Fantasy Of Flight Closing Doors To Public...

[Cherrybomber13]

I say Kudos for Kermit. The museum business has never been considered a money making opportunity, profit or non profit. If he can redevelop FOF into a profitable, destination it will only benefit the community, both local and warbird related in the end. You also have to consider that possibly, like George Lucas, Kermit wants to see his life's passion / work survive beyond his own mortality. Aligning your business to to keep it solvent and profitable is not a bad thing... This is America after all.

A museum needs to be tied into the surrounding community in order to maintain itself and to grow. As the CASC is beginning our own journey to finally being open to all ages, we have been taking a long hard look at how we fit in, can be of service and can work as community partners as opposed to a bunch of old airplane and helicopter mechanics hiding in a hangar.

I for one applaud his vision and hope it works out.

That's my 2 cents anyhow...

[Mark Allen M]

I would imagine it would be quite evident in his vision for his new attraction "to also include" aircraft as opposed to his old attraction of "specifically including" aircraft. I would also imagine that "mediocrity" is not something he ever envisioned or supported.

Best of luck in whatever vision he sees for the future. He's got some fun stuff down there.

[airknocker]

While large private air museums, Evergreen MAM & FOF, etc., are on the downside, the smaller mission focused with good volunteer participation are riding out the economic times. The general public are air show attendees, but like us, aren't airplane s. Organizations like Old Rhinebeck, Planes of Fame, Owls Head
and others tend to focus on a particular period with air activities to entertain, with smaller paid staff and heavy volunteer support.
Good luck to Kermit and his band of folks at FOF!

[k5083]

The vid is a little depressing with Kermit's reference to turning 60. He's known for a long time, as we all have, that he won't live long enough to play with all of his toys. I think I hear the bells tolling for his dreams of Orlampa as well.

It's funny, I remember that Forbes article about him as if it was yesterday (it was 2001). At that time he was 47 -- my age now -- and seemed to have all the time in the world. Sobering.

It doesn't look like FoF ever will have a "surrounding community" in the Connecticut sense. Just the playground for transients that is Orlando. I suspect, realizing that FoF will continue to be physically isolated, he is going for broader reach. Following Disney's example, he may be envisioning a global project that reaches most of its audience through media rather than directly.

Meanwhile he faces the problem of many unfinished projects and no heir apparent. I wonder what happens to granddad's oil royalty after he passes, and whether it is even possible to keep it flowing into FoF.

We can hope, anyway, that the new plan involves continuing to direct money into restoration, and some away visits to at least local shows. And we can hope that Kermit still has many more years to pursue whatever his dream has become.

August

[tom d. friedman]

long & short & to the point, & right straight to us.... aviation history buffs / warbirders / enthusiasts / etc are a dying fraternity. at 52 years old I am the youngest member of the Cleveland chapter of "THE SOCIETY OF AIR RACING HISTORIANS". when the older geezers are gone, what then?? kids are wrapped up into bling, computers, & themselves period. I brought my kids up w/ an appreciation of history in general, & it's their, but on the other hand they don't give a rat's ass as to preservation. I don't mean to sound like your parents w/ the lecturing....... blah blah blah ZZZZ snore!! on the receiving end, but this is just the start. weeks & evergreen are very high profile, & if you'll look at my 1st post I think you'll get my drift. as a topper... a kid here in the u.s. is suing her parents for college tuition they can't afford.

[Tim Savage]

I think a lot of younger people have an interest in aviation and aviation history. My son who is twelve, loves airplanes, and has grown up on a steady diet of them. He isn't really interested in sitting at the airport and watching airplanes, but put him in front of War Thunder and he can spout off the specs on every airplane in the game. Now he gets a particular kick out of going to museums to see the airplanes he has 'flown' in War Thunder. Will that translate to a deeper interest in airplanes? I don't know, but several of his friends are into the game as well...in fact on a given night thousands of young people around the globe are playing the game. This can only be good for aviation museums and warbirds in general down the road. Museums just need to learn to tap into that market.

As for FOF and Evergreen etc. Every time I have been to FOF there have been plenty of folks there. It isn't a lack of interest that is closing it, it is lack of sustainability. Those are different things. A for profit museum supported by one guy with very little in the way of interactive exhibits is in for tough road. Young people today need interactive environments to hold their interest, and the museums that are successful in the future will integrate them together. Much like places like the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago attracts a lot of young people. Not just to see the artifacts in a display case but to 'experience' what the artifact represents.

I suspect this is what Kermit has in mind down the road, and if he can pull the financing together it may very well be successful.

[Jeremy S]

Well darn... I had planned on visiting FoF this summer while on vacation. I read that Kermit has been operating the facility at a loss for a long time.

Guess I will be among many that will have to change my plans around. The whole world has been fortunate that he has shared his collection with us for so long. Maybe this is just the beginning of something bigger and better, his next dream.

[Waltz41]

Same here......we have a big family trip planned down to that area, of course hitting Disney for a couple days....I was psyched to visit FOF with my kids and my nephew, even my brothers, just to show them and expose them to one of my 'passions'. Of course I was excited too as I have never been. Oh well, guess that won't happen now

I wish him well though in his vision and what he does next. Kudos for saving and restoring so many aircraft for people to see and experience.

[Jack Frost]

Since the USAF is now actively re-training Pilots as Drone Drivers, it appears the handwriting is on the wall, although maybe a little faint so far. But Drone flying and computer aviation programs seem to be growing in popularity and this may well be the future of aviation, war-bird style for the young folks.

Jes' saying......Jack

[tom d. friedman]

It's a gimmee., you can bank on it.

[JohnH]

Thought of making a quick trip the end of March, I just checked flights from LA to Orlando-600 bucks to fly there - insane.

[Randy Haskin]

Since the USAF is now actively re-training Pilots as Drone Drivers,

There isn't any greater push to train RPA pilots now than there has been for the last 3 or 4 years -- if anything, actually it is decreasing, not increasing.

What's different is that the RPA pilot career field has been created as a field independent of "traditional" pilots. It has been several years since pilots directly out of USAF pilot training were sent to operate unmanned stuff, and there are fewer and fewer being taken from the ranks of the operational flying squadrons.