Hemi Dancer Resting Place

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » July 15, 2003 8:12 pm

for the record, a full tank of gas is about 1600 gals. at about $3 a gallon you can do the math. combined the engines burn about 100 to 110 gal/hr in cruise. but the R1820-76's consume about 1/2 the fuel an equilivant turboprop engine burns.

bravedave · Post by **bravedave** » July 15, 2003 11:09 pm

Well, purely in the interest of historical accuracy, we need to remedy that situation (the missing bullet holes)

Next time Jimmy's in Orlando, after they close the park [turnin' off the waterfall etc] let's put a .45 in his hand and see how many shots it takes to replicate the original damage.

Geez, they could sell tickets, raffle off the casings and make a mint off parrothead pathology purists.

Well it sounded like a good idea when I was drunk!
Oh, never mind. Just paint 'em in.

PHat Matt · Post by **PHat Matt** » July 16, 2003 6:34 am

Cuervo wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:She looks like a tiger, chained in a zoo....
WSGHS....

What they said.

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » July 16, 2003 9:16 am

PHat Matt wrote:
Cuervo wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:She looks like a tiger, chained in a zoo....
WSGHS....
What they said.

true...true...

ph69 · Post by **ph69** » July 16, 2003 10:31 am

the dancer was retired?

Air M'Ville Cap'n · Post by **Air M'Ville Cap'n** » July 16, 2003 12:05 pm

ph69 wrote: the dancer was retired?

Check out this thread -

http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewto ... 31&start=0

SwissArmyKnife · Post by **SwissArmyKnife** » July 16, 2003 1:11 pm

Hey AF...

How'd you get those great photos?

Mango Picker · Post by **Mango Picker** » July 16, 2003 2:26 pm

AF, you must be a lucky dude, bein' in the flyin n Albatross bidness!

There are tons of classic/vintage airplanes that get restored to flying condition from MUCH worse shape that what HD is in. Just check out Flypast.com and see some of the hulks and wrecks that get restored!

HD will rise again someday. Most probably not soon. But it is not impossible. Look at her as having a resting period, after earning her claim to fame.

Sure is sad to see her ground bound, but worse things have happened to the likes of her. Neglected airframes are rotting around the world. Chalks Ocean Airways has some Albatrosses they may restore to flying. Others are operating them still. Sadly the gentleman, airman and Albatross officianado who sold Jimmy his died recently while landing his bird in Mexico.

So, let's hope Hemisphere Dancer will act as a beacon to "seaplane adventurer wannabes", Parrot Heads and airplane buffs ....as well as highlighting Jimmy and his adventures.

Lots more people can feast their eyes on HD now, up close and personal, than ever did before... just not over your head ... for awhile...

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » July 16, 2003 2:48 pm

actually dennis beuhn in carson city nv sold jimmy the HD. rob carlson was a part of the albatross family and will be missed by all of us....

ihopetheresrum · Post by **ihopetheresrum** » July 17, 2003 12:54 pm

Regarding the Photo Shoot at City Walk, does anyone know the approx time for this ?

Angel Beech · Post by **Angel Beech** » July 17, 2003 3:29 pm

Sidew13 wrote:
PHat Matt wrote:
Cuervo wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:She looks like a tiger, chained in a zoo....
WSGHS....
What they said.
true...true...

I hate zoos.

Conchflyr · Post by **Conchflyr** » July 18, 2003 12:29 am

Here are a couple photos of the bullet holes, before and after the Seagrams picked up the tab to paint the Albatross.

See http://www.lpba.org/buffett.html for more

I do have a couple old Trade-A-Planes that listed the Albatross for sale back in 1996 or 1997, in fact, it had a "For Sale" sign in the cockpit window at Sun 'N Fun sometime back then. I guess Jimmy was trying to unload it back then, but nobody wanted a short wing for such a big pricetag.

Jack P Diddley · Post by **Jack P Diddley** » July 19, 2003 12:48 pm

As with many things in life, there are two sides to every story. While I hate to see such a great airplane sitting instead of flying, the economics of flying and maintaing such a creature can be substantial.

So now more people can see her up close, but they'll never know the sound of those engines or the sight of her gliding through the sky.

It just make me appreciate those that still do fly all that much more.

I was lucky enough to see the Hemisphere Dancer several years ago at the EAA Fly-In in Oshkosh, WI and get a tour. Saw her agin at Sun 'n Fun this year and learned of her fate. Glad I stopped and saw her take off for home (for the last time?)

On a happier note, are any of you BN/Pilot/Parrothead-types making the journey to Oshkosh for EAA AirVenture this year? If so, let me know. I happen to know of a campsite complete with a gas powered blender that can make up some tasty concoctions.

Ceol na Mara · Post by **Ceol na Mara** » July 19, 2003 3:57 pm

Did you guys read this in today's Greetings from Margaritaville?

"Jimmy Buffett's Grumman Albatross, familiar to fans and concert-goers across the country has been temporarily (my color-enhancing) grounded outside the Margaritaville Cafe in Universal Studios CityWalk in Orlando.... Early plans for the construction of a mock airplane were shot down by Buffett who arranged for his prized possession to be disassembled and rebuilt across from his popular Margaritaville Cafe and Store. "I thought it should be real," Buffett said, "let others appreciate it up-close. But I'm not through with the 'Dancer just yet," he noted. "It's fully operational, I can gas it up and fly it out of here."

Pitot Tube · Post by **Pitot Tube** » July 19, 2003 5:09 pm

Jack P Diddley wrote:As with many things in life, there are two sides to every story. While I hate to see such a great airplane sitting instead of flying, the economics of flying and maintaing such a creature can be substantial.

So now more people can see her up close, but they'll never know the sound of those engines or the sight of her gliding through the sky.

It just make me appreciate those that still do fly all that much more.

I was lucky enough to see the Hemisphere Dancer several years ago at the EAA Fly-In in Oshkosh, WI and get a tour. Saw her agin at Sun 'n Fun this year and learned of her fate. Glad I stopped and saw her take off for home (for the last time?)

On a happier note, are any of you BN/Pilot/Parrothead-types making the journey to Oshkosh for EAA AirVenture this year? If so, let me know. I happen to know of a campsite complete with a gas powered blender that can make up some tasty concoctions.

If I can ever finish my Zenith CH-701, Oshkosh is #1 on my list of places to visit. Been to several regional fly-ins and can only dream what Air Venture is like.

ParrotHeadDeb · Post by **ParrotHeadDeb** » July 19, 2003 8:19 pm

Ceol na Mara wrote:Did you guys read this in today's Greetings from Margaritaville?

"Jimmy Buffett's Grumman Albatross, familiar to fans and concert-goers across the country has been temporarily (my color-enhancing) grounded outside the Margaritaville Cafe in Universal Studios CityWalk in Orlando.... Early plans for the construction of a mock airplane were shot down by Buffett who arranged for his prized possession to be disassembled and rebuilt across from his popular Margaritaville Cafe and Store. "I thought it should be real," Buffett said, "let others appreciate it up-close. But I'm not through with the 'Dancer just yet," he noted. "It's fully operational, I can gas it up and fly it out of here."

That should make us all happy - there is a chance it'll fly again - with jimmy at the controls! I'm not an aviation fan - but it is a cool plane - I only know it from Jimmy's description in APLA50. May have to make a trip to Universal to see it up close.

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » July 22, 2003 11:24 pm

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:...there are no visible patches because my guys do really, really, good work and they patched the holes.

Hi! We made it to "the shrine" today for the photoshoot,
and guess what we discovered...

She really is beautiful, in spite of the plastic surgery scars.

And she's not too unhappy, so long as we PH phamily members
visit often enough.

Today was a "good day", with lots of goofy costumed friends there
for the photo shoot. With the barracaides down and the crates, sand,
and chairs all around, she doesn't look nearly so "caged up."

Air M'Ville Cap'n · Post by **Air M'Ville Cap'n** » July 23, 2003 2:38 am

I would sure like to get down there to see it and I say someday I will

Jack P Diddley · Post by **Jack P Diddley** » July 23, 2003 7:14 am

Pitot Tube wrote:
If I can ever finish my Zenith CH-701, Oshkosh is #1 on my list of places to visit. Been to several regional fly-ins and can only dream what Air Venture is like.

We'll if you get up this way, let me know. I'll show you the sights! This one is Oshkosh #23 for me.

Now if I can just get the number of concerts to balance with the number of air shows.....

Jack

Floridaze · Post by **Floridaze** » July 23, 2003 8:37 am

So who is heading over to Margaritaville this Friday for the Party?

BuffettNews.com

Hemi Dancer Resting Place

Does Anyone Know why..

Re: Does Anyone Know why..

Classic airplanes do get reborn, so mayor Hemisphere Dancer

Bullet Holes & Trade-A-Plane

Shiny side up, dirty side down.

Re: Shiny side up, dirty side down.