one that resided in Hampshire for a while and having read other posts here it was Mr Arnold. I never actually met the man but his reputation preceeded him. He did bring a lot of very interesting aircraft to the UK but, for whatever reason, they were never very accessible to enthusiasts and the promises of a museum never came about – a great shame.

This was just posted on his FB page…

Thats not a very nice thing to say about Gene :diablo:.

Bob T.

I never had any problems with Doug, whilst his manner may have been a little gruff, he would quite happily let me have a look round his collection if I asked him, or one of his sons.
I tend to think that the poor reputation he was given by the warbird magazines etc, was not deserved, & came about because he didn’t alway’s let them have access to his collection.
Out of the early collectors/enthusiasts who have passed away, he is the one I miss the most.

Bob T.

Cool Andy! I remember him walking around Tangers AJ in his big suit with his young lady (or a young lady) who was very petite. Very gruff…….especially when he cam to my stall….On the other hand, Nick Grace was a nice chap….I remember chatting to him about oil pressure gauges I had, he then looked at his watch…dashed out whilst saying keep your ears out in 30 mins. Sure enough, he returned in the Spit over the marquee….TWTD!

Oh….I dunno. He always welcomed me with open arms at his Biggin Hill hangar when he knew I had got something useful he wanted to buy. It just reminded me of a story…

An enduring memory is of the big man sitting on a large chair on the apron, surrounded by his aircraft drawn up in a semi-circle around him. I arrived to deliver DA a P40 drop tank and was duly told; “Bring it here, boy!” I had to almost reverently lay the thing at his feet in what must have looked like some surreal semi religious or regal ceremony.

Afterwards, I asked if it was OK to look over his P38 but was gruffly told “Not really,no”.

A few weeks later he tried to jump the queue at the (then) Tangmere Aerojumble. He didn’t recognise me, but asked “Do you know who I am?”

“Not really, no” ….”I’m afraid you need to join the queue”

True story.

Indeed – one is a machine sold by Doug to the USAFM -the other the Strathallen Mosquito which was bought at auction by Kermit Weeks.
Therefore this bit was irrelevant :’The last UK owner of the Mosquito wasn’t exactly known for keeping his aiircraft flying for long or for welcoming enthusiasts with open arms’

The last U.K owner of the Mosquito was the Strathallen Collection and I recall no problems with access or the warmth of welcome at the collection .

I think the reference was to Doug Arnold.

Surely we are better off for having Mr Weeks as a custodian in the world of warbirds? His museum is just a little further away to travel than my usual haunts of Shuttleworth & Duxford!

Shaun

This was just posted on his FB page…

Great to see Kermit at Old Warden yesterday.

Was really surprised at how little was mentioned of him by the commentator.

To me he is pretty much legendary in the world of historic aviation and will still be the one people are talking about in 100 years!

Albert
www.warbirdsim.com

The last U.K owner of the Mosquito was the Strathallen Collection and I recall no problems with access or the warmth of welcome at the collection .