Bucket List......B-17G flight

[turbofabricator]

My kids bought me a flight on a B-17 for Fathers Day. Ya, they're good kids, though not really kids anymore. And they both went on the flight with me. We had a BLAST! If you ever get the chance to take a ride on a B-17 (or any War Bird for that matter) DO IT!!! I've been working on aircraft for over 30 years now and usually just work on 'em and rarely fly on them. I even use to build the R-1820 Curtis Wright Radial engines that were used on the B-17. (Though the ones I built went on S. Korean ASW aircraft in the early '80's) It was a short flight but went smooth as glass. That 'ol Bird just does it's job. We were schuled to fly on Friday, but it rained out. Saturday they called my daughter and said they are going up. We showed up and had to wait while they fixed a propeller govenor issue (I even offered to help out, but it only required a gasket change so they didn't "need" my help) Then once it was fixed it started POURING rain and the scrapped the flight. Today was a beautiful day even though the weather "guessers" predicted rain all day. They called my daughter and off we went. The airplane is a B-17 G model built in 1944 and served in the Pacific theater during WWII. Then became a water bomber in the 70's-80's. It is the Sentmental Journey. Beautiful old bird. Thanks Kids!!! (my kids are better than you're kids)

 

[turbofabricator]

more:

 

[charlief1]

Nice Ken. I'd like to fly on "puff the macig dragon" myself and see how it feels with the 20mm cannons fire.

 

[TurboDave]

That's amazing!!!! The opportunity of a lifetime!!

 

[John Larkin]

Makes me think of the Heavy Metal movie where they were flying one and got shot down onto an island of zombies. The belly turret is awesome and I like the glass nose too.

 

[TurboBob]

me == jealous



I worked on some assembly automation for the C17, never got to fly in one though.

Bob

 

[KevinB]

That is awesome!
A friend of mine was at a small air show and there was a b-17. He hung around them all day asking questions and all. When the show was over they had to fly it from Cincinnati to dayton, ohio. They had an extra seat and let him go along. This was back in the '80's...probably wouldnt happen in todays world though. He didn't have a ride from dayton to cincy but took the flight anyways. He still talks about it everytime some one talks airplanes.

 

[HelloBozos]

I'd been HD video equipped! Cool Ride! Can't get neer one those without taking couple .50 rounds armed

 

[O SO LO]

Looks like fun, Ken!! One of those experiences you will never forget!!!

 

[KevinB]

Was driving past one of the small airports in cincy and spied this b17

 

[750H.P.V6]

Ken,

Flying on a B-17 is something I've always wanted to do. The Sentimental Journey was down in San Diego about a month ago at the Wings over Gillespie air show. My Dad and I were wanting to take a flight but were told they needed 7 people before they'd go up. Unfortunately we were the only ones interested. They had gone up the day berofe so I guess we missed our opportunity. I did get to climb thru the aircraft and couldn't believe how cramped it is. All function no frills for sure. I thought it was pretty cool when my Dad got to meet an retired B-17 crewmember who was the belly gunner back in the day. It meant a lot to him as he was born in England in 1939. He made sure to thank him for his service.

Neal