Jimmy Buffet's hemisphere dancer

T

tigisfat

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I read Jimmy Buffet's book 'A Pirate Looks at Forty' and his Albatross was prominently featured throughout the book. One of the great things about a good FSX release is that it can renew interest in an aircraft. Given all the Albatross hype lately, I decided to read about the hemisphere dancer and I found out that it was retired. It was placed on display at a margaritaville resteraunt. Does anyone know why an airworthy airplane would be parked at a resteraunt? I kinda think it stinks. I don't like seeing planes rot that are capable of flying. Whatever the story is, I don't know it. Someone please fill me in!!
 
I may be wrong, my memory is usualy is, but it seems to me that he flipped the airplane during a water landng. The cost of making it airworthy was prohibitive. So he put it on show in the restauarnt that Buffet owns.
 
I know that he did flip another grumman seaplane upon landing that wasn't the albatross. We may be getting the two confused.
 
I'm willing to bet it was the Albatross. I remember seeing a picture with Jimmy in it and there was still thigh high water on the floor.
The rework on the wing spars required after the Chaulk crash made repairs to it prohibitive.
 
Jimmy flipped his Grumman Widgedon. Hemisphere Dancer timed out. When he restored the aircraft, it was a fairly high time airplane.

Jimmy flew it quite a bit but after a while, the hours built up to where the airframe was just worn out. Then, he had it moved to his Orlando restaurant. Better than the fate of many ex-military aircraft.

Dancer even has some "Combat" time from Jimmy's tenure as owner/pilot. When Jamaican authorities shot at it because they thought it belonged to a drug runner.

Jimmy also flies his Falcon 50 Bizjet, Stearman and Cessna 208 Caravan on Amphib floats.

If you like his music, pick up his Live at Wrigley Field DVD. When he does his song, "Schoolboy Heart" The video cuts to some of his adventures flying all over the world. Including some decent Shots of his caravan on water.


Brian
 
He tried to go on a round the world flight IIRC, but could not get permissinon to land in most of the places he wanted to go.
 
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