For many years, Fantasy of Flight employees have reported strange happenings at the attraction including; things falling off shelves, adding and copying machines running by themselves, a sense of presences, and actual sightings.  We just came to accept them over the years and assume their energies are connected to the airplanes.  I also sense they’re connected to what we are trying to create as well, which is partly to get people to look beyond their five-sense reality and realize more of what they truly are.

Several years ago, we had an amateur Paranormal Research Group approach us wanting to check out Fantasy of Flight for paranormal activity.  We did not instigate this, they came to us.  They did two separate all-night investigations several months apart and came up with some really interesting stuff.  One of the more profound pictures came from inside the B-17 when a presence was sensed and a digital photo was taken.  What showed up was an absolutely clear full-color person that appears to be a scared B-17 crew member wearing a May West and sporting a five-O’clock shadow!

Original Ghost Photo in B-17. Notice three fingers coming down from the top and yellow Mae West.

We went back later to try and duplicate the photo with someone standing on a ladder looking in but you could barely make them out.  After some shots were taken inside the airplane with an onlooker, it became apparent the flash from the camera was helping reflect their image on the Plexiglass window.  Once we realized the green airplane part the “person” was peering around was the curved bulkhead inside the airplane, we realized the “person” was not peering from outside the airplane but from the INSIDE!

Look at the expression on the face, the five O'Clock shadow, and a scar or blood on the forehead!

About a year later, a completely separate group came to us after one of their friend’s wife mentioned seeing an apparition while visiting Fantasy of Flight.  She saw it sitting in one of the P-51 Mustangs, in broad daylight, complete with helmet and goggles!  When she turned away and then looked back, it was gone.  She was a very religions person and, with conviction, told the story until she passed away.  Because of this somewhat synchronistic event, the second group came to us and did several investigations.  They told us, on a scale of one to ten regarding activity, Fantasy of Flight was an eleven!  We since hired them to run the actual investigations for the public, which normally include three groups of ten.  We began with three scheduled events but quickly had to add four more because of the interest.  One person has attended four times!

Photo taken in Fightertown with a camera set up on a tripod with a timer

These are NOT Ghost Tours, but serious investigations.  I attended one of the early ones before we offered them to the public and meditated in the B-17 after midnight for an hour and a half.  Once I felt somewhat connected to their energies, I first asked if any wanted to move beyond their current reality, as I have LOTS of “Friends” on the Other Side I met during my explorations of Inner Realities that could help them out.  I sensed a very small percentage (2-4%) moved on.   When I asked if the rest were OK with us doing the investigations, I got back a resounding, “Hell yeah!”

Overall, Night Flight has been a great success!  We make it a point NOT to pre-load people prior to the investigations about specifics but later open up at the end.  During the debriefings, most relate some type of connection and/or experience from the investigation!  Some feel they have been physically touched or see things, and several women, on separate investigations, have been overcome by such a strong sense of sadness in one particular spot they’ve had to leave the room.  Recently, there has been one apparent apparition that has shown up twice in full physical form that is neither anyone working for me or is one of the patrons!  This will be one to look out for in the future.

Night Flight experiences are currently held on Saturday nights from 9:30pm – 1:30pm.  Check them out at http://www.nightflightexperience.com/.

Kermit

I was recently asked to help do some FAA Safety Videos with aviation enthusiast and Country Star, Aaron Tippin!  FAA video crews used Fantasy of Flight as a backdrop over several days to film segments promoting aviation safety.  Aaron flew down from Nashville and spent about five hours with them narrating.  My part was with Aaron and took place in the Compass Rose Restaurant.  We had a lot of fun trying to act natural while trying to read the FAA script on the teleprompter.

Filming in the Compass Rose Restaurant

Aaron had been to Fantasy of Flight several years ago and gave Teresa, Katie and I some VIP passes to a concert he did over at the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In several years ago after his visit.  I’ve since bumped into him at various aviation events.  I can’t wait to see how we did and hope we can make a difference!

Kermit

We recently hosted a symposium with several Tuskegee Airmen at Fantasy of Flight in celebration of Black History month.  It was a great success and over the three-day event 500 school kids, as well as many adults, came out to hear their stories, ask questions, and get autographs.

With Roscoe Brown - 1st pilot ever to shoot down a German Me-262 Jet!

Flying "Ina the Macon Belle"

I flew the P-51C Mustang “Ina the Macon Belle” all three days, which is painted in the colors of Lee Archer, the highest scoring Tuskegee pilot.  Lee was looking forward to coming down for the event but fell ill three weeks prior and passed away.  His story was covered on many of the National news stations and he was buried with full-military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.  Lee was a great friend and, while he will be surely missed, his story and the story of the Tuskegee Airmen will continue to live on at Fantasy of Flight!

Kermit

WWI DH-4 on display in Fantasy of Flight Hangar

Our second DH-4 arrived recently, which concludes a trade I made several years ago.  This new addition was built from original plans and represents the only American-built airplane to see action in the First World War.  It was of British design but used an American 400hp Liberty engine.

This is our second DH-4, the first being a rebuilt original DH-4 Mailplane that has been at Fantasy of Flight on display in the Wood Shop for several years now. Part of the trade included several airplane projects I had that were duplicates and supplying 3 static Liberty engines from the many in the collection.  During the engine build-up process, we set aside enough good parts for two runnable engines, as we intend to fly both aircraft.  Unfortunately, we have plenty to do before turning our attention to the DeHavillands but, at least, they are both currently on display until we do!

Kermit

Kermit and Dick Jackson with the Sikorsky S-39

Dick Jackson’s 1930 Sikorsky S-39 in now on display at Fantasy of Flight, at least through the Sun ‘n Fun Splash-In, which takes place at Fantasy of Flight.  Dick brought the airplane down before the cold weather up north set in.  It is a gorgeous restoration that encompasses 40 years of Dick’s life and about 40,000 hours of work!  If you can come the day of the Splash-In on April 15th, 2010, you should be able to see it flying!

Kermit

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