Where Are They Now?
There is only ONE flying example of this type in the world
and several under restoration.
 
 
The Last Three B-26's Known To Exist Today
 
     Civil Reg#         Serial #                    Based                                                      Owner, Nickname

    N4297J      40-1464   Fantasy Of Flight Museum,                 Kermit Weeks
                                               Polk City, FL

    N4299K     40-1459   MAPS Air Museum,                           MARC/Dave Tallichet
                                               Akron-Canton, Ohio

    N4299S     40-1501   Empire State Aerosciences Museum   MARC/Dave Tallichet
                                               Schenectady, NY
     

 A Progress Report of the last B-26 still flying
 
 
    In Florida at the Fantasy Of Flight, there is a B-26 owned and operated by Kermit Weeks.  It was purchased from the collection of David Tallechet owner of the Memphis Belle B-17. On March 25th, 1997 Tony Ritzman and Carl Scholl took s/n 40-1464, N4297J aloft for its first flight after months of intensive maintenance and repair.  The aircraft has now been flown to it's new home near Polk City, Florida at Mr. Weeks Fantasy of Flight Museum.
 
  UPDATE 8/12/98
(click here to check out the latest updates)
 
For all of you who have been following the adventures of Fantasy of Flight's B-26 here is our most current update:
 
After a week at the Selfridge Air Force Base Air Fest, Kermit Weeks, Jack McCloy, and Ken Kellett flew on to Oshkosh for the 1998 AirVenture.... and what an adventure it was!  Upon a safe arrival at Oshkosh Wittman Field, parked and staged front and center on the corner of the West Ramp, Jack discovered after a post flight check that one of the engines had begun "making metal".  What a heartbreak!

Although we were very happy our crew had arrived safely with no mishaps along the way, we were certainly disappointed  long with 855,000 others who did not get to see the only B-26 Martin Marauder in the world fly.  However, we were proud to have it on static display next to the Fantasy of Flight hospitality tent.

During the rainy days of August 4 & 5th, with the help of the EAA Kermit Weeks Flight Research Center staff and volunteers, Jack, Ken, Jay Wisler, and our friend Doug removed the testy engine from the B-26.  The engine was strapped to a trailer and brought back to Weeks Aircraft Restoration at Fantasy of Flight in Florida.  The engine is now on it's way to Rudy Blakey's facility for repair.

So.......it appears that the engine will not be ready until sometime in September and the Marauder will not be coming home until October.  We will keep you posted as best as we can with any news or updates on the progress and homecoming of the World's Last Flying B-26 Martin Marauder.

If you didn't get a chance to purchase a B-26 Last of a Breed T-Shirt at Osh, please give us a call at (941) 984-3500,  ext. 249.  We are now carrying these T-shirts in our Gift Shop.
 

 
 
 
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