Kermit Weeks Lancaster

When Kermit was in the UK to buy the Sunderland etc he mentioned that “My accountants tell me I have to spend $6M a year on this stuff”

Nicely put Scotavia.

I have been following Kermit on his facebook page for around six months https://www.facebook.com/KermitWeeks
He does appear to be very busy with a recently completed world trip,Oshkosh and the printing of his aviation biased childrens books.Although a few have mentioned his age here I feel that as long as you are managing your health then age is not an issue.what matters more is your experience and what you do with it. Kermit plans and then applies focus. It is also as clear as the sun rising that he is a 100 percent flying mad in the nicest way.
So if like me you are a facebook person then add him and enjoy his frequent posts.He might even inspire you.

Whatever you say about Kermit – he is not afraid of interacting with us enthusiasts and share his passion – certainly a lesson one or two operators should take note of (of course its up to them entirely – they pay the bills!)

Indeed.
He was manning the till of the gift shop when I visited his original facility in Florida, back in 1989, just a couple of years after he bought the Mossie. Was more than happy to just talk about aeroplanes with a punter.:D

But yes, as has been said, he does have a LOT of projects in the wings and it is an unescapable fact that he’s not getting any younger, and you do have to wonder what he has in plan for the collection beyond his time (all be sold or to be kept and maintained in-trust for example)?

Even if he put the Lanc out to contract and full time restoration firm tomorrow, it’s likely to be nearly 10 years before it would be finished, and in reality, if it’s not started within the next 5 years, in all likelyhood it won’t be done at all IMHO….or unlikley that he we see ever it finished to be able to fly it at any rate.

Difference between a classic car and a classic aeroplane – it’s a lot easier to get a driving licence than to get qualified for a Lancaster or Spitfire

meddle, I saw that video as well.. grave robbers for sure. as for kb999 shes not worth recovering sadly

Bringing cars to the fore, there was a blower Bentley that was the number 2 car of the Birkin-Paget racing team photographed at North Weald a week or so ago, currently valued at £15 million!!!!

I saw a dive video from Peenemunde on Youtube a couple of years ago. At the end of the video the divers displayed their spoils on the grass, which included objects that looked a little like human bones. I cannot find that video any more. One of the engines, complete with needle prop, is in the museum at Peenemunde. Apparently there is a lot of DV202 scattered around the area.

Probably a slightly outdated memory of static outdoor Lancs in Canada. KB882 springs to mind.

She’s being restored to running condition, a crowdfunding campaign was launched this week in support: http://www.gofundme.com/lancaster, news is being posted at www.facebook.com/LancasterKB882

from what I’ve read, souvenir hunters have already started taking bits from DV202 and Elsie. KB999 has apparently broken up under the ice, and if that is the case then the likeliness of recovering any of it is disappearing.

DV202 at Peenemunde

‘Easy Elsie’

KB999 in Canada

A slightly academic post, as all of those crashed and are still in situ, rather than suffering a series of missteps and misfortunes at the hands of collectors.

When was the last time anybody actually saw KB999?

OK humor us.. which ones??

DV202 at Peenemunde

‘Easy Elsie’

KB999 in Canada

I agree. I just think that as a race, the Americans have more interest in recent cultural history than we do, as it is perhaps seen as more relevant.

I once read an interesting quote; To an American, 100 years is a long time. To a European, 100 miles is a long distance.

I agree. I just think that as a race, the Americans have more interest in recent cultural history than we do, as it is perhaps seen as more relevant.

Personally, I have no issue whatever with Americans buying our stuff. History, like space, is big, and it will move around a lot over time.

I didn’t mean a direct correlation to old cars and old planes. As you point out there are a lot of differences. A nice late ’20s Bentley is still about a half million, which won’t get you far in a Spitfire or Mustang. But if were talking Rowan Atkinson’s (since offered for sale) McLaren F1…, well that is flying Lancaster money.
There are plenty of Spitfires about, no doubt aided by the fact that the Spitfire is a snap to own, restore, and fly compared to a Lancaster.

My comment was made to head off the old “Rich Americans buying out stuff” complaint that implies that we’re cultural vandals a latter-day Elgin Marbles.
My point was simply: There are plenty of rich UK residents with the wherewithal and interest to purchase old technology….and they could have bought any number of Mr. Weeks’ aircraft (the Lanc, Mosquito and Shorts most often mentioned) before he bought them.

Vintage and classic cars are very much an investment vehicle at the moment. That will change, as it has in the past; once the interest rates start to climb, they will end up dumped back on the market as has happened in the past.

Aeroplanes just do not offer the same level of return, and never have. They are also expensive to restore and maintain, with no guarantee of a return at the completion of the project. Lastly, they are much less accessible for the average investor.

I do think it’s also worth noting that the UK and US have different relative interest in historical items. Our own history, and it’s artefacts go back several thousands of years. For America, it is several hundred. So, perhaps, a historic aircraft has more relative value to the American view of history than it does to the British one.

OK humor us.. which ones??

Probably a slightly outdated memory of static outdoor Lancs in Canada. KB882 springs to mind. The irony being that KB976 flew from Canada to the UK and returned to the US in shipping crates. :stupid:

On the basis of what?? Maybe a trip to Duxford or Biggin Hill might clarify how many British people are prepared to spend money both maintaining or rebuilding aircraft.

There isn’t really any correlation between how many people wish to speculate on Ferrari’s and Aston Martins -and those that wish to buy old aircraft with the much slower rewards and higher costs of having an old aircraft sat in a hangar.

There are several Lancasters that are in much more danger than her.

OK humor us.. which ones??

-more a reflection on the buying power of being a millionaire.

Of which the UK has many…the postwar days of austerity are long gone.
I occasionally write for magazines on the value of vintage cars.
Every month there are numerous cars sold in the UK, bought by UK owners, for far more than what the Lancaster cost.
The UK has the money, what it seems to be short on is people willing to spend money on old aeroplanes rather than other expensive items.