Museum Owner Inducted Into Florida Aviation Hall of Fame
Not many people know much about the man behind the museum, but the Fantasy of Flight aviation museum in Polk City has a reputation for excellence. Little wonder then, that the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame has seen fit to induct the man behind the museum – Kermit Weeks – into their Hall of fame.
Not many people know much about the man behind the museum, but the Fantasy of Flight aviation museum in Polk City has a reputation for excellence. Little wonder then, that the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame has seen fit to induct the man behind the museum – Kermit Weeks – into their Hall of fame.
To some, Kermit Weeks is a local hero. Not only was he the creator and founder of the fantastic Fantasy of Flight museum in Central Florida, but he is a championship aerobatics stunt pilot. A man who is clearly passionate about aircraft, he started collecting, restoring and preserving antique aircraft in the 1970s. As a result he was able to open the Fantasy of Flight museum to the public in 1995 and he now owns more than 140 military and civilian airplanes – a truly remarkable collection that is kept in tip-top shape. The thing that makes his museum so unique is that it is the only one in the world that offers daily aerial demonstrations. The vintage aircraft used in these demonstrations are incredibly rare and visitors are able to enjoy a truly memorable visit to the museum. Another aspect of the museum that is somewhat unique is that visitors are invited to tour the restoration shops where a small team of craftsmen now work painstakingly to restore and rebuild the various relics that are purchased for the museum until that are in a flyable condition.
Kermit Weeks was inducted into the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame on Thursday, December 11, 2008, at the society’s sixth annual induction ceremony. The event was held at the Florida Air Museum situated in Lakeland, Florida. In response to his induction, Weeks said: “I am absolutely humbled to be counted among the great men and great pilots who have been inducted into the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame. I feel incredibly fortunate to be honored for simply doing what I love.” Weeks was one of three people inducted into the Hall last year. Other inductees include Zack Mosely and Ed Hoffman. Mosely flew hundreds of missions during WWII for the Civial Air Patrol. He also created the aviation feature known as “Smilin’ Jack”. He was inducted posthumously. Hoffman is a designer and builder of all-wood aircraft and his creations are truly noteworthy. If you want to know more about these great people, you can visit the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame or spend some time at the Fantasy of Flight aviation museum.