For Gee Bee Z Fans

[Bomber_12th]

Some absolutely fantastic videos have been uploaded to Youtube over the past week, from the test flights by Delmar Benjamin of the Kevin Kimball/Jeff Eicher-built Gee Bee Z replica in the 90's. I have never seen so much video footage of the aircraft in action, and these are the most interesting/fascinating bits of aviation-related film that I have seen in a long, long time (though that just may be due to my love for the Gee Bee aircraft). For those not familiar with this particular aircraft, it was built in the 90's to be the most authentic/accurate, possible, reproduction of the Gee Bee Z (far, far more so than the other one built/flown in the film "Rocketeer"). All of the test flights were carried out by Delmar Benjamin (most well known for his Gee Bee R-2 replica, which he flew/demonstrated throughout the 90's). Delmar Benjamin flew the Gee Bee Z on 12 flights in all, and since flying it, it is the Z that he has stated many times over that is his absolute favorite aircraft of all time, and that the flights he had in the Gee Bee Z were the most fun he has ever had in an airplane, despite the 1,500+ hours flying his R-2 (he has also flown the Gee Bee type E and Y as well). Both this particular Gee Bee Z, and Delmar's R-2, are now both owned by Kermit Weeks and displayed at his Fantasy of Flight attraction (Kermit Weeks flew the Z twice, shortly after acquiring it, but it hasn't flown for quite some time now).

For those who are as fanatical about the Gee Bee aircraft as I am, prepare to be in for a real treat...

Maiden flight of the Gee Bee Z replica (main footage) - June 24, 1996: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKeJLCQhtX8
Maiden flight of the Gee Bee Z replica (extra footage): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh_usK4_wbY
Interview with the pilot, Delmar Benjamin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3mvN21OEbc
Interview with builder Kevin Kimball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6CiW3NAapU
Interview with builder Jeff Eicher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PyhJf1NXyc

[Ian Warren]

Amazing series of videos , thanks for posting the collection, the first video had that Hmm butterfly moment. Some reason I kept thinking of the historic footage when one rolled and crashed in the 1930s.