B17 -

[jgaynor]

I happened to find the following link on a another youtube site that I follow. The main purpose of the site is a young couple documenting the design and construction of a timber frame home in Idaho. The husband is also a pilot and spent some time with the Collings foundation the owners of the ill-fated fortress.

Coincidentally, the "Wings of Freedom" Tour which the 17 was a part of was scheduled to Make a stop a Westchester County Airport and then fly down to Morristown Airport in NJ next week. I was planning to attend but no plans to go for a ride. Four hundred bucks a head is just a little stiff for entertainment.

At any rate since some of you may be interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g6396ldrT4

[Bill E]

Very nice, thanks for posting.

[Johnny P]

I took the flight on the B17 "Aluminum Overcast" several years back. I believe it was $300 at the time. I was on the first flight that morning so got to go through start up and warm up before the flight took off. After that the plane came in, wheeled around, unloaded and loaded back up and took off. They offered ear plugs, but I wanted to get the full effect.

I have never regretted the cost, and would probably still regret it if I hadn't. It came back the next year but I was just getting over surgery and couldn't make it. The next year they brought in one of the Ford Tri-motors which was fun, but nothing as memorable as the B17.

[lyman]

I've done the walk thru on Sentimental Journey (B17) and one of the B24's (cannot remember the name)

never took the ride, (kinda want to one day,, )

Sentimental Journey had engine troubles on a visit to RIC,
they had a bunch of old guys out there working on the motor, a couple had been mechanics on B17's in WW2 (this was back in the 90's)
they were up on some scaffolding, cutting up and having a good time,

[togor]

Did a walk through of a Fortress and Liberator over one awesome lunch hour 20+ years ago. Saw my (step) grandfather's crew position as flight engineer/top turret. The radio operator's compartment looks downright comfortable....on the ground.

Brave to fly a mission in either of them for flak alone, much less fighters. Beyond brave to climb into the belly or tail gun position.

[barretcreek]

Friend's father was engineer on one with the Mighty Eighth. Pilot refused to have any nose art, bomb runs or fighter tallies on the plane. Nothing to attract the attention of the wolves. Was he being a old fogey? They survived.