Howard Hughes Sikorsky S-43 Disassembly and Move to Fantasy of Flight - Part 2 

Kermit I really appreciate your enthusiasm to save the history of flight in the USA You with your knowledge have been a God send to help us all understand the origins of another great invention in our wonderful country Thanks so much and God bless

I wish I could quit my day-job and work for such a fun crew and boss. Seeing Kermit sweeping the hangar floor in Brazoria tells me a lot about how things are run in Orlampa.

The goose bumps just keep coming.

This was wonderful. But all I thought about was what a group of incredibly talented, dedicated people. I imagined in the theater of my mind the truck driver showing up at a Flying J and the other guys asking him," So, what you hauling?" Points finger: " That."

The USA has some of the best Aviation museums. I wish I could get there for a year and visit them all.

Geez that bird is deceptively big the flap looks larger than the B-29s. That is gonna be a fun plane to fly when done. It surprises me how it avoided being pulled into federal service when the war broke out. I love the original executive interior, old Howie knew how to live.

I am glad you're saving the plane.

Any updates on this project? Thanks FoF for all you do!

What's the status on this aircraft? This is an amazing plane. I will have to go back and watch The Aviator and see if this was the plane they flew in at night on a date with Hepburn. Amazing scene.

Now this is what I call REALITY TV. Great stuff and kudos to a true aviation patriot! I bust my butt just changing the nosewheel tire on my ercoupe - this is epic stuff here.

🤲🌠

Fantasy of Flight Museum here I come! Thanks you, Kermit Weeks for the great job you are doing in preserving the history of aviation. I and the rest of the flying community owe you big time :)

Mr. Weeks you are an inspiration. It's awesome to see you getting in there and getting dirty with your crew. To me the willingness to get dirty is the difference between a "collector" and a "mechanic", lol.

Was that Howard on top of the hangar giving his approval before flying off?

I loved every freakin' seccond of this !!! what a great job.

Great Video ! A good documentary about how to disassemble and transport an Airplane right ! So many times we see huge damages done when salvaging &disassembling and shipping airplanes, by Not securing them to loadbearing structures or by making other hideous and costly mistakes. Have to say I flinched while watching the single cargostrap around the rear fuselage leading to the tailwheel: I was/would be worried it could buckle the skin on the sides of the rear fuselage....but it worked, GREAT !!!

gday from nz,thank god there are still people prepared to put the effort time and money saving history,iam sure they will be a day when thats not the case.....,an amazing job well done..

How is the restoration coming along? It would be amazing to see this old bird fly again.

My Dad would approve of your decision to not risk the flight. He was a crew chief from about 1945 to 1970. The man was a stickler for details and told a story about a base commander putting him on kp duty for not releasing a plane he planed on using for takeoff due to fuel gauge problems. Needless to say this base commander put in a yes man to approve worthiness of the aircraft he wanted to use to get to his vacation flight. 2:30 seconds after takeoff power was lost and down it came. This lead to a promotion for taking the undeserved punishment after the investigation.

Ditto to Robert Hoaglands comment, this is better reality TV. Howard Hughes S-43 wow, it's great to see Kermit pitching right in helping fellow Fantasy Of Flight team members bringing home this beautiful aircraft on a total white-knuckle road trip. What a plane, and now, Kermit got his wish and he'll sure do it right, now, if we cross our fingers maybe just maybe in the wishful thinking wishing well Kermit might consider acquiring the Spruce Goose, that would be one acquisition Fantasy Of Flight so rightfully deserves, I know, but it's just a thought, but for now this one the S-43 is right where it belongs....

Awesome video Kermit and an awesome plane too. Now don't forget to make a video about the putting it back together process, that would be fantastic to watch. Good luck with this gorgeous lady and thanks for sharing it with us.

Are there any updates on this?

"What's that coming down the highway?" "OMG, IT'S HOWARD HUGHES'S SIKORSKY S43!!!!!!!! AND KERMIT WEEKS!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG!!!!" I wish I saw it. :(

Gee you Blokes did a beautiful job pulling it to pieces with out damaging it in any way ? top work

Great to see these beautiful aircraft cared for and remembered. Keep up the great work!

As of 9-12-2020 what is,the status of the S-43? Such a magnificent piece of aviation history. So excited to see it's progress back to flying once again.

Thanks Kermie. This was fun to watch.

love the raven at the end kermit or was it mr Hughes

What a great project! Now I really have to see your operation. I have no interest in Disneyland or any other "park" of its kind but to see your Fantasy of Flight, I will make the trip for sure.

Great stuff..High on my list of places to visit in the States on my next trip over..

This may sound like a silly question before I ask it (judging by the way you treat all you planes) but is this going to be a flying display when you are done? How do you go about flying your aircraft? Does every one get an annual, or do you pick a few of the exhibits besides your regular flyers that you want to use each year and freshen them up from sitting around? I really would like to see the Sunderland and B-26 flying at Oshkosh again!

The transition to the travailing montage made me think the fuselage tipped off . P.S Its a amazing plane :D

The world is waiting Kermit, Can we get a rough start date on the restoration please.

Great video, Some assembly require though huh.

What is happening to it now? Is it were we can see it or is in going to fly again?

Wonderful. I echo comments about Kermit getting his hands in the work, excellent. I also think the champagne toast was nice, especially as you chose 'The Widow', a very decent champagne and non of that 'Crystal', or 'Moet' rubbish.

Thanks for keeping the dreams alive!!!

What is the latest news? Is she close to flying?

S-43 Tail #N440. Fantasy of Flight Exit #44. Coincidence? Maybe not... ;)

Kermit probably studied it thoroughly, it being a priceless plane, but I would have been plenty nervous having the main gear protrude beyond the lowboy that way. Another truck with a sleepy or impaired driver could have proved disastrous....open to comments...KL

I feel sorry that the plane turned out like it did . Haward is a great man

"Interesting & Entertaining for everybody............" Absolutely! There is an inescapable romance to the flying boats of days gone by. 4-0 Kermit & crew! I wonder how many airplane nuts wrecked their cars and wet their pants when the storied Sikorsky was seen on highways in the Sunny South.

Congratulations Kermit Weeks from August 2 2019. I’m watching the saga of the S 43’s move from Houston to Polk City. Wow 😮 what an adventure. As an almost retired over the road trucker (some flatbed time also) I recognized some of those stretches of interstate you and the Sikorsky made the trek back on. Thoroughly enjoyed the video and best wishes with that rare and valuable airplane. As an aircraft lover I really appreciate both the videos that you do and the history that you commit blood, sweat, tears, and money to preserving. All the best to you Kermit and Fantasy of Flight.

Very interesting and well filmed. I stand in awe of Kermit and his team's skills. I am looking forward to a series of videos showing the restoration process - hopefully they will get that done before they nail the lid on my pine box.

Thank you!!!

Kermit, thank you for spending the money, time and effort to save these great icons of aviation history. And I agree, I think Howard played a huge part in making sure this aircraft made its way to the capable hands of you and your crew.

Really makes me (and others) very happy that you acquired this piece of aviation history! Good luck with it Kermit! Would love to see a video of it when you folks get her back together and flying!

So organised you must have great faith in your team really good to see everybody taking time to be safe and get the parts lifted and positioned on the trailers thanks for sharing.

You guys are good!

Howard loved that plane. I would like to see some period pictures of the interior!

Cool job

I want be curious how much this place was purchased for. Kermit's a class act. I hope to get down there some day.

How long did it take you to ship it?

The only reason it could not be flown is corrosion in the tail section.

Don’t think I’ve ever seen an airplane before where you enter the passenger cabin via the roof at the rear.

Howard must be Smilling....

the aircraft now is in good hands!!!

Watched parts one and two. That's a lot of work that requires lot's of patience. Well done.

Great job. What great energy these guys have.

Thank goodness for people like you.

Thank you Kermit

AMAZING !!!

You did good Kermit.......I'm excited for ya Bro.

What a beautiful ship!

Kermit, what is the status of the S43?

I like how the end of this movie shows two lights on top the hanger, was this intentional as to show the eyes of Howard Hughes looking down on Kermit?

What did you find out about the Bra? Ha !

Absolutely excellent!

God Bless Kermit-and his crew

I am amazed at how hard the young lady works.. in every shot shes busy doing something!!

Good job to all the crew that helped. I bet they worked 12 hour days with just enough time to sleep, eat and shower, then get back to work. When you see mechanics with parts of their hands missing, it's easy to see how it can happen when you are handling large parts that want to fall off and crush and amputate your body parts.