Lee Bakst Drew The Father's Day Honors At Fantasy Of Flight

Lee Bakst and his family traveled from their home in Tampa on Sunday so that Lee could claim his Father's Day gift ... a thirty-minute flight in a WWII Fieseler Fi-156 Storch. Bakst, who was nominated by his daughter Emily, was named the winner in the "Worlds Greatest Dad" contest put on by Fantasy of Flight. "My Dad encourages me to be exactly who I want to be," Emily wrote. "He wants me to experience the adventures that life has to offer. He has taught me to aim high and reach for the stars. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful relationship with him." The Bakst family and other contest winners received a VIP tour of what the central Florida attraction calls the "World's Greatest Aircraft Collection."

Lee Bakst Settles Into The Storch Cockpit
Photo Used With Permission Of Fantasy of Flight

It was the first time in Fantasy of Flight's 15-year history that it rolled out the WWII Fieseler Fi-156 Storch -- one of only four in flyable condition in the world -- for a special flight for a civilian. The attraction's Ken Kellet piloted the special flight at 0930 Sunday morning.

The Fieseler Fi-156 Storch airplane is still in top-notch flying condition. Powered by its original German Argus engine, the aircraft was designed by Fieseler in 1935 and is generally considered to be the best vintage "liaison" (or L-Bird) airplane ever designed. Liaison aircraft were small, slow flying aircraft used in World War II to observe enemy artillery or transport commanders or messengers. With its high-lift wings and fixed slots, it can take-off and land in less than 200 feet and has a stall speed less than 25 mph. It proved its worth throughout World War II, when more than 4,000 were ultimately built. Used on all fronts, its engine had a tendency to overheat, and the side cowls were generally left off in hot climates. Fans of vintage liaison planes prefer the Storch even more than the popular Mustang P-51. In the words of Fantasy of Flight founder and creator, Kermit Weeks, "The Storch is sexy!"

Contest Winner Lee Baskt, Center, Following His Flight
Photo Used With Permission Of Fantasy of Flight

The aircraft was involved in many significant events during World War II. "The Desert Fox," Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, flew in one throughout the North African Campaign, landing in troubled spots everywhere along the front lines. It was a Storch that rescued Italian dictator Mussolini from a hotel atop a mountain peak after Italian partisans captured him toward the end of the war, and it was a Storch that transported the bomb used in the attempt on Hitler's life in July of 1944. Less than a year later, during the final days of the war in Europe, famous German female test-pilot Hanna Reitsch flew a Storch into the heart of besieged Berlin, landing near the Brandenburg Gate to receive last minute instructions from Hitler.

FMI: www.fantasyofflight.com