Lockheed Vega - Winnie Mae - Project Restart
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- Restoration Specialist, Kevin Kimball stopped by Fantasy of Flight in July 2019 to take a look at the Lockheed Vega project he had been restoring for me, at his shop. It's been a couple of years since I had to postpone that restoration, but the energies have re-aligned, and we're all geared up and ready to get the Vega restoration started again.
In this clip, Kevin, and his son Kallin, along with our team, go over some of the work that has been done, look over the cartons of Vega parts, and make a plan for moving forward on the restoration. We're hoping to have a lot of detailed video of the project going together - especially some of the fascinating wood work on the hull that is discussed in this clip. Stay tuned!
NOTE: Kallin is actually called Kal for short, not Cal as stated in the video.
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Excellent film footage, commentary and sound.
I would like to live long enough to see this fly. I am 75 so hope to live to 100 would be a blast to see this in the air. Hurry up!
I hear you buddy.I hope you do and bet you do.I also am on up in age so i certainly know the feeling.Heck , i just hope i can see the Blue Angels in the Super Hornet.
Love the era of 30's flight .... Waco, Stinson, Lockheed, Spartan with the P&W powerplants! Thanks Kermit for preserving flight of the past and sharing it with all !
there are not many guys who can fly the planes of the past as well as Kermit he really knows how to do it, and his video's are a gateway to all of us who didn't or don't fly someday I would love to see his place that would be awesome. thanks Kermit again for what you and your crews do Kip
Thx Kermit for another informative video, FWIW in '70s I worked @ Lockheed in ADP along side a guy in his 60's who had hired in @ 18 fresh from HS was given task of forming Nacelles on Vega's. It was a privilege to witness the metal artisans at work at ADP back then hopefully their all enjoying their days soaring above the clouds.
Cool video! My great great gandfather F.C. Hall owned the Winnie Mae and named it after his daughter my great grandmother. I have the orginal copy of the last picture ever taken of Will Rogers and Wiley Post in Alaska.
Had to come back for a refresher after the new update. Thanks again Mr. Kermit!
This is one of the most fabulous restorations you have done. I just hope the aviation world appreciates what you are doing. The general public could care less. I remember my Dad telling me about this airplane and how important it was in it's day.
You and some others are one of a kind.
Thanks for your time.
Lee
Hokey smokes......that was a pby catalina flying boat.....wow. Now that took men to fly them.....they had such endurance a black haired man when he left could be salt and pepper when he landed. Those things are incredible. Love the Vega too Mr. Weeks sir....keep up the great work and videos coming.
Kermit ,
I try to say Thank You on every video you post but sometimes i forget.Mainly because i am not home and am in a somewhat rushed situation .But regardless i want to say a big thank you from Roanoke , Va mostly from me to start with and all of your followers here that hang out with me at our airport. I think i can speak for them as well as me of course when i say we really appreciate YOU AND WHAT YOU DO .This wonderful world of aviation would not at all be the same so THANK YOU KERMIT and i should add this also, Thank You to all those that are someway involved from Restorers, mechanics and all the people there.
I spent 20+ years in aviation and those years went by in a blink.I loved every damn second . As to the fact i was in upper management my General Manager called me to his office one day.Scared crap out of me.I got there and asked what was up.He looked at me serious as could be and told me that all our employees had been talking about me .That alarmed me because i always tried to be a good manager.Long story short they had got together to get 1 of them to tell the boss they really liked me as their boss .That wasn't what got me though.What got me was when my GM told me he bet that i would work there for a $1.00 , meaning the obvious , he seen how much I Loved my job and my employees had seen that and then they loved their job.Point is Mr Weeks i see you as that same person, one that also Loves his job.That is why i always try to say Thank You.They did me and boy little did my GM know but i would have worked there for a $1.00.
Herm! Show you about a few months ago but I couldn't get to you before you left. Wanted to meet and talk with you I finally had my preflight training for and solo flight in a completely restored P-51D Mustang! If every plane this was my final very last marked on my life's bucket list LOL! Kerm I can't tell you how much I've watched your posts and video's how I got into your videos was the P-51 mustang. Love em brother fly safe my brother
Great! Well, good for you! Thanks. Keep flying.
My gosh! That storage facility is a museum in itself.
Huh, yea. Let's buy 200 sets of puzzles, 2000 pieces each. Then tear each box and mix them all together. Have a drink or a bottle, Next day while having a great hangover, come back to the place and try to put all that s..t back... ;) I really admire these guys!
You need to make a video of going around your hangars and storage.
I was lucky enough to photograph your Vega years back. A nice addition to the hanger.
I had a model of the Winnie Mae when I was a kid. I love 1930s airplane design. Stylish and elegant, along with cars, clothing, architecture, ship designs.
Interesting personal note about the real Winnie May. My grandmother got to go on a small flight in the Winnie Mae. She worked at a coffee shop at the Oklahoma City airport where she saw Wiley Post a lot when he would come in. She said that one day she was telling him how she loved his airplane. He told her how about going for a short flight in it. She said he took her up for about a 15 minute flight and was her first time to ever go flying. This would have been in about 1932-33. So anytime anything came up about Wiley Post or the Winnie Mae. She was happy to tell that story.
Was at the National Air and Space Museum just yesterday. Made sure to visit the Winnie Mae and tell my daughter about Post. Lovely, historic aircraft!
Pure Gold digging in old Airplane parts 😊
Thanks Kermit for giving us insight in Your exiting World of Aviation History 🌹
thank you !!!! wow the discussion of the fuselage construction was FANTASTIC!!!!!
I learn something interesting every time I watch one of these posts. Wonderful.
Another great video , its fascinating how they built the old planes, it wonderful that some of these skills still exist
Awesome!!!
That is GORGEOUS, both in its raw form and the final form. I'm so grateful you're getting these magnificent structures flying again!
Wooden fuselage process was fascinating. I look forward to watching on Video.
Absolutely fascinating process to build/restore that airplane. Can’t wait to see it all come together. So glad you are saving all this history.
Please give us an overview of what’s awaiting restoration. That Catalina looked amazing!
Hey Kermi, THANK YOU for saving all the old airplanes that made aviation history. I was fortunate enough to visit Fantasy of Flight back in 2010. I thought about quitting my flying job to go to work for you as a mechanic. Unfortunately, I'm not quite ready to to go back to turning wrenches yet. Your collection is my dream. Never stop Kermi!!
I started to tell you about the time I watched a child beat on the side of Amelia Earhart's Vega at the Smithsonian. Fortunately I deleted the rant that ensued.
Very cool project Kermit, thanks for taking me along.
This has to be one of my all time favorite airframes!
That's going to be stunning!
Spectacular wood!
I was only thinking about the Lockheed Vega project a few days ago,last time you flew over to his strip in the Vultee Vigiliant and was discussing the fuselage restoration,I believe that at the time you were waiting for a special order of birch ply to be delivered to do the fuselage woodwork.
This is a beautifully constructed airplane that is getting all of the attention it deserves,the aircraft was used for low signature radar work hence the fitting of non metallic fuel tanks with those fibreglass ones,so pleased that you are adding the correct fuel tanks.
The wings look like pieces of furniture such beautiful restoration done on them.
Thank you Kermit for your consideration in filming the rebuild process on the fuselage for us to see.
I've always thought that the Lockheed Vega was one of, if not the most beautiful aircraft of its time. It's styling and overall preformance in my opinion had nothing but the Stagerwing for competition. For years however I thought it was an aluminum and fabric airplane much as others of her day. I must confess that as enjoyable as it was to find out you owned one, the most enjoyable part of the video for me were the shots of the inside of your storage facility. I was like a kid in the candy store seeing that. Thank you again for aninteresting video.
Looking forward to seeing how they put the fuse together. Congratulations Cal on your A&P son 👍🏻
Thanks. Just a side note, we made an error on his name . . . It was actually Kal, short for Kallin.
Thanks Kermit. Love these videos.
Awesome 😎
Thank You for sharing, really enjoy your videos. Thanks again.
This has always been a dream to own vintage aircraft and restore them. Even though I can't ever be a pilot I still love everything to do with these beautiful old birds.
that will be something else to see her up and going I think, you just don't see rare planes flying that much anymore hope all goes well on the build. love the video's Kermit thanks so much its really neat to see them always dreamed of flying a p-47 as a kid but hey I guess all kids dreamed about cool war birds. Kip
@Kip Higdon, you and me both. I never got the chance to learn to fly. In my dream world, I would get my ratings and put in my time. I would LOVE to fly a Jug. Kermit also has a lovely P-38L awaiting restoration, which I would love to fly as well...in my dreams. **sigh**
Super interesting. What a cool aircraft!!
I wear my Fantasy Of Flight hat proudly every single day. I got it when you first opened.
I am exited to see it fly one day!
That fuselage is going to be the Achilles heel of the whole project and l guess that's why it went on the back burner (so to speak!) for a while. Kermit, every time l see your video's you show or discuss projects that l was not aware of! I've said it before, it's like Willie Wonka's on steriods! When did the beard come off? Thanks Kermit. SPITFIRE!!!??
just like a guy down the street with an unusual hobby. love these vids there Mr Weeks :)
Being from Oklahoma, I LOVE IT KERMIT!!! I wish we had the real Winnie Mae in our museum here. We only have a wheel pant with Wylie's signature from him getting it changed here. Oklahoma has so much aviation heritage and I'm proud to carry it on as an A&P mechanic working here. Love the collection and want to see it, the USAF museum in Dayton, and the Smithsonian where the real Winnie Mae sits.
Definitely send a camera person up for the building of the buck to document -- even if you aren't there. (just do a voice over later) Repeat for the vacuum bagging of the different layers and the layup process itself. Curious to see what the inner bulkheads and more are formed as well. Thanks for chronicling for all us aviation enthusiasts given the power of the Internet can look over your shoulder as this all happens.
absolutely I want to see this process. I am also studying to be A & P right now.
Man that reminds me of the old Silver Hill Smithsonian buildings. I climbed through a ton of acft back in the early 80s. I knew Mr Garber, he was such gentleman and he loved those acft.
Mr Weeks love your videos hope one day to see your fantasy of flight
Thats a pure beauty! 💚
I am creating a simulation of the Lockheed Vega for Prepar3d and Flight Simulator X and collected tons of information on the ship. I am so thrilled to see that this project is finally being picked up! Good luck guys! Check out Wing42 ;)
FREAKY FRIDAY, FREAKY FRIDAY, CHANGE PLACES WITH KERMIT!!!!!! DAMM, it didn't work again! Oh well, thanks for a glimpse into "THE PERFECT WORLD"! LOVE YA MAN! N8104X in Kissimmee??? Find it???
It will be fun to watch it’s progress good one KW
Pretty astounding collection!
When I was little, I remember Emelia Earhart's bright red Lockheed 5B Vega hanging from the ceiling of the Franklin Institute Philadelphia Pa.
An ultra cool look see into the Weeks parts vault :)
Esse trabalho de restauração é incrível.
The stuff in the background is more interesting than the Lockheed Vega. At 2:56 there's a Fieseler Fi 103, aka V-1 Buzz Bomb. Earlier there's a fuselage of a Martin B-26. At 11:18 there's a bit of something that resembles a Grumman F4F.
Kermit... PLEASE tell me you will be offering rides in the Vega, once Act III is finished and you're open for business. I'll start saving up now, if you will. ;)
AMAZING video good sir! When can we see a video with updates on all the aircraft you have being restored around the world? I'd also love to see a video showing what you have in storage. The video's can be as long as they need to be. I thoroughly enjoy watching the video's you make for us fellow Aviation enthusiasts to enjoy. Keep up the GREAT work Mr. Weeks. 👍👍
Boxes from Amazon and Chewy... looks like my house!
Kids in the candy store....Thanks for the update lOOk...An by the way...ThAnKs As all wAys...!
Thanks Kermit for another great project. Wally from Idaho I'm a Pirate with you know who.
Great project!!
Love this channel !
Looks like it will be a cool project.
Nobody does it like you brother. Keep them flying such a privilege living close to the Fantasy Of Flight and seeing you fly over from time to time. I just finished building a 9-1/2ft Fieseler Fi156C Storch RC Model. Would love the option to bring it over and take pictures with the real one and be able to look at the real thing for scale details. Let me know if that would be possible please.
They were building Mosquitoes in Sydney Australia near where i lived (some decades later of course) and they used a big concrete buck to form the plywood. I was waiting for him to mention lockheeds use of the similar idea .
A Kermit on the wall that's a pretty cool picture of a Gloster gladiator
Casual V-1 in the background =D
Kermit losing weight!
Yep! Diet and the Stay Healthy Program has me down to my High School weight.
How I'd love to have 90min to wander through Golden Hill and check out all those fascinating airframes up close. What an amazing building. Also, what were the two hulks in the field we saw as the team drove away?
Zac Yates I was there and I believe they are blimp gandolas.
Kermit's signature Big cheesy smile lets you know the video is over...lol 😁
Hi
Some of the composite small airplanes had epoxy? that softened in the heat. Things like thermometers in the fuselage to give a "No Fly" too hot indication.
So my point is the glue has to stand up to the 100+f temps we see here in central Fla.
Good luck.
@Dennis Williams, unless I miss my guess, the glue they use CURES in the heat. The heat is what hardens it and makes it stronger. Once it's cured, it's a solid and the wood would combust before the glue would melt.
Very Kermit cool
I remember seeing a previous vid about the Vega project some time ago but wanted to ask if you plan to rebuild as per the modifications on the actual Winnie Mae? I've loved this plane since I was a kid (back in the 60's) and can't wait to see this project completed and view it flying. Best of luck.
At about the 1:30 mark there's a picture of a F3F, is the same F3F you picked up in Cali (if I remember correctly) and flew back to FL but had to have a mag changed in Big Spring TX? My dad worked on that plane. It was around 1999 or 2000
We used to come over from the U.K. and fly RC helicopters at Kevin and his fathers strip in Florida, back in the Pitts 12 days. Has he still got the model J3?
i would agree on the lighter earlier P&W R-1340 and looks like the original specs were a fixed pitch prop. the Golden Hill i can see the Other Sikorsky S-55 helicopter two engines and fuselage of a PBY Catalina. i think the Winnie Mae will live again.
Excited to see the final product! Was this the Vega that belonged to Dave Jameson? Always one of my favorites. It's in very capable hands. It will be done right!
I like the digital zoom the trick is not to over use it.
So many people impacted on by Dorian... And I've been feeling like a thoroughly bad person because I was worrying more about how Fantasy of Flight planes were doing, instead of those people. So how about a Dorian update for those of us who risk eternal damnation by caring for Kermit's old aeroplanes more than living people?
Central Florida literally got NOTHING from Dorian. It was way off the east coast of Florida. I live about 30 minutes west of F of F and we didn't even get any rain.
Great news. I was preparing for another heartbreaking video of Kermit walking through the wreckage like last time. Very sad for the Bahamas. Very glad for F of F.
I live 20 minutes away from Fantasy of Flight didn’t get a drop of rain lol at least at my hangar
Just speak for your self and keep religion away from airplanes and as far as those in the Bahamas I really do not care. If people in those islands have not learned by now they never will.
N111va h19 omg were you the one who bought that from robin Petgrave out of Compton? I have memories as a teenager when that came in, think I saw it fly in and then once more right before it was trailerd off!!
WOW!
That’s really cool, can’t wait to see the progress, just wondering do u know the last time it has been flown?
More giant! Ta!
watched another of the Vaga series videos and yes the original skins were apparently spruce veneer - no way to get that these days...
Great job as usual. Is there a round-a-bout time frame for completion?
So though question here, How many planes do you have that is out and getting worked on/ Rebuilt? Some of the planes I have seen are gonna be really awesome once they are done!!!
4:21 . is that a V1 rocket tucked in the rear of that shop?
that has GOT to be your B-26
Me weeks did you sell any plastic models of aircraft in your gift shops. Some models are hard to find of curtain aircraft?
Kermie, as you probably know, Mikey McBryan from Buffalo Airways and Plane Savers is reconstructing a crashed Fokker DR 1 to airworthy from almost nothing and are getting their birch veneer and ply from Finland. Are you sourcing the birch you need from the same place? Do you have any contact with McBryan?
I heard birtch
@@kevina8172 it is all spruce. I misspoke when stating birch.
Can we get a look at the B26 please
Is the GeeBee Z still flying/flyable?? Love seeing it in action!
do a tour in the a26
This raises the question, "Is delamination a veneereal disease?"
De lamination was caused by early beetle adhesives that degrade badly over time before reorcinal resins came on the scene,plywood was laminated with this adhesive as well as used in aircraft construction,you can detect its degrade by smell and also the tell tale mauve colour around the joints.
So it is yes to your question !
8:00 I can't be the only one who noticed the V-1 and Ba 349.
Smirenka me too...
Crikey! Two smart Alec's! Have to admit l didn't spot either! Well done! O.K. how long has it been since Kermit shaved his beard off!😊
Kermit are you going to biscarrose next year?
Since you have to repower ,,, how about a PT-6? :-)
Nice project. What is the status of the Catalina in storage?
What's with the giant wooden tanks in the parts warehouse? Aviation related?