Kermit Weeks' Pitcairn Arrives

***Bomber_12th*** · March 23rd, 2012, 14:31

Yesterday, Kermit Weeks took delivery of the restored Pitcairn Autogiro NC1267B, at his Fantasy of Flight museum, so I thought I would load up the Golden Age Simulations reproduction of this very aircraft and take it for a spin around the Fantasy of Flight location, with the airport name being "Worlds Greatest Aircraft Collection". Before doing so, however, I thought I would finally get around to correct a few of the things that Microsoft messed up on with this airfield in FSX - this mainly included removing the awful DC-3 parked on the ramp with its nose stuck in the ground, and removing the extra water tower that was added next to the actual water tower that should be there. Then, using some of Guy Diotte's static warbirds, I added to the ramp a few of the aircraft types that are actually owned by Kermit Weeks, and could be seen parked out on the ramp, in a similar fashion, if visiting the museum in real life.

***Bomber_12th*** · March 23rd, 2012, 14:34

And here are some photos of the aircraft's arrival at Fantasy of Flight yesterday, with one of the photos showing it looking more put together, taken earlier today. This aircraft has been flying for about three years now, with its previous owner, and Kermit Weeks intends to keep it flying, and will be getting checked out in it soon.

***Wittpilot*** · March 23rd, 2012, 15:22

I only got to see it fly once the whole time it was in our hangar in Urbana. If you ever get a chance to see one fly, it is really fascinating... It pretty much shoots up like a rocket, and drops out of the sky like a rock!!

Neat machine!

***FSX68*** · March 23rd, 2012, 17:47

I just purchased the Golden Ages Simulations Pitcarin autogyro Today (23 Mar 12) for FSX and I have a really nice VC cockpit with gauges but it's a different story with the other cockpit (2d)view.
I have a panel with blank blue circles ergo, no gauges. What is up with that? Is that normal? Me thinks something is amiss.

See for yourself:

Attachment 61805

***rayhere48*** · March 23rd, 2012, 20:56

What was the name of the airport? Very nice scenery, I just got the static aircraft.

***Bomber_12th*** · March 23rd, 2012, 21:07

Just as in real life, the airport name is "Worlds Greatest Aircraft Collection", code FA08 - the private airfield of the Fantasy of Flight museum. The runways are all grass surface, as Kermit Weeks has a large number of aircraft which either have to opperate from grass, or handle better off grass. There are, however, also hard-surface runways buried below the grass, so that something as heavy as a B-29 can also opperate from the airport (the largest aircraft projects that Kermit owns).

**Greenhouse357** · March 23rd, 2012, 21:24

Nice job on FFL, John. I'll be going there this saturday.

***norab*** · March 24th, 2012, 07:39

You mean this one ?

Attachment 61828

***FSX68*** · March 24th, 2012, 08:01

Originally Posted by richoday

I just purchased the Golden Ages Simulations Pitcarin autogyro Today (23 Mar 12) for FSX and I have a really nice VC cockpit with gauges but it's a different story with the other cockpit (2d)view.
I have a panel with blank blue circles ergo, no gauges. What is up with that? Is that normal? Me thinks something is amiss.

See for yourself:

Attachment 61805

Edit: was able to get a fix from the author. Those folks at Golden Ages are nice very prompt to help you out.
Now the gauges in standard cockpit mode are visible.

***Bomber_12th*** · March 24th, 2012, 08:05

That sounds great, Rich! I wasn't able to check it out on my install last night, so I couldn't really provide you with a responce - whether I had it too or not. Checking this morning, it is the same on mine, but I never use the 2d panels, so I'll just leave it alone, but it is great that GAS were able to get it corrected for you so soon!

***Bomber_12th*** · March 24th, 2012, 08:12

Originally Posted by norab

You mean this one ?

Attachment 61828

Yeah, Microsoft got it mostly correct in FS9, by replicating this, where it should be, next to the highway. However, around the few year-span that FSX was in development, Kermit Weeks had the aircraft removed and re-positioned onto a set of well-designed ramps, as well as had special props fitted that make it look like they are turning, so instead of having the DC-3 looking like it just nose-dived into the ground, it now looks as if it were to be taking off. Unfortunately, in FSX, Microsoft just dropped the DC-3, with its nose still in the ground, right in the middle of the Fantasy of Flight ramp (where it was for a little while, but it was parked on its gear!). As also mentioned, it bothered me that they added a second water tower into the FSX scenery, which shouldn't be there, so I gladly removed that as well.

Here's a photo of what the same DC-3 looked like as of 2007: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/121066.html

***Bomber_12th*** · March 24th, 2012, 08:29

Speaking of this very airport, it would be wonderful to see it given a whole new ground-up treatment, starting with re-doing the textures, in higher resolution, for the default museum buildings. There continues to be expansions at the airport. There is a massive maintenance hangar and ramp on the other side of the main runway to the main museum hangars, and there are two large storage buildings that are filled with aircraft and aircraft parts in storage just outside of the main airport grounds (though you can tour them) - none of these are included in the FSX default scenery. One of the items I most want to see added, are the cool water features that frame the runways and ramps. Kermit Weeks' continued expansion plans include wanting to build a replica of the type of 1930's west-coast sea plane hangars/terminals near to the lake that is used for launching Weeks' seaplanes, and which would likely house the Fantasy of Flight Sunderland. Even if someone would be willing to tackle a project like this, perhaps with a photo-scenery base, and new buildings modeled and textured for this scenery, and release it as freeware to all, I'd be willing to commission it.

Here's a nice aerial shot of the airport. Note the storage building at the top of the photo - now there is another right next to it (http://blog.kermitweeks.com/wp-conte...Facilities.jpg):
http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/2/5...1219617725.jpg

***Bomber_12th*** · March 24th, 2012, 08:39

These are some of my favorite photos from the museum (the art-deco style of all of the main museum structures, I absolutely love):

http://image.motorcyclistonline.com/...t+airplane.jpg
http://www.airportjournals.com/Photo.../0402004_4.jpg
http://navrides.blogspot.com/2010/04...of-flight.html

The maintenance hangar, not included in FSX:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nce_Hanger.JPG

Currently they are getting ready at the airport for the "Splash-In" event, all next week, that corresponds with Sun N' Fun, with a wide-variety of sea-planes which will be opperating from the lake on the airport grounds. They also have their Mustangs and Mustangs event coming up soon too.

***mal998*** · March 24th, 2012, 10:01

I was in Orlando this past week and had planned to take a 20 minute drive over to Kermit's place. Unforunately, I was feeling a bit under the weather and never got there.

However, I have been there a couple of times and it is a must see for anyone who loves planes and happens to find themselves in Orlando.

Here is a link to one of my albums of photos taken at Fantasy of Flight in 2009.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/582530255xesbCh

***Bomber_12th*** · March 24th, 2012, 10:12

I replaced the FSX textures for Fantasy of Flight with those from FS9 (as the FSX textures had been compressed further than those from FS9) but unfortunately there was only very, very little improvement. I also re-positioned the PBY a bit.

Having some more fun... ; )

Edit: Thank you Mal for the link to your photo album!