Orlampa, FL, USA - January 2014
As visitors entered the second hangar bay, they were greeted with Mr. Weeks' Martin B-26 Marauder. If you start thinking about all the airplanes in Mr. Weeks' collection you'll notice that he has all assembled all major WW2 medium bombers (B-23, B-25, B-26 and A-26), as well as all major heavy bombers (B-17 x2, B-24, B-29 and Lancaster). (Trevor McTavish)
Like the airplanes in the previous hangar bay, the planes in this bay vary from highly-polished show pieces to, well, the Marauder. Although the B-26 is the only flyable example of its type, it is by no means a show queen. If you look closely at the faded paint you'll find touch ups, and areas where the paint is still flaking away. I actually like that. (Trevor McTavish)
Since the fall of the Iron Curtain it seems that every warbird collector has added a Po-2 biplane, and I guess I shouldn't be surprised. They were the most numerous airplane ever built, and they played an important but overlooked role in defeating the Germans on the Russian front. The black object in front of the Po-2 is the upper gun turret from a Northrop P-61 Black Widow. Although it's not a museum display per-say, there are also noses from a B-25 and A-26, and a ball turret from a B-17 on display too. (Trevor McTavish)
The second bay is much smaller than the first bay, about half the size, but it's crammed full of airplanes that appear to fly more often than the others. It might be because most of them are Second World War airplanes and these are always in demand at airshows an in magazines. (Trevor McTavish)
One airplane I know flies often is Mr. Weeks' B-25, the Apache Princess. It's certainly a very nice example of the type. (Trevor McTavish)
There really was an Apache Princess back in the Second World War and Mr. Weeks' example is faithful to the original in all but one respect - he had the artist paint his wife's face on the nose art. (Trevor McTavish)
I remember reading a magazine article years ago, when Mr. Weeks' P-51D had just come out of restoration. At that time it was said to be the most authentic Mustang restoration yet performed. I don't know if that's true but whether its authentic or not, it certainly appears that Mr. Weeks gets out and flies his Mustangs often. (Trevor McTavish)
That's right - Mustangs - he also has a P-51C. This was another of the planes acquired from the defunct Movieland of the Air museum back in the late 1970s. (Trevor McTavish)
Remember the Bucker Jungmann tucked in under the Solent flying boat in bay one? Well here in bay two there's a Jungmeister, completed in the markings of one sent to represent Germany at the World Aerobatic Championship in 1936. I haven't flown either type, but I imagine I would find it far more rewarding behind the controls of a Jungmeister than a Pitts Special. (Trevor McTavish)
Remember how bay one also had a less than inspirational "kiddie corner"? Well over here I discovered another side room that appeared to be set up as an imaginary aircraft carrier deck. Maybe I'm too cynical, but I wasn't impressed. The Museum of Flight has a very convincing vignette for their Corsair, but it seems these fake carrier decks have become a necessity wherever naval airplanes are on display. (Trevor McTavish)
One thing I did like in the naval room was the Grumman F3F-2 biplane. This is one of several exact reproductions built about 20 years ago. It just seems to be so - Grumman - barrel chested, robust and powerful. I doubt it would have lasted long in combat though. (Trevor McTavish)