Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Come In Out Of The Rain...

Hurricane Charley cut a wide swath through central Florida August 13th, leaving broken lives and uncertain futures in its wake. Like so many in the path of the storm, Kissimmee Gateway Airport was hit hard with up to 70 percent of its planes destroyed and/or damaged along with the various FBOs, Warbird Museum and flight operations on the field. Based at the Kissimmee Airport, Warbird Adventures T-6/SNJ flight operation was severely damaged at their home base next to the Warbird Museum.

Before the storm, the planes were shifted to Ranger Aviation's newly constructed 18,000 square foot hangar for safety along with two Bell helicopters. The winds clocked in at more than 100 mph, but the hangar stood strong.

Then there was the tornado.

The building was flattened with Warbird Adventures' two SNJ's and two helicopters inside along with almost a dozen more planes that had taken shelter from the approaching storm in Kissimmee.

Clean up has started. Flight schools are giving lessons in their few remaining planes. Corporate jets are arriving and amazing progress has been made to get back to "BC time" -- Before Charley.

Warbird Adventures is already setting its sights on the future "post-Charley" and will be operational again in the Kissimmee/Orlando area around Labor Day weekend. Two of their Warbirds have been traveling over the summer giving flights in New York State and the Chicago area. Returning in September, the two remaining SNJ/T-6s will fill in for their two damaged hangar mates. This fall, Warbird Adventures will not only be able to share the thrill of flying a WWII fighter/trainer with visitors but also their stories of how they survived Hurricane Charley.

FMI: www.warbirdadventures.com