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White 1
233 North Hoagland Avenue, Kissimmee 34741
(727) 365-1713
www.white1foundation.org
Cost: Donations requested and urgently needed
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday by appointment
Location: At the Kissimmee Airport, south of US 192
World War II aviation buffs will want to make a beeline for this fascinating work in progress. A small cadre of vintage fighter plane restorers is laboring to bring back to life one of the most feared planes of the Luftwaffe, the Weisse Eins, or White 1. Manufactured by the fabled Focke-Wulf firm, its official designation is FW-190F, but it was better known by its nickname the “Butcher Bird.” The White 1 was the Swiss Army knife of Nazi military aviation, functioning variously as a fighter, a bomber, and even as a torpedo plane. In its day, it was the fastest military plane aloft. T
he bits and pieces of plane that sit in this nondescript hangar are what’s left of Number 931862, which was shot down on February 9, 1945 during the Battle of Fordefjord in Norway. The small team that works here pieces the plane back together as time and money permit. Their goal is to fly it once again, powered by an original BMW 801 radial engine. If they are successful, it will be the only White 1 in existence.
Visitors can stop by to watch the restoration in progress and gawk at some of the WWII pilot flight gear and survival gear on display. The web site offers various ways to become part of the effort through donations to the project. Give enough and you might get a chance to sit at the throttle.
Nearby: Stallion 51, Warbird Adventures.
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