Hemisphere Dancer has been Retired

La Vie Dansante · Post by **La Vie Dansante** » June 5, 2003 9:55 am

Thank you Springparrot for the pictures from Universal, I hope you can post some pictures when they finally get the HD in the water. I'll be there in December, I'll finally get to see this beautiful plane, thanks again for sharing the picture.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » June 6, 2003 12:12 am

La Vie Dansante wrote:Thank you Springparrot for the pictures from Universal, I hope you can post some pictures when they finally get the HD in the water. I'll be there in December, I'll finally get to see this beautiful plane, thanks again for sharing the picture.

I don't think they are actually going to put her in the water.........
I could be wrong, but they are digging up ground.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » June 8, 2003 5:24 pm

We just came back from New Smyrna Beach Airport - had one of the gratest thrills

Actually got to climb aboard what is left of Hemisphere Dancer. The wings and tail are off. All that's left is the fuselage, and that's coming to pieces tomorrow. The plane should be back together in it's new home at Universal middle of July!

Tugboat Tim · Post by **Tugboat Tim** » June 9, 2003 8:31 pm

Crazy to think that a guy with as much going on for himself as Jimmy has would rather end the life of a well maintained vintage aircraft than let someone else have her. Sounds a little like a case of " If I can't have her no one will"
I heard he didn't want anyone to say they have Jimmy Buffet's plane, didn't want them to be able to charter the plan as his Hemisphere Dancer.
I would think that would be better than destroying a working classic aircraft built in 1955 there's only so many left.........
I guess he's Not as fun loving as we all thought, never would have thought the guy who wrote all that great music ( and great flying books too! ) Would rather turn that plane into another tourist attraction, just what we need! TALK ABOUT SELLING OUT !! Wait'll Carl Hiaasen hears about this ! Maybe he'll write a book about the funky laid back good old boy who sold out for the tourist bucks!
What a shame, Shame on you Jimmy, Selling out a good old friend... TTL

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » June 9, 2003 9:15 pm

I guess that's one way to look at it, Tim. The way I see it, he's sharing that romantic bird with all of us now.

(And on the other hand, you have more fingers

)

NYCPORT · Post by **NYCPORT** » June 9, 2003 10:09 pm

Hate to say it, but I've been leaning the way Tugboat is thinking more every time I read something about it.
Has Charlie chimed in with his thoughts about what's happening to the plane?

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » June 10, 2003 4:05 am

I found this on the Orlando PH club site.
I hope they don't mind if I share it.

Look at the bottom of the page--there is a nice article about the Hemisphere Dancer.

http://www.phcf.com/

gullreefer · Post by **gullreefer** » June 10, 2003 1:49 pm

springparrot wrote:I found this on the Orlando PH club site.
I hope they don't mind if I share it.

Look at the bottom of the page--there is a nice article about the Hemisphere Dancer.

http://www.phcf.com/

Thanks, this is a great article. Almost brought a tear to my eyes... what a shame to see her being taken down.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » June 10, 2003 11:04 pm

gullreefer wrote:
springparrot wrote:I found this on the Orlando PH club site.
I hope they don't mind if I share it.

Look at the bottom of the page--there is a nice article about the Hemisphere Dancer.

http://www.phcf.com/
Thanks, this is a great article. Almost brought a tear to my eyes... what a shame to see her being taken down.

That was my reaction to the article

Guest · Post by **Guest** » June 11, 2003 3:43 am

Yes, it's sad but true. This has to be the worst thing you could do to s classic airplane, especially when there are two other more qualified candidates (junkers) at New Smyrna Airport.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » June 11, 2003 11:47 am

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's sad but true. This has to be the worst thing you could do to s classic airplane, especially when there are two other more qualified candidates (junkers) at New Smyrna Airport.

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » June 11, 2003 12:17 pm

gullreefer · Post by **gullreefer** » June 12, 2003 11:29 am

From this page http://www.palmbeachpost.com/accent/con ... 80026.html

After some great adventures, Hemisphere Dancer, Buffett's plush and notorious Albatross amphibian, has been retired. Jimmy immortalized it in Jamaica Mistaica, an account of his run-in with Jamaican police who mistook it for a drug plane and machine-gunned it. It goes on display next month at Margaritaville in Universal Studios in Orlando.

Air M'Ville Cap'n · Post by **Air M'Ville Cap'n** » June 12, 2003 1:33 pm

I was very surprised to read that. The plane has been immortalized to Parrotheads. It is all over Margaritaville merchandise, including M'Ville Tequilla, the Air Margaritaville line and will fly no more. I just saw the commercial for MMIM two nights ago for the first time. There was great footage in there of Jimmy water skiing behind it and jumping into the sea off of the wing. Very sad to see that it won't fly again but I am excited that I can see it sometime at Orlando

Old Town Miami · Post by **Old Town Miami** » June 13, 2003 12:02 pm

Thanks for the pictures... Save 'em to preserve her story and the legacy ...

Hopefully she will be put in place intact and not parted out. Maybe someday, someone will acquire her to restore her to flying status.

From the description of digging at Orlando Margaritaville, maybe they will make her look like she is in the water...

Say... ... isn't that a taxidermic frown on her bow?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » June 13, 2003 1:16 pm

According to the guy at New Smyrna Beach airport that's taking the Dancer apart, when she is put back together at Universal she will never be airworthy again.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » July 23, 2003 1:22 pm

Anonymous wrote:According to the guy at New Smyrna Beach airport that's taking the Dancer apart, when she is put back together at Universal she will never be airworthy again.

And why would that be? It appears that they are unbolting components, rather than cutting them. Factor in a little corrosion because Orlando ain't Davis Mothan, but she should stay in good shape for many years to come.

Honestly ... I would think that years from now when Margaritaville of Orlando is no more the Hemisphere Dancer might be one of the last airworthy Albatrosses around, since she was disassembled while still in an airworthy state.

IIRC New Smyrna airport was the place where I saw the only turbine-converted Albatross a few years back. Sitting on the tarmac, next to the fence.

Does anyone know if there were any issues with the Dancer's maintenance or remaining airworthy?

PirateJohn@aol.com

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » July 23, 2003 1:35 pm

it will stay basically airworthy. i'm assuming instruments and such will get removed but they can be replaced. as long as they don't cut holes in it, it wouldn't take much to get it back in the air. the engines would have to be replaced. even if they're pickled for long term storage i'd replace them with overhauled ones. with a QEC sitting on the floor, everything set up, and a good forklift, you can swap an engine in 30 minutes...

BuffettNews.com

Hemisphere Dancer has been Retired

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