DC-3 Display Outlived Its Usefulness, Time For A Change

As many readers know, Kermit Weeks has amassed more than 140 vintage military and civilian aircraft during his life. He also established the Fantasy of Flight Museum in Polk City, Florida, along Interstate I-4 which traverses Polk County. The museum comprises several buildings and hangars which house the extensive collection of aircraft, many of which are airworthy. Other aircraft are in various stages of restoration or repair, or off-site at air shows or other events.

To advertise the museum and attract visitors, Weeks mounted a Douglas DC-3 at the I-4 exit near the museum. Initially, Weeks had the airplane mounted in a nose down position with the Fantasy of Flight name emblazoned on the wings. After some years and some number of concerned drivers calling police and news stations to report a “plane crash,” Weeks hung a mannequin from the plane and dressed it in seasonal attire to help reduce the number of accident calls.

The mannequin didn’t help much so in 2018 Weeks remounted the DC-3 in a nose-up attitude simulating a takeoff. That seemed to quell the number of concerned phone calls, but this year, Weeks decided it was time for a change.

As Weeks explained, “It was getting old. We had some hurricane damage. The rudder blew off one time.” In addition, the airframe was so corroded that restoring it was not possible so Weeks had the venerable DC-3 removed to a ramp area at the museum.

Jonathan Andress, a local video producer heard of the project he knew he wanted to make a documentary of it. He said, “It was something that took me back to my childhood and I knew that the people of Lakeland had a vested interest in it,” Andress said. The mini-documentary produced by Andress’ Studio61 Productions is titled “End of an Icon, Removal of the I-4 DC-3,” which of course features the iconic aircraft and Kermit Weeks.

Andress said of his work, “They can expect a little bit of drama. They can expect some inspiration. They can expect to find out what’s going to happen to the plane.” The link to the documentary on Andress’ YouTube channel is below.

Weeks has long-term plans for the future of Fantasy of Flight and is producing his own video content of the plane’s removal for his YouTube page. That link is below as well.

FMI: www.youtube.com/@JonathanWayneAndress , www.youtube.com/@KermitWeeks444