The PC-12 for the Personal Mission
There are aircraft owners, and there are aircraft collectors. For Kermit Weeks, aviation has never been about simply getting from point A to point B. It has been a lifelong pursuit of curiosity, connection, and craftsmanship.
From builder to collector, museum owner to flying historic aircraft, there isn’t much Kermit hasn’t seen in aviation. Yet even with owning the largest private vintage aircraft collection in the world, there is still one box left unchecked…
8 lawns & an airplane
Kermit was an aircraft builder before a collector. He began building his first aircraft during his final year of high school.
“They didn’t have kits back then, they just had plans. They were 40 bucks, and I had to mow eight lawns at five bucks a lawn to pay for them.”
After high school, he spent several years in college and set his airplane project aside. Eventually, he took a year off to finish and fly it.
Kermit then got serious about school, attended Purdue University to study Aeronautical Engineering, and retook his freshman year! Due to extenuating circumstances, he missed the first two weeks of his sophomore year and decided to drop out. He had another idea in mind.
With no formal training, Kermit designed and built two aerobatic airplanes: the Weeks Special and the Weeks Solution. In them, he became a two-time US National Aerobatic champ and won 20 medals at the world level with the US Aerobatic Team. From there, he purchased an AT6 to pursue his passion for vintage aircraft, followed by a P51. The rest is history!
From warbirds to Pilatus
Today, Kermit has the world’s largest private collection of over 150 aircraft. His oldest original aircraft, called a Morane-Brock, dates back to 1913, although he has earlier reproductions. His vast collection also includes many aircraft from WWI, the Golden Age, and WWII, as well as helicopters and jets from the Korean War.
His favorite? “Whichever one I’m flying at the time.”
“When you look at the different airplanes, they’re like people. You know, they all have a different purpose and place in history.”
And his latest purpose is called “Pilatus.”
When purchasing an aircraft, Kermit says, “each person has to look at it from what they want to get out of it.”
And for Kermit, this was midrange altitude.
The Pilatus not only gives Kermit more instrument time, but ample space and comfort in the cabin. Plus, the large cargo door makes it easy for him and his family to pack and possibly move airplane parts.
Additionally, Kermit has a grass runway. And we all know the PC-12 is great for that.
Kermit admits, “[It’s] going to be a change from flying open cockpit with a sectional…”
But at a certain point, practicality becomes part of the mission.
not so fast
Before Kermit can take off from his grass strip, the aircraft is spending some time at a shop getting retrofitted–something Kermit doesn’t normally do with his antique warbirds.
But because Kermit’s Pilatus serves one and only mission (his own!), he is tailoring it to his needs. His legacy aircraft is receiving the latest engine, a 7-blade propeller, new interior, and new paint. Luckily, the Garmin cockpit had already been added prior to Kermit’s purchase.
“The journey has started, but I really haven’t. I can’t wait to get the airplane to start playing and learning with it.”
also in the works
Alongside expanding his flight experience in the PC-12, Kermit is focusing on his future plans for Fantasy of Flight. Built around the theme of “Flight of the Human Spirit,” the park will blend aviation stories into the immersive space focused on self-discovery and self-transformation. He hopes to take what we all love about aviation and use it to touch the rest of the world!
“It’s about discovering yourself, but at the same time giving back in a way that touches other people,” says Kermit.
For more information on Kermit Weeks and Fastasy of Flight, click HERE.