Mother Nature's Fury Continues To Astound Survivors
The Corridor of Classic Aviation in Central Florida was hit hard
by Hurricane Charley on Friday August 13, 2004. Airplanes from
history, as well as new general aviation aircraft, were destroyed
in record numbers from the west coast to the east coast of
Florida.
Some of Florida's finest aviation attractions and museum's
united last year in the Pastport program, now unite to help those
effected by the storm.
Worst hit by the full force of the storm was the Flying Tigers
Warbird Restoration Museum in Kissimmee, Florida. The eye of
hurricane Charley passed directly over Kissimmee Gateway Airport
(ISM )spawning tornados that compounded the category two hurricane
force winds. The Warbird Museum's hangar suffered severe damage,
forcing it to close temporarily until repairs can be made.
Warbird Adventures's T-6 flights located adjacent to the Museum,
was dealt a fatal blow when their two SNJs and two Helicopters were
destroyed in one of the many hangars that collapsed under the
relentless wind. It is estimated that 70% of the aircraft on the
field were damaged.
Fantasy of Flight in Polk City was just north of the path of the
storm and suffered no appreciable damage. Lack of electricity
forced the aviation attraction to close to the public for a few
days, reopening in full swing, Wednesday 18 August 2004. Kermit
Weeks and his staff at Fantasy of Flights spent their down time
helping with the massive clean up effort at the Warbird Museum in
Kissimmee. Kermit is all too familiar with the damage that can be
caused by a killer storm, surviving Hurricane Andrew in 1991 at his
former south Florida facility. Mr. Weeks had been generous with his
support and help to those effected by the storm, appreciative for
all the kindness he received after Andrew blew through his hangars
and collection almost 13 years ago.
The Lakeland-Linder airport's primary function, of late, has
been to provide space and some facilities to support the large
number of personnel and equipment arriving onto the airport
virtually on an hourly basis. On Saturday alone, eight (8) USAF
C-17 "Globemasters" flew into Lakeland carrying various supplies to
support these combined efforts.
Titusville's Valiant Air Command was south of the destructive
path of the storm as it exited Florida and headed up the East Coast
of the United States. They, along with Fantasy of Flight, will
carry on the Pastport program as they help the Flying Tigers
Warbird Restoration Museum recover from Charley.