For
Fantasy of Flight founder Kermit Weeks, the opening of his
aviation-themed attraction has been a natural extension
of a lifelong, unbounded passion for aviation and aircraft.
Weeks has been involved in aviation since his childhood
and his enthusiasm for furthering public interest in aviation
has never stopped growing. A skilled aerobatics competitor
and aircraft designer, Weeks has earned acclaim both for
his accomplishments in the air-as an aviator, and on the
ground for his technical ability to build aircraft and his
promotion of aviation and vintage aircraft restoration.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Kermit Weeks grew up in Miami, FL. His childhood interest in mechanical design and construction evidenced itself early. While still a teenager, Kermit had already taken to the skies and learned to fly.At age 17, while still in high school, he began construction of his first home-built aircraft-an airplane he completed and flew four years later. In 1973, at age 20, Weeks had began taking to the air in aerobatic flying competitions while pursuing an aeronautical engineering degree at Miami-Dade Junior College, the University of Florida and Purdue University. By 1977, Kermit had built the "Weeks Special," an aerobatic aircraft of his own design and qualified for the United States Aerobatics Team. In 1978, he was runner-up among 61 competitors worldwide, earning three Silver medals and one Bronze medal in the World Aerobatics Championships staged in Czechoslovakia. Over the span of a dozen years, he placed in the top three in the world five times and won a total of 20 medals in World Aerobatics Championship competition. He has twice won the United States National Aerobatics Championship and has won several Invitational Masters Championships in different worldwide competitions.
During
the late 1970's, Kermit's aviation interests expanded
to
include the acquisition, restoration and preservation of
antique aircraft. In 1985, he began operating the Weeks
Air Museum in Miami, a non-profit facility that housed
much
of his private collection and other antique aircraft owned
by the museum. As his personal collection expanded,
Weeks
planned for development of a larger, more comprehensive
facility in which to showcase and share his aircraft
collection.
In the mid-80's he began acquiring a 300-acre site near
Polk City, FL., 20 miles southwest of Walt Disney World,
for an aviation-themed attraction called Fantasy of
Flight.In
1992, as development plans finalized for Fantasy of Flight,
Hurricane Andrew struck the Miami area, virtually destroying
the Weeks Air Museum facility (it was repaired and
reopened
in 1994) and seriously damaging most of the vintage aircraft
within it. Some of Weeks' collection, which was damaged
by the hurricane, is displayed at Fantasy of Flight
. Fantasy
of Flight allows the public to see part of the world's
largest privately held vintage aircraft collection
and show, via
fascinating themed exhibits and displays, moments from
aviation's storied past. For Kermit Weeks, the attraction's
1995 opening
began another colorful chapter in a career devoted to furthering
aviation.
On May 26, 2000, Kermit Weeks wed Teresa Blazina during a private ceremony in Sedona, AZ. Now residing in Polk City, FL., Weeks' other interests include playing the guitar, banjo, fiddle and piano. He also enjoys snow skiing and water skiing.
"Since the dawn of time...
man has been fascinated by flight."
"That fascination...
is a physical reflection...
of what we all long to return to."
"We all fly in our dreams...
and when we awake...
we long for that inner freedom."
"I hope...
the fantasy of flight...
will help light that spark within...
to continue you on your journey."