{"id":5357,"date":"2013-03-24T18:59:37","date_gmt":"2013-03-24T22:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=5357"},"modified":"2016-12-30T10:32:21","modified_gmt":"2016-12-30T15:32:21","slug":"how-i-acquired-the-howard-hughes-sikorsky-s-43","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fantasyofflight.com\/collection\/kermit-weeks\/how-i-acquired-the-howard-hughes-sikorsky-s-43\/","title":{"rendered":"How I acquired the Howard Hughes Sikorsky S-43!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last November ended a very long quest to acquire a very rare and valuable Sikorsky S-43 that was originally owned by Howard Hughes! \u00a0Howard purchased it in 1937 to fly around the world in an attempt to set a new record.\u00a0 Unfortunately, CAA approval delays, the onset of WWII, and the arrival of a faster airplane forced him to set the Sikorsky to the side and use a Lockheed 14.\u00a0 In 1938 he beat the existing world record by flying around the world in less than four days (91 hours) and enjoyed a ticker-tape parade through New York City for his efforts!<\/p>\n

Howard Hughes’ new Sikorsky S-43 at the factory outfitted with long-range tanks!<\/p><\/div>\n

After the War got underway, he was forced to sell the airplane to the government for the war effort and was in the process of doing so, as soon as he completed some water testing with it for the HK-1 (Spruce Goose) project.\u00a0 Due to a miscalculation in weight and balance, the airplane was involved in a water-landing accident that sent it to the bottom of Lake Meade, killing two and almost killing Howard.\u00a0 He paid to have it salvaged, apparently got the title back, and spent A LOT of money rebuilding it.\u00a0 After the war, he used it to fly many of his starlet girlfriends around.\u00a0 He last flew it in 1952 where it then sat for decades in a Houston\u00a0hangar under guard.<\/p>\n

Recovered S-43 after the landing accident on Lake Meade!<\/p><\/div>\n

To my knowledge, there are only three S-43\u2019s left in the world.\u00a0 Howard\u2019s, a Pearl Harbor veteran owned by the Smithsonian, and a static one at the Pima County Air Museum.<\/p>\n

Pima County Air Museum being delivered by the trucker that will now move mine!<\/p><\/div>\n

I first saw the airplane at the Oshkosh Fly-In in 1994 while demonstrating my four-engine Short Sunderland flying boat.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t help but make a mental note that, one day, I would love to acquire it!<\/p>\n

And . . . who wouldn\u2019t?<\/p>\n

Sikorsky while owned by Ron Van Kregten, who purchased the airplane from the Hughes company.<\/p><\/div>\n

Fast-forward from 1994 to 2006 where I was attending the Monroe Institute in Virginia.\u00a0 It was my third of ten programs studying out-of-body experiences and exploring worlds within myself with sound technology.\u00a0 One day I will publish a book of my journey\u2019s called The Journey Never Ends!<\/em>\u00a0 (In case you\u2019re wondering . . . no, it did not involve any drugs and, for the record . . . I\u2019ve never done any recreational drugs in my life!) \u00a0In one exercise, we were briefed to \u201cgo meet other people.\u201d \u00a0To my surprise, Howard Hughes showed up and during a short conversation he said, “He knew I was interested in his Sikorsky S-43 and he would HELP ME GET IT!”<\/p>\n

The person that had acquired\u00a0the airplane from the Hughes Company and restored it back to flying condition was Ron Van Kregten, who purchased\u00a0it in the early 1980’s but had since passed away. \u00a0Several years after my Monroe experience, I made a point to go visit the airplane south of Houston, TX with the pilot and the agent. \u00a0It was now for sale but the price was\u00a0waaaaay<\/em>\u00a0beyond my ability to afford at the time.<\/p>\n

There was a spare wing for the airplane in California that I later went to see.\u00a0 There, I met the executor of the estate, who just happened to be the brother of the widow, who had also since passed. \u00a0I made a point to tell the executor my grand vision for Fantasy of Flight in the hopes it might help gain some ground in acquiring the plane. \u00a0I also told him about my experience with Howard Hughes at the Monroe Institute and that, if it was meant to be, he should, “Look for a sign!”<\/em> \u00a0I had no idea what form this might come in, if at all, but felt compelled at the time that I was supposed to mention this.\u00a0 I got the names of the heirs and later sent them autographed copies of my first children\u2019s book along with some other information about Fantasy of Flight.<\/p>\n

Outboard wing panels for a complete spare S-43 wing in California!<\/p><\/div>\n

Fast-forward four more years to September 2012.\u00a0 I was invited to Houston for a press conference for the Wings Over Houston Airshow, where I was being honored as the 2012 recipient for the Lloyd P. Nolen Lifetime Achievement Award.\u00a0 I made it a point to reconnect with the agent selling the airplane and we drove down to see it.\u00a0 It had not flown in seven years and\u00a0needed work. \u00a0The engines and props had been overhauled but were off the plane. \u00a0The economy had since tanked and had been in recession for several years.<\/p>\n

Another overseas party was in the process of making an offer with the intent of taking the airplane overseas as an investment. \u00a0Probably for good.\u00a0 None of us wanted to see that and, within a month, I found a way to come up with an offer that made sense for both of us. \u00a0We cut a deal.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t believe it.\u00a0 Whether anyone believes that Howard helped me acquire the plane or not . . . one thing was for certain . . . I was now the proud owner of his Sikorsky!<\/p>\n

Proud New Owner!<\/p><\/div>\n

Last January (2013), with several of my aircraft guys in tow, we visited the airplane in Houston with the intent to see what it was going to take to make the aircraft ferriable for a flight back to Florida. After inspecting it for several hours, we realized we were going to spend a lot of time doing repairs, put the airplane at risk flying it home, only to take it apart once we got there to do it right.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t make sense.\u00a0 I made the decision to take it apart in Houston and truck it home.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested, here\u2019s a link to a Youtube clip we did of our trip \u2013<\/p>\n