War bird flying florida

[Jude]

I'm travelling to florida on honeymoon in april, and looking at treating my other half and i, to some warbird flying. Has anyone any suggestions or reccommendations, I've got a UK CPL-IR and my better half has a UK PPL with 700hours. Looking for some fun rather than a serious checkout. Thanks

[typhoonpilot]

If you are going to be in Florida in April you should check this out:

http://www.sun-n-fun.org/content/

If you go I'm sure you'll find someone who gives rides.

Also, make sure you don't miss this place:

www.fantasyofflight.com


TP

[Check 6]

Jude here is a P-51 that you can fly in Kissimmee, Florida. This is located about 15 miles south of Orlando Airport.

Map

Enjoy, Check 6

[Jude]

Thanks for the replys so far. Won't be around for sun n fun, unfortunately. Looking at both the P51 and the harvard at kissimmee. Just depends on price really. Have already planned to go to Fantasy of Fight.

[david mangold]

florida warbird

if you would like to ride (fly) an L-39 2 seater (I think that is the type aircraft), there are 2 in marathon, florida. i am sure a web search would turn-up whom to contact. marathon is in the keys, about half the way from homestead to key west. if you have not seen the keys, it is unique! i habe been going there for 27 years...

[Irish Steve]

I had a great trip on one of the harvards at Kissimmee a while back, but check to make sure that they've got back in the air again, I heard a pretty strong rumour not long back that one of the hurricanes that went through last autumn did a lot of damage in that area, and they may not yet have recovered.

Apparently, they moved the aircraft from under the lightweight canvas cover areas into a hangar, and the hangar collapsed during the passage of one of the storms, and damaged a number of warbirds in the process

If I'm out of date, someone please post to correct

The following is a quote from the Fantasy of Flight museum October 2004 newsletter:

Worst hit by the full force of the storm was the Flying Tigers Warbird Restoration Museum in Kissimmee. The eye of Hurricane Charley passed directly over the Kissimmee Gateway Airport causing severe damage to Warbird's hangar, and forcing it to temporarily close until repairs can be made.

Edited to add the quote from Fantasy of Flight

[BoeingBoy]

I was in Kissimmee late last year and the Harvards were all flying.
Tom Reilly's hangar was in poor repair and the whole business is up for sale after the B17 is finished. Probably is by now.

Here is the link to the Harvards:

http://www.warbirdadventures.com/

I flew with them a year or two back and had a great ride. I only booked the short 20 minute ride but the Guy that flew me let me taxi, fly and land the whole trip as I had vintage tailwheel type experience. Tigger/Stampe/Chippy etc.
By the time we finished talking we had been in the air 45 minutes so I really got good value!!

The last I heard the P51 was $2000 a ride, probably more by now.

Have Fun.

BB