Fieseler Storch Lands at San Diego Zoo - World War II Through Russian Eyes - Part 1

Ok gang, here’s a look back to when I landed my Fieseler Storch in the San Diego Zoo parking lot, to promote a traveling exhibit I sponsored called, “World War II Through Russian Eyes.” The exhibit was at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, and featured many never before seen artifacts, photos, and documents from the Second World War. Truly fascinating objects and history. Part 1 features the Storch landing. Part 2, covering the exhibit itself, will follow next week. Enjoy!
Kermit Weeks
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Kermit Weeks

[@abundantYOUniverse]

I remember the day you took that waitress for a ride in the Storch because it was her birthday. She was beaming when she got back! Thanks for the memories Kermit.

[@fiftycal7947]

The wife, daughter and me were at Fantasy of Flight in June 2010 and it was the Fiesler Storch aircraft that did a air display on the day we visited . Fantastic aircraft.😃👍🏻

[@MrJames_1]

Me too! but 2013 visiting from Australia :)

[@Justwantahover]

So big for a small plane. Hobbyist build 3/4 scale ULs of the Stotch and it's still big.

[@Justwantahover]

You could overtake a Storch with a bicycle, that would make a viral video. Daily Dose would pinch that too.

[@guytansbariva2295]

Kermit is younger, but still the cool ass pilot/ambassador to the air/entrepreneur you've always been my friend! 😎

[@blueboats7530]

We're going to siphon some avgas from jerry cans, so if we could have a couple of guys with fire extinguishers . . . Fire Dept. sends a Battalion

[@V-Mann]

My grandfather also flew a Fieseler Storch. Very nice! Greetings from Germany.

[@stevenicoson6670]

Thanks for another great video Kermit. It was interesting and enjoyable for sure. Kermit you did a great job of landing in the zoo parking lot. You just dropped it so easy and within a few feet you were landed. Fantastic job Kermit. You are something else behind the stick. That aircraft is so slow and easy. Great design for sure. You put on a great show for those that came and watched. Outstanding video. Thanks Kermit for including us. Was great. You take care. Looking forward to the next video. Thanks for everything Kermit. God bless you in the Air. Retired Air Force veteran. Steve.

[@KermitWeeks444]

Thanks for the kind comments. Appreciate your viewership!

[@maxstermusic]

Hey Kermit I have to say out of all your planes this is my favourite one! It seems totally practical and even in these hi-tech times I can’t think of a modern plane with the attributes of this one 👍

[@fw1421]

Here it is 2022 and he’s restoring the Messerschmitt Bf108,one of my favorites. The Storch has been a favorite since the 70’s.

[@davelewandoski4292]

Incredible how slow that plane flies! Thanks Kermit.

[@stevenslater2669]

Now, there’s an airplane that wouldn’t get ahead of me!

[@budlistar5312]

Wow, I never knew the wings folded like that. This was way cool. I love low and slow.

[@jimblubaugh9982]

Damn, I live in San Diego and never heard about this. Would have loved to have seen this in person. It's time for you to come back!

[@Justwantahover]

I want to watch a video of a rider on a bicycle overtaking a Storch while the Storch is flying. Should go viral! "Bicycle faster than flying plane", might be a good Title.

[@saabysaabinsky2785]

Love the Storch!

[@adlerarmory8382]

Fieseler Storch and Draco are two of my favorite piston engined aircraft. Bucketlist to fly in either!

[@flybyairplane3528]

FOFANCY, KERMET, the flights over until Landing were fabulious, I dare say NOBODY there ever expected to see how short the landing was HOPING YOU HAVE A FANTACTIC VEIWING, otherwise, a MISSED SHOW LONG LIVE THE STORCH ! Thanks KERMET, CHERIO🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@Moggster23]

Kermit, you should of waited for the wind to pick up and then land backwards. 😉 But seriously, great landing fella, I never get tired of seeing a Storch.

[@chrisw8417]

My relative flew this during the war. Mainly on the eastern front. He was at Stalingrad and Kursk. He’s in the book Wings of War and they even used a picture of Kermit in his Storch to show the AoA it could fly.

[@miketeeveedub5779]

What a fantastic video from a simpler and better time. NO WAY something like this would be allowed today. Thanks for sharing this awesome footage of a historic and invaluable aircraft with us Kermit! Eagerly awaiting Part two and the takeoff I presume?

[@jakecrib9971]

Darn, Kermit, excellent landing !

[@TheMissendenFlyer]

Great vid - loved that Kermit - thanks for sharing!

[@artd.]

What an amazing Approach and Landing! Well planed and executed....Great Video Mr. Kermit......😊

[@aleksvento]

Благодарю за видео! Теперь мой любимый самолёт! Буду заказывать реплику. В России есть мастер знакомый. У него чертежи есть. Чистого неба Кермит!❤

[@richtaylor2129]

Saw a Storch fly at Duxford. It amazes me how slow it can fly & how little space is needed sometimes for it to land!!

[@4xoverland]

This is my definition of 'cool'.

[@laramiemoreau4802]

Kermit, That vidio of that earoplane is just ausome! In so fare as STOL aircraft were concerened, the Germans had the alies so out-classed it ain't funny! Thanks for this vidio! Laramie.

[@ronaldjennings8057]

👍👍👍👍👍🛩 cool you are so young then where's the good days take care Kermit thanks for the video🙏

[@guytansbariva2295]

So young, but still the cool ass pilot/ambassador to the air/entrepreneur Kermit!!

[@madmoses7830]

Kermit... you've done a few things in your life. 👍

[@adlerarmory8382]

Operation Oak (Unternehmen Eiche) the Mussolini Rescue by the Luftwaffe Fallschirm-Lehr Battalion, planned by Major Mors was almost jeopardized by Capt Skorzeny impulsively jumping in the Storch with Mussolini. Skorzeny was 6'4" tall 240lbs, it was an unnecessary risk but paid off politically for Skorzeny. I would love to see Mr Weeks reenact the Gran Sasso landing on Pikes Peak (maybe publicity for the annual Pikes Peak Hill Climb auto races?)

[@markdraskovics1962]

HEY, MR WEEKS WOW That was such A Long time ago I didn't realize how long you have owned that aircraft That was 1999 so 23 years ago now boy you look so much younger then but I guess we all did Ok take care stay safe and will see you on the next video

[@potrzebieneuman4702]

Kermit makes it all look so easy...I saw one of these in the UK in the early 80s at an airshow and it literally stood still in the air facing into a strong wind down the strip, really impressive.

[@federicomolina6745]

Nice to see the Storch doing its thing!

[@horatiohornblower868]

This is probably the most elegant war bird the Germans built.

[@elosogonzalez8739]

I had a ride in a Storch as a teenager. Such a fun airplane. I know it'll be a big hit in the museum. Might have to come over from Phoenix to see the exibit. Haven't been to the museum in decades, it would be wonderful to see it once again.

[@typxxilps]

That Fieseler was the back bone of the german africa corps and the tool number 1 for Fieldmarshall Rommel to get a clue what is going on. And he was famous too getting to the first lines with his Fieseler to decide on side.

[@bigun447]

This year's exhibit, "How to start WWIII thru Russian eyes."

[@karlharrison2449]

What a great plane and a fantastic landing.

[@henrykuhn5096]

Kermit, great video and story. I'm a WWII history buff and this gives me more information.

[@vehdynam]

Great to see, many thanks

[@FINNIUSORION]

back when we weren't worried about everyone's feeling's being hurt by accurate tail markings. rc kits don't even come with them anymore. I've had to get all the printer and everything to make my own.

[@longtimepittsowner5589]

I was going to fly with Gerry Younger who was up in his Pitts with a German WW II fighter pilot. After they landed I spoke to the German and asked him what was his favorite plane of all the ones he flew? He said the Fiesler Storch I had never heard of that at that time. He said it was a great airplane. I was expecting a totally different answer….

[@sotecluxan4221]

Great!

[@darkredvan]

What an incredible adventure. You set her down very softly. Well done!

[@dr.dookkeneji6201]

ได้ยินเสียง Fieseler Storch เสียงของเขาเป็นเอกลักษณ์ของเขาเองเลย แม้เสียงไม่หวานเหมือน Berdog L - 19 ของอเมริกา แต่เขาก็ต่างเกิดมาในยุคสงครามเช่นกัน ผมไม่รังเกลียดเขาเลยที่มีเครื่องหมายของนาซี เขาควรได้อยู่ในเครื่องแบบของเขาอย่างนั้นตลอดไป ที่เกิดมารับใช้กองทัพ แต่ผมทึ่งใน งานวิศวกรรม อากาศยานบินเบาของเยอรมันในยุคนั้น เขาออกแบบสร้างได้ดี การร่อนบินในระยะทางสั้นๆที่ ขึ้น-ลง ดีมาก มีเครื่องบินรบในเวลานั้น ทั้งสองฝ่ายสงครามที่ยังเหลือรอดมาได้ให้เราได้เห็น เรียนรู้ ผมก็ยินดีด้วยสำหรับผู้ที่ได้ครอบครองบำรุงรักษาไว้ให้ได้ดู เพราะเขาเหล่านั้นก็คือ อากาศยานในหน้าหนึ่งของโลกทุกลำ ที่ควรได้ถูกเก็บรักษาเอาไว้ ที่ดูแล้วสวยงาม และเข้มขรึม ในแบบจักรกลรบ เมื่อก่อนหลายลำ ได้ฟาดฟันกันบนฟ้า และไม่รอดกลับมา แต่หลายลำก็ยังอยู่ และมาออกบินโชว์เป็นเพื่อนกันในงานแอร์โชว์เสมอ ๆ

[@vrosi1963]

Been to the SD air and space many times

[@CWS-me3mv]

Nice short landing. You could enter STOL competitions with it.

[@1320fastback]

As a native San Diegan next time I am at the zoo I will spot where you landed. Also, I remember those police cars! 🤣 Such a cool experience to be able to do that!

[@Pauls-World]

Made my day. Thank you so very much for sharing your passion, you’re the best!

[@Pauls-World]

Hey Mr Weeks, you’re the best!

[@P61guy61]

Thank you for posting

[@leeroyholloway4277]

The tall brunette was sizing ol' Kermit up after that slick landing.

[@KermitWeeks444]

Yeah! Five months later, I proposed to her!

[@leeroyholloway4277]

@@KermitWeeks444 Good on you both ! Thanks for a gracious reply to my silly comment.

[@grateful3801]

👍Great video! Thanks Kermit.

[@markthibault8579]

Great video. Where is this aircraft now? Is it still in flyable condition?

[@KermitWeeks444]

At Fantasy of Flight, and still flyable.

[@michaeltrboyevich7854]

The owner of the Storch was John Shandelmeier . He has a outdoor piece in the Anchorage Daily Newspaper . Ask him ......

[@barnesandrewj]

Appreciate you Kermit!

[@Mike-01234]

I guess could have just trailered it there, but that wouldn't be any fun.

[@jakecrib9971]

Kermit, Where'd you get that jacket ? Great video BTW. What an interesting Aircraft 👏

[@stulynn2005]

You have way to much fun teaching history and aviation I'm jealous

[@lourencowilliampinho1087]

Great stuff as always!

[@ericsmit7588]

Great video!

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Amazing aircraft....Thanks Kermit...Shoe🇺🇸

[@tastiger91]

Very nice machine.

[@eamo106]

Great landing and display Kermit. I can see the Californian QHSE glazing over when you speak about Mussolini and his rescue. Hitler's suicide jacket ?? haha that was a sales pitch too far !

[@MrJames_1]

Pretty cool

[@bdwillis8284]

Good stuff!

[@gcrauwels941]

Awesome. You could landing that thing on a postage stamp.

[@danharold3087]

This is a wonderful plane. There is a modern day STOL competition. Started with Alaskan bush pilots IIRC. Several vids on youtube. Current best landing is under 10 feet.

[@TOM-th4rw]

G00D!

[@michaeltrboyevich7854]

That was just the first test flight ....before the landing strip at Big Lake ...

[@jarikinnunen1718]

Why it is not in production?

[@mikejackman4416]

Great video although it looks like it could use a pair of Alaska bush wheels 😂😂

[@phildyrtt6433]

Our Pop left us his first Fiesler (manual shift/crank start) and Bro and I kept it in the back room for years. A whatever broke in and stole it. So we bought us an electric popcorn gizmo.

[@LeslieMatheson]

Could these be manufactured now under LSA ?

[@outlawflyer7868]

Hey Kermit, do you own two of these or did you eventually go back and get your plane or is it still there? If you got it back. Did you fly it all the way back to Florida or trailer it? If you did fly it to california or florida, do you have footage of either trip? Love this plane but the Grumman Duck is still my favorite among your collection.

[@HarborLockRoad]

Thank God that someone cares enough about historical accuracy than zio-PC and put the swaz on the tail, just as it should be.

[@oldcremona]

I think I would have gone with civilian marking but Kermit is the man so more power to him.

[@clintstephens7287]

Back when stuff used to happen.

[@superduper1917]

Thank You! May Peace Shine On US.

[@todaywefly4370]

Interesting. This would have breached to new finding with regards to low flight and landing situations seeing as how he didn’t actually land the first time. # Trent Palmer.

[@marthakrumboltz2710]

I’m surprised that the black crosses & the swastika didn’t traumatize most of the state of California

[@weswr7785]

Im from California and I have been putting swastika decals on my Motorcycles and Snow skis for over 40 years all for good luck..,so far they have worked,

[@billyleroy2465]

Sad that today this would never be permitted .

[@phillipwasson2980]

💛👌

[@964cuplove]

Lots of room inside - well if Benito Mussolini had to be carried… you need space. Just stick some bigger wheels on it and you have the granddaddy of all bush planes right there. Also you realize Storch is the German word for Stork.

[@HolmScott]

Next time the B-24

[@CJR505]

“The Wizard of Orlampa” - lolololol! What???

[@samueljohnclark]

Is that a young Paul!!

[@alantoon5708]

Doing exactly what it was designed to do. Of course one did not have to pick up Mussolini...

[@12tuber1234]

Curious about when this happened. My guess - 1992.

[@KermitWeeks444]

Says it in titles, 1999

[@964cuplove]

Hanna Reitsch really was a weird person. My dad was a glider pilot as a student and an engineer and he had her memoirs. I tried to read them in 2010 or so but it’s unbearable, so full of Hitler praise and I had no clue excuses. I really couldn’t read that…. especially knowing she never faced any real punishment. She was held 18 months in various places while being questioned but in the end de-nazified cause she never joined any NS entities even though she was a PR faced for the 3rd Reich… she sure was a gifted pilot but she really liked Hitler and she was a die hard nationalistic german.

[@checkpointcharlie1788]

So...were you able to convince the Führer to leave the bunker?

[@JD-hh9io]

Looks like we are repeating history again.

[@rileycpo]

Yup. This time the Russians are defeating the Nazi's on Ukraine.

[@JD-hh9io]

@@rileycpo is that what Q is tellin ya?

[@rileycpo]

@@JD-hh9io Who's that?

[@JD-hh9io]

@@rileycpo The names Anon, Q Anon. ( James Bond reference)