WIX Archives

Kissimmee, FL

Posted by Chuck on Wed May 07, 2003 07:32:49 PM

I thought that I would run down to Kissimmee, FL today since I am living an hour away in Daytona Beach. I wanted to visit Flying Tigers Warbird Museum, Warbird Adventures, and Stallion 51. I started at Flying Tigers and got the tour from the docent. I saw a A-26, B-25, Cougar, F-101, F-104, P-38 parts, B-17, T-6, PT-17, P-40, S-2, A-4, F4U-5 wreck, B-17 wrecks, and a TBM hulk. The B-17 Outhouse Mouse is coming along and is expected to fly in another year. It looks great especially considering how bad the condition of the airframe was in when they started restoration. Everyone at the restoration shop was super friendly. I got to talking to one of the guys there for about an hour about warbirds and pilots. Then he tells me his name is Tom Reilly and he owns the place. He invites me to go to lunch with him. Of coarse I went and we had a great visit. Tom told me that he owns parts to three more B-17s and will start building one composit plane as soon as Outhouse Mouse is done. Another B-17 to take to the air! On the way back we stopped off at a very unassuming commercial complex one block away from the airport. It is the new home of White 1, the FW 190 F8. I met Mark and Steve who are rebuilding the plane that was purchased from Texas Air Museum. There is another fuselage in the shop as well. They have new upper and lower wing spars in from the machine shop for two wings. They also have many components shipped out being rebuilt, such as landing gear, canopy, oil coolers, and an engine. They are very proud of their great projects and are looking for anyone to help them out with assitance with the rebuild or financially. Their website is http://www.stormbirds.com/white1
Then I went to Warbird Adventures where you can buy T-6 rides. They have 3 T-6s and an old Bell helicopter. The airplanes look great and are set up to film and photograph your flight in the WW2 trainer. I met with the owners and he told me about his operation. They are very busy.
I ran out of time to be able to visit Stallion 51 but had a great day in Orlando anyway. I reccomend the trip to everyone.

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