Gee Bee Z maiden flight - Delmar Benjamin

Maiden flight of the Gee Bee Z Replica at Leesburg Airport / Florida. Built by Kevin Kimball / Jeff Eicher and flown by Delmar Benjamin.
For more Information: www.jimkimballenterprises.com
The plane now is on Display at Fantasy of Flight / Polk City - Florida

[@PacificAirwave144]

I saw him fly the R2 at three or four airshows in the mid-90's and it was incredible. It was on rails. Rolls, knife-edge, 4-point rolls...it was stunning! Such a twitchy plane but he made it shine!

[@wingbolt]

I spoke with him briefly around 2000 in Farmington, NM, where he had some generator issue and hangared the R2 at our flight school waiting to get it fixed. I ignorantly made the mistake of asking if his big wheel pants were made out of fiberglass. Clearly offended, he coldly responded “there is no fiberglass anywhere on my plane!” I was just a kid in awe of his airplane, but I lost a lot of respect for him after his answer. Obviously, he’s a fantastic pilot, but he really came across as a d I c k. I get it, he probably gets tired of answering stupid questions day after day. Still, I was crushed at the time. I had seen his air show routine twice prior to that and couldn’t stop talking highly of him. The way he interacted with me definitely changed that. I met Bob Hoover once, and he’s just as a good a pilot if not better, and he was very nice and humble.

[@robertberry3749]

I meet Delmar Benjamin in a flying by Bakersfield Ca.. I flew my Duane Cole clipped wing from Modesto Ca. just to watch him fly. Saw him in Watsonville Ca. and in Oshkosh....He hast to be one of the best pilots I have ever seen fly, and I have seen many great pilots....I asked him about the construction of his Gee Bee knowing that only one man flew this plane and survived. I think he was insulted that I would even ask, which is not what I ever wanted to do. Soon he realized I greatly respected him and we were Okay....What a pilot.... Robert Berry

[@Aware_of_myshelf]

Thanks for signing out your comment as “Robert Berry.” Otherwise, I wouldn’t have know who the hell you were. Have a great day. Matt H

[@flyinhawaiian5848]

Interviewer..."You been working on this in your head?" Delmar.."No, I've been kinda busy so, we'll just get in and go...it's a Gee Bee so, it should work out." Love his confidence! I believe Delmar accumulated over 1,500 hours in his own R2 model before it was retired in 2002.

[@benr7774]

Yep, at the ‘Fantasy of Flight’

[@ckelley63]

Planes of that era just oozed character!

[@flymachine]

Im a big fan of Delmar and aviators like him of course but I think the real heroes of the GeeBee replicas are the respective builders. As a builder myself I recognise the almost unfathomable achievement in building the racers so faithfully and getting such perfect results. I know this all happened some time ago but it is no less remarkable. Well done to all involved

[@craigpennington1251]

Very cool plane for sure. Mr. Kimball did an outstanding build on this aircraft. And what I did see, looks to be a great flyer.

[@bluarcher5941]

I expect Delmar has logged more hours in a GB than anyone on the planet, including Jimmy Dolittle. I'd like to know what he thinks of those opening minutes of "The Rocketeer"...he must smile and imagine what it was like back then when he watches it.

[@ecstrat100]

Left out the best part when Delmar turned off the engine and said "Where can I get some gas".

[@hannes_lutzenberger]

You are talking about the maiden of the Gee Bee R2

[@ckelley63]

Damn that crosswind!

[@P51]

"it's a GEE BEE, It should work out"

[@pumatraca]

3:57 , Delmar "what the stall speed is going to be? 82, 80, 88?.. Finally it was 75!

[@jerryfraker377]

That is Cool!!

[@ervinthompson6598]

There’s a plane behind that engine somewhere.........!!!!

[@Sky_Burger88]

What is Delmar Benjamin flying these days?

[@robertlafnear4865]

Is this the one in Kermit Weeks hanger Nice Plane !

[@mainananakmobilakipedalpla6623]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@wntu4]

Kermit Weeks plane, yes?

[@sblack48]

Tailwheel is too big! It must be at least 2" diameter!

[@BigWheelHawaii]

Delmar Benjamin,,, This Man Is So "Naturally Talented",,, Not Only That,,, He's About As Cool, As "Clint Eastwood,,, Elvis,,, and "The Fonzarelli",,, All Wrapped Up In One... I Mean He's The Epitome of COOL,,, "The "Cool Hand Luke" of The Sky",,, Or "The Cool Hand Luke of Aviation,,, He Never Received The Accolades He Deserved,,, But He Was Smart Enough To Marry That Beautiful Girl... She Put Up With "Hell" Over "Del's" "GeeBee" Career,,,

[@sblack48]

Don’t think he is married to her anymore

[@Aware_of_myshelf]

Hey brother, could you add a few more commas and quotations in this comment for me? Thanks.

[@andresgarcia7757]

Is this Kermit’s airplane now?

[@hannes_lutzenberger]

Yes

[@RichardGee9]

Bitchin!

[@mainananakmobilakipedalpla6623]

Pedalplane indonesian

[@TheJasonsvideos]

So keep her straight, keep her level. It's your first time up, so don't do anything interesting.

[@terrymarkowski8762]

the whole vid seems to be about the posers rather than the aircraft

[@rob379lqz]

I don’t care what they say, I grew up with the Bee Gees, and always “got-down” at the Disco-Tech. 🕺🪩🕺