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Relive history with the death-defying heroic pilots and crew of the legendary B-17 Flying Fortress and their fighter escorts on October 17 and 18 at Fantasy of Flight.
At 25,000 feet above the earth and 45 degrees below zero, 10 young men, far from home, would fly in her belly across a continent to carry out one of the most bold and dangerous strategies of any war: daylight bombing of the enemy.
They stood a 1 in 4 chance of never seeing home again...
Yet they did it... over and over again... until the job was done.
They would never ever forget it. And they will never be forgotten.
In their own words: "She'll not only get you to your target and do the job, but she'll fight her way out, take terrific punishment, and get you home safely." "Those were great days, though. We lived only one day at a time, of course. We didn't know whether you were going to live tomorrow or not. We flew constantly."
Fantasy of Flight is honored to welcome an extraordinary group of real heroes who will share memories and lore of their daring days with the Flying Fortress. Panelists scheduled to appear include Gilbert Belair, Rudy Froeschle, Richard Morris, Patrick O'Keef, William H. Rich, Paul Roberts, and Linwood Smith.
The symposium features open-forum/question-and-answer sessions and is free with the price of general admission and for Annual Pass holders. Click here for scheduled times.
| Feel The Rumble?
Hear the Roar?
It's almost time to...
Get Your Speed On
At the 3rd Annual Roar 'n Soar
November 7 & 8 
Experience high-energy excitement at the third annual gathering of classic racing machines at Fantasy of Flight. Thrills from Land, Sea, and Air combine with awesome food, entertainment, and the world's greatest aviation attraction for an outing that every member of the family will enjoy!
Fantasy of Flight's two-day, signature event boasts an All-American themed, family-friendly celebration. An air show! A classic car show! A boat regatta! A stunning display of extreme sports! All this rounded out with food, entertainment, and a weekend of family activities.
Event admission includes entry to the Fantasy of Flight attraction and exhibits. More information and details for event participants are available at www.roar-n-soar.com. | | Kermit and Gee Bee Zee
Zoom at the Reno Air Races
Kermit smiles as one race fan purchases ten copies of All of Life is a School for friends and family.
Fantasy of Flight founder and creator Kermit Weeks and his pal Gee Bee Zee, energetic hero of the children's book All of Life is a School , received another enthusiastic reception at the recent Reno Air Races in September. Aviation buffs of all ages lined up to buy the book and were thrilled to have it autographed by the author. Altogether over 550 books were sold at the race's three gift shops. On Sunday, the big race day, he signed a new personal record of 160 books!
Kermit reports that he is getting requests for the next installment of the little racing plane's adventures. Everyone's eager to learn what Gee Bee Zee and his airplane pals will be up to next!
To keep up with Kermit's adventures, check out his blog and guest column mentioned below. | | Kermit Weeks in Plane&Pilot As the guest columnist in the current edition of Plane&Pilot, Kermit shares many unique insights and observations he has gained on his journey: "Reflection on Inner & Outer Flight." |
Wet! Wild! Wonderful!
A New Tradition for Fantasy of Flight
Photo Credit: Marc M. Ellis / H2OPictures
Seaplanes, skydivers, a "fly-in" movie, picnicking, barbecue, exhibitions, exhilaration! A fun-filled weekend was had by all. Check out these great photos.
| | Fantasy of Flight Receives Prestigious Tourism Award
On September 21, the Central Florida Development Council awarded Fantasy of Flight the 2009 Dick Pope Sr. Tourism Award in recognition of "Outstanding Tourism, Marketing Efforts, and Customer Service to help enhance the county's tourism industry, related business, and quality of life." Fantasy of Flight founder and owner Kermit Weeks accepted the award, commenting, "I'm so honored to receive this award and this is just unbelievable. Keep an eye on us because we are doing some great things."
To learn more, check out the News Chief's coverage. | | Fantasy of Flight is thrilled to be hosting the Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP) 2009 World Cup, Oct. 7 - 11, 2009. With 250 acres, our Central Florida grounds are uniquely situated to host a variety of outdoor events including extreme sport competitions. Next week, nearly 300 paintball teams from around the world will converge at Fantasy of Flight for the tournament. The paintball tournament is open free to the public for spectators. Visit www.pspevents.com for more details! | | | | | | A wide variety of military collectible memorabilia dating from the Civil War to the Vietnam conflict will feature antiques and memorabilia in Fantasy of Flight's Orlampa Conference Center on October 17 and 18. Enjoy both the the B-17 symposium and Military Collectors Show as part of general admission. Click here for times and details. | Help Support Local Food Banks Fantasy of Flight is pleased to offer visitors who donate non-perishable food items $8 off full-priced admission (adult or child) for each donation, Oct. 1 - 31, 2009, including special events. The month-long food drive will benefit the Agape Food Bank in Lakeland and The Mission in Winter Haven.
Click here to learn how you can help - and save. | | Take A Spine-tingling Walk through the Spooky Side of Fantasy of Flight
If the following tidbits inspire your curiosity, the "Haunted Hangar Storytelling Tour" may be the otherworldly brew you crave... In the 22nd hour of Lindbergh's celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic, he found himself sharing the small space of The Spirit of St. Louis with a host of phantom companions. Did these spectral passengers have a role in his success? Have other pilots ever encountered similar "helpers"? 
A lone World War II pilot defending the shores of Britain gave chase to a mysterious and decidedly unfriendly aircraft that led the Brit across the Channel and into enemy-occupied Europe. Had the young pilot encountered the ghost ship of the long-dead "ace of aces" of the last Great War, the legendary "Red Knight"?
The Haunted Hangar Storytelling Tour is offered daily at 1 p.m. throughout the month of October. (Tour schedule subject to change.)Free with general admission and for all annual pass holders. | | Ghost Hunters Investigate Fantasy of Flight | | 
Apollo Paranormal Investigations | Equipped with night-vision recording devices, electro-magnetic field detectors, and specialized investigative techniques, the ghost hunters of Apollo Paranormal Investigations uncovered plenty of unexplained phenomenon, orbs, and energies. Enough to warrant further investigation. But how could a relatively new facility be so paranormally active? The general opinion is the energies are attached to the aircraft.
We'll keep you updated on future developments. | | Biplane Rides Return
Biplane enthusiasts rejoice! Waldo Wright's Flying Service has returned from their summer hiatus.
Look to the skies after October 6, to see the inspiring sight of the New Standard or the wonderful newly-restored Stearman. Why aren't you aboard?
Click here to learn about ride opportunities. | | Annual Passes Still on the fence about purchasing an Annual Pass to Fantasy of Flight?
Now is the time to sign up!
In addition to unlimited entry to the attraction, Annual Pass holders receive access to special events, including the "Fearless Men of the B-17 Flying Fortress" Living History Symposium, Military Collectors Show, Haunted Hangar Walking Tour and Roar n' Soar - all set for this fall. Click here for details about the Fantasy of Flight Annual Pass program. | | Connect with Fantasy of Flight: |  
 
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