Boeing B-17 - Suzie Q - Part 1 - Work Trip to Pick Up Plane

OK, Gang, here’s a GREAT flash from the past video we put together from some very old early VHS tapes. In Part 1 of 3 here, we began the process of preparing to fly our Boeing B-17 home from the Flying Tigers Museum in Paris, Texas, which I purchased from Jr. Burchinal back in 1985!
The Weeks Air Museum wasn’t even open yet, and in this video, I was only 32 years old at the time. The airplane hadn’t flown in years, and in Part 1, we arrive to check everything out in anticipation of flying out of the dirt airstrip it was on and over to the public airport on the other side of town. As you will see, we dealt with a few “issues” along the way!
The last two days before we flew the B-17 out of the Flying Tigers Museum on the morning of May 6th, the Moon was FULL! Decades later, a full moon became a sign that “my Friends” were looking down on me!
I have to admit, I’ve had a pretty cool life! Welcome to my World!
Kermit Weeks
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Kermit Weeks

[@timhiltonsuperstar]

You are a true inspiration to the young people of today ❤️

[@1hornet1]

Man, I really liked this too!

[@aerykhurley8236]

I love how you casually mention "at some point in here, i went out and got a B17 rating" Kermit Weeks, cause even superman needs a hero.

[@toddzdunkiewicz8677]

Looking forward for part 2

[@williamcruz1665]

Me. Weeks, excellent video regardless of the age. Your contributions to aviation are second to none. Keep up the good work. When are you going to put the pilot back on top of the C-47 on I-4 lol.

[@klupeeteable]

we had a fatal accident in Holland with a DC3 dakota .. it also did not want to feather !! They openend de engine and it was ceast ., Turned out that the feather check was not in the cockpit list !! I hope you now do that check if you going to fly a old beast like this ! ???

[@zetecrv10]

Great video Kermit. I live in England. I live two miles from WW2 aaf station 106 where the first and last bombs were dropped on Germany by the Eighth Airforce. I love the B17. I am an aircraft engine engineer. I came to the fantasy of flight about twenty years ago and met you. You had great enthusiasm for warbirds. Keep up the great work you do. Hope to meet you again sometime.

[@kbjerke]

I'm glad you're "rescuing" these old videos, Kermit!! And best wishes to you!

[@SCCIT-jq6jh]

And planes!.

[@kbjerke]

@@SCCIT-jq6jh Actually, that is understood...

[@daveholekamp1069]

Absolutely great memories. I flew that plane some years before when it was the "Balls of Fire". Worked there for a summer. Got to fly most everything that was flyable at the time. Was Curtis Vorhees still around? PT-17, AT-6, T-28, C-310, B-25, A-26, B-17, P-51. Life was real good that summer. I heard about the 17 going for a solo during the hurricane. Meant to get over to your place over the years, but just never made it. I was with SWA based in MCO - Commuted in. Take Care and Be Well - Best of wishes for all your projects.

[@KermitWeeks444]

Thanks for the comment. Great memories.

[@Grossman2868]

This kind of reminds me of Martin Caidin's book, "Everything But The Flak" where they dragged three B 17's out of an Arizona boneyard and repaired them to fly to England for Steve McQueen's movie "The War Lover. Good book if you can find a copy of it.

[@johnson11b]

I ordered a copy of it on Amazon for my dad last year. Really expensive though and really worn out

[@willamcombs1106]

I remember reading that book in my younger days. I recall a part where someone had taken the caps off the ferry tanks when they were in Europe and it was almost a disaster on take off but they caught it at the last minute

[@jimselzle3782]

In 1977 I got some stick time with Jr. Birchinal in Paris Texas in a few of his aircraft. I was a newly minted private pilot at the time but wanted some experience in warbirds (ya I was single at the time). I flew in a Stearman (cost $25), a T-6 Texan (cost $50) and a T-33 (cost $200). I wanted to fly in the B-17 but it had some maintenance issues and wasn’t flying at the time. The T-33 he flew out of the municipal airport with its concrete runway. The others he flew out from his grass strip. I remember his operation to be somewhat of a ‘shady’ looking operation but I didn’t care, I just wanted to fly in cool airplanes, and I did!

[@flyingfortressrc1794]

This was the first B-17 I saw in person with my Dad in Tucson in 79 or 80 at the DMAFB airshow when I was 9 or 10 years old. I smiled the entire time I was watching this video and can't wait to see the other two. Thanks for posting this Kermit. This B-17 started my love affair with the 17 since Dad flew on one in WWII. Now I pretty much eat and sleep B-17's. Lol

[@bammab977]

I always begged dad to stop there on the way to visit grandma. Driving down the highway and a B-17 or B-25would roar by 50 ft over your head. Few times dad stopped, Junior Burchinald let me climb all over the planes.

[@jollyroger1009]

Wow, wasn't expecting that it would fly when I started watching.

[@mattharte7334]

This is pure gold it must have been one hell of an adventure and I am looking forward to seeing the other videos. I remember watching one of your videos ages ago about the hurricane damage to your museum in Miami, and you said a B-17 got picked up in the wind and dumped a considerable distance away and hope it was not this aircraft. It must be great to look back at all these old videos and I bet it only feels like 5 minutes ago!

[@MarkInArizona]

Not only are you a true aviation enthusiast -- but you also fully understand about documenting history (and during your ownership). Thank you for expending the people resources to document as you have over the decades. I can't wait to see what #2 and #3 videos bring upcoming. Thanks!

[@FuriousMess]

very cool Kermit, thanks for sharing!

[@artd.]

I remember going to Jr's in the early 1980's and looking at all that he had. He had a Church in a hanger! He was quite a Man and had a good collection of A/C P-51, F4U, B25, T-33 and the B-17 and several more.... Great video Mr. Kermit🙃

[@tonydeaton1967]

It is a wonder how these warbirds carry the mystique that they do. Something magical about them. I first saw a B-17 fire up at about seven years old and have been mesmerized by them ever since.

[@vehdynam]

Now that is a great story ! I am looking forward to the other videos. Thanks.

[@troymolitor7766]

Love it. Enjoying this video. Working a little bit on some commercial Boeing’s. kind regards from Kaunas Lithuania. . Troy

[@ManleyArts]

I can only imagine the excitement you must have felt cranking that bird back to life and getting her up for the first time. Wow! What an adventure :)

[@mycroft1905]

Very interesting. Good airmanship to check for forced landing grounds. TFP

[@deanehill9730]

Exciting, bring on part two. Thanks for the video.

[@jollyroger1009]

May 1 1985: I was guessing 1988 sometime if Kermit was 32. Close.

[@Havanorange]

About those wheels, tires and mud... When I was a boy 1970's and before, old surplus aviation wheels like those on the B-17 or larger were put onto old lifted truck chassis as 'swamp buggies' for driving through some elevated but still quite muddy off road areas of the Everglades. Those big wide wheels and tires didn't sink as much into mud or make deep ruts like tractor wheels would. They more floated rather than sank in, for the most part. You'd have to take care not to get into deep mud, of course. Hopefully that's somehow relevant to the discussion of this video.

[@midwayis]

Would like to buy a 'fantasy of flight' shirt. Are they available? The same type you wear in your videos

[@KermitWeeks444]

Not this shirt, but there are some others on the website. store.kermitweeks.com/?page_id=89

[@randyluginbuhl9085]

Love this…my friend and I flew in there shortly before you purchased Susie Q and I remember Junior was offering seat time in her for $500 for 15 minutes! I just remember at the time how rutted the dirt strip was for our Cessna 150! Quite the cool place!

[@ak-northman726]

What a great story, the history of the history.

[@philip8624]

This is awesome Kermie..thanks!

[@Havanorange]

I suppose this is the same impressive B-17 airplane that I had a chance to see at your air museum at Tamiami some time before hurricane Andrew. I remember like it wasn't so long ago. The door was open and eventually I wanted to look inside. I didn't go in but did a pull up and had a quick look. I do remember it being very hot and mostly dark inside. I couldn't see much. I guess I was impressed though, since I remember 30 years later! Thanks.

[@quantumac]

I remember the old video standard. NTSC = "Never Twice the Same Color."

[@TheIronbark]

Man you post the coolest video's ever Kermit. I hope you wake up every morning and pinch yourself because this is only a dream for most of us

[@johnschultz9947]

Thank you very much. I was glued to the screen. It reminded me so much of what Martin Cardin and Steve Birdsall wrote about when three B-17s were rounded up, restored to flying condition and flown to England to film The War Lover. This is like a home movie and I almost feel like I was there. Again, I am grateful for all you share and I can’t wait for part two.

[@brianrhodes9366]

Love all your videos, but this one might be my favorite so far, looking forward to the other 2. Thanks Mr. Weeks!!!

[@chrissakal532]

You wouldn't recognize Flying Tigers Airfield now! It's still there and owned by Jr. Burchinal's son. There's a nice, modern hangar with the WWII Flying Tigers emblem on it. There was an AF-2S Guardian there, but I don't know if it's still there.

[@dntower85]

Thanks Kermit, that brought back some fond memories of the Flying Tigers Museum, on many trips to visit my Aunt in Paris Tx when I was around 3 to 5 years old back in the late sixties, my mom would wake me up just before we got there so I could see it as we passed. I can remember it looking just like the old black and white photo. A few times we would stop at the little gas station next to the field and would walk up to the fence. Hope your museum is creating the same spark in others.

[@johnandruch5585]

Kermit, are you at Osh? Standing by the great waldo pepper.

[@tf51d]

Was that the B-17 you used for the walking tour of WWII aviation history in Fantasy of Flight Phase 1 (Now closed)?

[@davelewandoski4292]

Suzy Q is in storage IIRC, it is Kermit's OTHER (how many people can say THAT!) B-17 that you can walk thru.

[@richtaylor2129]

Gutted she got damaged in Hurricane Andrew along with many of your collection. At least she is now safe & hopefully one day she can fly again

[@thomasdameron4095]

Crazy to think when you guys were doing that the war had only been 40 years ago...

[@lifeindetale]

Clearing em out!! Cool video of a video. Must say what well-built machines.

[@chrisgreasamar1731]

Yes finally! Love the channel and all of the aircraft, but have been waiting for years to see B 17 content.

[@bobadams179]

1985 seems like yesterday. Not almost 40 years ago.

[@allenmj5409]

Amazing Kermit, we need more people like you.

[@hadleymanmusic]

I saw the Arup S-4 when I was about 10 years old. I would luv to homtbuild that type but the man that owned it said he wouldnt make one out of wood.

[@danthefrst]

This was just very enjoyable! Great format Kermit. Listen to the stories attatched to the events is just so nice! You could very vell redo some of your old published yt-vids with you talkin about the whats, the whos and whens. Great Thanks for what you do Kermit. May the air be steady under your wings.

[@kittonsmitton]

Great memories Kermit, I hope all is well with you and the crew.

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for posting. A wonderful adventure

[@dnbeckmann]

This was a lot of fun; anything about the B-17 is interesting. Thanks!

[@Sybok51288]

1985 were better days (and I wasn't even born yet!)

[@billdennis2993]

Thx Kermit for an informative and entertaining video.

[@charlesferebee263]

OUTSTANDING 🇺🇸

[@sledgehammerk35]

What an awesome home movie! Thx for sharing it with us!

[@benjaminbuchanan7151]

Man when you went to get that thing in 1985 the men who flew them in the war were still probably in their 60s. That blows my mind.

[@bbrut3332]

Thanks for the history lesson Kermit.

[@dyer2cycle]

..I find it amazing how these old VHS camcorders from the 1980's show the propellers spinning fairly normally when running, not stopping, fluttering, spinning backward, etc. like they do with a lot of modern cameras...apparently they didn't have the "frame rate", or whatever it is, problems like the newer ones...

[@bobbreit5244]

What an adventure! How cool. Dad was a B-17 pilot.

[@aerovin]

Great to see the old footage of this B-17G. A brief history: USAF service as a drone controller DB-17P, then to storage at Davis-Monthan from 1959 to 1967. Leased by the USAF to Tallmantz Aviation for movie work and was used in “1000 Plane Raid” in January 1968. Did not fly much after that with Tallmantz. Tallmantz got the “Pink slip” from the USAF in a trade, and then Frank Tallman sold it to Burchinal in 1972. Burchinal used it for training and it had a brief appearance in the film “MacArthur.” Mostly was parked at Paris, Texas, until Mr. Weeks rescued it. I had the opportunity to speak with both Mr. Weeks and Mr. Burchinal in 1989 about their experiences with this B-17. (By the way….it was not used in the TV series “12 O’Clock High;” it was in desert storage at DMA through late 1967 and that series ended filming in late 1966. The B-17 used in that was 44-83684. The one featured here is 44-83525 (N83525). Mr. Weeks also has the static B-17G 44-83542 that was in the Fantasy of Flight museum…somewhat incomplete with the outboard right wing removed due to the museum layout.

[@ednesbit2988]

So great to see you back on I thought you closed shop I'm wondering about yourA-26 in Chino I live in palm springs area it's a beast of a bird love your videos great to see you again

[@KermitWeeks444]

A-26 coming soon

[@ednesbit2988]

@@KermitWeeks444 Fantastic I can't wait my uncle was a tail Gunner on a B-17 as a kid it's was my favorite bomber I listened to all his stories as I got older I fell in love with the A -26 after watching ww2 movies I can't wait it's going to be like new it's so beautiful thank you sir for all dedication to these warbirds I'm 66 now and I feel I history is being lost!!!!!

[@tankbootone]

Great stuff Kermit 👏 I probably paid more for my today's 172 than that B-17..lol how times have changed.

[@doneB830]

I loved this thanks Kermit.

[@mileagemaker9925]

Can't wait for part 2&3! I was fortunate enough to take a flight in the Yankee Lady a few years ago. What an awesome plane! Can't imagine what those boys went through flying over the English channel heading to Germany and seeing the first burst of flak ! They were all true heroes 👍👍👏👏. Love all your videos and hope you keep them coming. Stay safe and God bless 👍👍

[@daveseddon5227]

Thanks for a very interesting video and commentary. 25 minutes and 44 seconds well spent! 🙂

[@randalbloomquist7812]

Thanks Kermit! Love it!

[@G_Money72]

Great chunk of history.

[@noyfub]

f4Back in the 70's Junior was running a warbird school, You could get checked out in the Stearman, T-6, P-51, F-4F, Corsair, B-25 and B-17. I went up there one Sunday afternoon and got a half hour ride in his P-51 for fifty bucks. That was the most amazing flight I have ever been on. He could really fly that airplane.

[@secondthought2320]

Is there a vintage plane that Kermit doesn't own? Check out his Mosquito.

[@jerrywatt6813]

Love the b17 i donated my time to work on the sentimental journey after it had a little smash up at burbank airport years ago what fun cheers

[@seanquigley3605]

Yankee Lady had working turbos at least until the hanger fire. The electrical crew at the museum had found a few boxes of Tubes that were NOS. So they installed them and ran them.

[@lynnpreuninger5050]

Mr Weeks, I have pictures of this museum and your B17 made around 1981. Love your museum and your videos.

[@mp6756]

Such a cool video it makes me as myself what was I doing in 1985. Looking forward to 2&3. Thanks for sharing the stories of your journey. It is real history seeing these birds fly without your effort some would have certainly ended up as scrap. Thanks

[@P51]

What an AMAZING series this is going to be! good gooooood GOOOD!

[@carltodd1486]

I understand that the B 17 is a pleasure to fly. I wonder what it was like when fully loaded - probably over loaded- for combat operations. I understand that the B 24 fully loaded for a mission was exhausting to flying - lots of muscle required.

[@richardlahan7068]

Wow. I was 17 when this was shot.

[@superseven7947]

Wow... 1985!! just 40 years after the end of ww2!! Seems incredible now. What a great record to have

[@davedennis6042]

I can never help but have the deepest reverence for these birds. I think of the thousands of untold stories of bravery in the men of steel that crewed these things. When there is one at an airshow, I'm almost brought to tears just walking around them. Read "The B-17: The Flying Forts" by Martin Caidin and then you will understand. Kermit, I think you would have made a good 17 pilot.

[@Gamble661]

Great video, great airplane. I've had the pleasure of sitting in one but never flying in one. The cockpit struck me as terribly exposed when I considered that the pilots were sometimes being shot at! I've heard that it's a joy to fly. Closest I've ever come is a couple hundred hours in a DC-3 years ago.... Keep the videos coming, Fantasy of Flight is my happy place but since I live in New England I don't get there as much as I'd like!

[@dukeallen432]

Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant. Thanks for allowing us to experience.

[@craigpennington1251]

Great stuff Kermit. Thanks so much for showing your old video adventures and for saving the aircraft themselves which is so much a part of our country's history. Best wishes for good health for your endeavors.

[@noonehere1793]

Great video….keep’em flyin well done!👍👍

[@calsurflance5598]

Kermit, thanks for bringing out these old films. It helps to show how much work is involved just pulling the piece of history out of the bushes. Hope to visit your museum someday!✈️

[@johndavey72]

Hi Kermit. This is like a boys own adventure ! What a thrill ! But you were fortunate to not lose the aircraft . I think your calm nature had a lot to do with the happy ending . Many pilots would have panicked and maybe lost the aircraft . Great stuff ! Roll on part deux ! 😁 Thankyou Kermit .

[@OlesonMD]

This is so cool! I live in Denton, just north of DFW and not far from Paris. I flew my C-172 there many times. There was a fleet of planes parked there at that time. In addition to the B-17, there was a P-51, B-25, Douglas Skyraider, F-86, plus a number of engines (Packard Merlin) scattered about the property. At one time you could get dual instruction in any of these planes. Thanks for posting! Brings back many memories.

[@3ducs]

Very ambitious to take an old war bird like that up after having sat so long. I'm looking forward to the continuation series!

[@donclark8673]

Totally totally awesome it's like going back in time that plane on some of the shots look like it was in the Memphis Belle war movie great job Time for some rum you deserve it

[@ianallen1948]

What a brilliant story!

[@Chuck_Carolina]

Kermit, you are an amazing man who has lived the life of every child who never flew a plane but remember the old war birds like firefly's.

[@goatflieg]

This brings back so many different memories for me. I remember learning of Junior Burchinal's warbird training facility in the '70s and reading Budd Davisson's accounts of getting checked out in the B-25, P-38, Mustang and Bearcat. When I spent a week with Budd in 2018 training in his Pitts, we talked a lot about his experiences there. Some pretty wild stuff; I wished I could have experienced it. Seeing your AT-11 in action brought back memories of crewing with Taigh Ramey in his SNB-1 when we flew to the last Madera Gathering of Warbirds in 1994. I rode in the glass nose on the way there and the fully operational dorsal turret on the way home. We got to fly in formation with the CAF Heinkel (CASA 2.111) and I got some great photos. It also reminds me of my three B-17 rides: Nine O Nine, Aluminum Overcast and Yankee Lady. Thanks for sharing your own memories of those exceptional times.

[@KermitWeeks444]

Great. Thanks for sharing too

[@davelewandoski4292]

Thanks Kermit, this is great! When I grow up I want to be you!

[@dirkkelly9596]

Thanks that was so cool seeing the older footage and a glimpse of the effort and determination to keep these plans in the air, can almost smell the mud gas and burning oil. And feel the slippery squishy footing. but mostly the excitement on seeing her lifting off and climbing for the clouds 👍👍👍

[@joeluebbers5474]

Pretty cool stuff, nice seeing the old videos. Hard to believe the plane is double the age since the video.

[@willbrighton183]

Thanks for sharing, I hope you'll do one on the B-29 too.

[@scottamcfarland]

Thanks for sharing

[@nealrcn]

Im all smiles thanks

[@benjigault9043]

What a great story and narration. Even the comments are full of legends. Awesome video sir!

[@bondisteve3617]

Giant! Thanks.

[@frankdillon6127]

great video,Kermit. years ago i saw a video that i have looked for but cant find. there was a guy in Texas that had 5 Folke-Wolf 190s most in very poor condition from Sweden. the deal was to get the parts from Sweden and make one static display to send back to Sweden and he could keep the other 4 planes for compensation. but the interesting part was the Texas guy located the German pilot of the crashed 190 from WW2 and went to Germany to see him after some persuasion the old German man agreed to fly to Texas for a touching reunion with the rebuilt 190 he bailed from in 1944. anyway wish i could find that old video, maybe this is the same airport just cant remember.

[@KermitWeeks444]

Might be. Not sure

[@robh4671]

Fascinating Sir Kermit, thanks for posting👍

[@billbraun6846]

I love your smile at the end. It sure conveys the love you have for aviation.