Warbirds and Airshows - Fantasy of Flight 2011

2011 Airshows
Tyndall AFB, FL NAS Fort Worth JRB, TX Indianapolis Regional, IN Terre Haute, IN Open House Monticello, IN Open House Reading, PA WWII Weekend Cincinnati, OH B-29 Appearance Hamilton, ONT Kokomo, IN Indianapolis Metropolitan, IN Polk City, FL Willow Run, MI Indianapolis Regional, IN Indianapolis Executive, IN Grissom Aeroplex Huey Homecoming, IN Selfridge ANGB, MI Mattoon, IL Marion, IN Waukegan, IL Janesville, WI NAS Oceana, VA Watervliet, MI

Fantasy of Flight
Polk City, FL - July 21, 2011

A trip to a well known aviation museum would not seem to place it on the 2011 Airshow section of this website but due to the fact that the museum everyday has an Aerial Demonstration at 1:30 makes the visit an mini-airshow with inside static displays. When I first visited Fantasy of Flight about 10 years ago one could do the normal museum type visit and look at the aircraft in the hangars. Since that time not only has the Aerial Demonstration of the day been added but a tram tour that takes one to the engine storage area, past aircraft storage hangars and to the operations hangar across the runway. One can also do the Wood Shop and Restoration Shop tours which allows one to see the full breadth of the operation and get more value out of the price of admission. On the Thursday I visited the Fieseler Storch flew an excellent 15 minute demonstration. Looked like an airshow to me!

Main entrance. To the right of the doors is the cafe.

The Tram Tour

Stop number one on the Tram Tour. The engine storage area. Or at least one of them.

Mostly different versions of the Allison V-1720 engine.

Name tags in front of the Allisons give the model number and aircraft application.

Note P-38 written on the left end. These crates contain P-38 propellers.

Props for Tigercats.

And props for the A-20.

After getting back on the tram we drove by several storage buildings. This one has a North American Whirraway in it.

This building has an SBD with four blade propeller that was used as wind machine in Hollywood. "Mutiny on the Bounty" is one of its film credits. Also in the background is a Mig and Skyraider.

This is the operations hangar on the next stop of the Tram Tour. In the foreground is a two seat P-40 and a AN-2 behind it.

A North American B-25 named "Apache Princess".

Back in the corner is one of three flyable B-24 Liberators left in the world which is totally stock.

A Grumman Duck.

More Allison V-1710 engines. These were purchased with the understanding they would only be used in aircraft. No tractor pulling or hydroplaning for these engines.