Fantasy of Flight, Kermit Weeks’ aircraft collection in Polk City, Florida, has set out to find the World’s Greatest Dad just in time to give him the ride of a lifetime this Father’s Day weekend. Fantasy of Flight is asking children and adults to submit an essay of 50 words or fewer describing why their dad is the “World’s Greatest Dad.” The winning dad will receive the opportunity to take a 30-minute ride over Central Florida in one of only four Fieseler F1-156 Storch airplanes in the world.
The winning dad will also receive tickets for the family (up to four people) to Fantasy of Flight on Father’s Day, June 20, as well as four Fantasy of Flight annual passes for the family to visit the attraction as often as they’d like for a year, a VIP Tour, including behind-the-scenes accessibility of Fantasy of Flight led by Storch pilot, aviation historian and restoration specialist Ken Kellet, a special Father’s Day lunch (for up to four people) at the Compass Rose Diner, and a special Fantasy of Flight gift basket for Dad.
Second prize in the contest is a package for Dad and his nominating (and now “favorite”) child, including a pair of tickets to Fantasy of Flight for this Father’s Day, two Fantasy of Flight annual passes, a special Father’s Day lunch for two at the Compass Rose Diner and a special Fantasy of Flight gift basket for Dad. The third place winner receives the second prize winner’s package, with one annual pass instead of two.
Responses are due Tuesday, June 8, by 5 p.m. and may be submitted online under the homepage link, “World’s Greatest Dad;” by mail to Fantasy of Flight, “World’s Greatest Dad,” 1400 Broadway Blvd. SE, Polk City, Fla. 33868; or in the attraction’s lobby no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8. Winners and winning entries will be \posted on the Fantasy of Flight website on Friday, June 11, at 5 p.m. Prize winners must be available to visit Fantasy of Flight on Father’s Day, June 20, in order to claim all prizes. No substitutions or exchanges.
Fantasy of Flight is offering free general admission to all fathers when accompanied by a paying guest from Thursday, June 17, to Sunday, June 20. Any paid youth, senior or adult admission ticket qualifies as the accompanying paid admission.
For more information: FantasyOfFlight.com
In 1965, I had been weathered-in at Baden-Badan Army Airfield in Germany. Having nothing to do but wait for that famous European weather to clear, I took a walk around to the civilian side of the airport. Behind of a hangar was a large taildragger aircraft that looked interesing. The fabric was rotted and hanging for the breeze to blow around. It was just a skeleton of an airplane after years of neglect. The the realiztion of what I was looking at hit me. It’s a Storch, I realized! Now, 45 years later I’m wondering if that rotted skeleton of an airplane could be one of the four still flying?