Flew in a B-17 today!

[richhodg66]

78149I've always wanted to and passed on a couple of other opportunities because of the money involved. Recently I've decided to start knocking things off the old bucket list and this was one of them, so I bit the bullet, paid the fee and flew. Awesome doesn't begin to describe it.

[DCP]

We all should consider a bucket list.

Thanks for sharing.

[WILCO]

We all should consider a bucket list.

Thanks for sharing.

Ditto for me!

[Hamish]

Talk about jealous,,,,,and the fact that the number of years left to do it is pretty finite,,,,,,good for you!

[jlm223]

Very cool.

[rexherring]

Very cool. An old friend of mine was a B-17 pilot in WW2 and then flew the Berlin Airlift when it was over.

[smokeywolf]

A wonderful experience and a priceless memory.

smokeywolf

[LUCKYDAWG13]

that would be soo kewl good for you

[TXGunNut]

There are only so many B-17 rides available and getting it crossed off now was probably a good move. On top of that I'll bet it was pretty awesome. Congrats! I think there's one based around here, just recalled her name is Chucky. Not sure if she's still flying.

[DIRT Farmer]

Where did you fly? The B-17 that was supposed to fly into Evansville got a wing clipped by anothers prop. They brought a B-24 in for this weekend. The best part of the deal was a crew of WW-2 vets at the controlls and the bird was crew cheifed by another WW-2 vet.

[Baja_Traveler]

Nice!

A day I'll never forget for sure...

No sooner than we left the ground I got waived up forward and got a beautiful view...

What an awesome plane.

[richhodg66]

Where did you fly? The B-17 that was supposed to fly into Evansville got a wing clipped by anothers prop. They brought a B-24 in for this weekend. The best part of the deal was a crew of WW-2 vets at the controlls and the bird was crew cheifed by another WW-2 vet.

This was in Topeka. I hope this air show becomes an annual thing. These guys weren't old enough to have been WWII vets. There was also a P-51 there giving rides but priced more than 3 times what the B-17 ride was and I wasn't as interested, however, I heard later that he was giving flights to any WWII vet who wanted to for free, so good thing all around.

Wow, I'd like a ride in a Liberator about as much as a Fortress. There were actually more of them made and in terms of bombs dropped, it did more than the B-17. It could carry more and fly farther, just couldn't fight as well.

[WILCO]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3TSuf5H8JI

[fecmech]

I bit the bullet last year and paid for a ride in the P-51 at the Geneseo Air Show. As a boy I read Robert L. Scott's "God Is MY Copilot" and that's what started my aviation career. I've always loved the sound of 12 cyl Allison and Rolls Royce "V" engines in fly bys. That is a sound I really like. I'm glad you enjoyed your ride, I sure did mine. The Memphis Bell is in BUffalo NY this week giving rides, that's how they keep these old timers in the air. They are not cheap to maintain.

[LUBEDUDE]

Man that is just so cool! I'd jump at that opportunity.

Thanks for sharing.

[shooter93]

They bring one here fairly often. I didn't go the last time because there were 3 of us at 100.00 a shot and work was slow. I have no doubt I will go though. My brother just took the flight where he lives. Especially meaningful to us because our Father was a tail gunner in one. He was highly decorated and he was in the War so early virtually all his flights were done without Fighter escort. Their losses were staggering but they never quit.

[richhodg66]

"Their losses were staggering but they never quit."

Man, you got that right. I swear, that kind of courage doesn't exist today. Maybe it does on an individual level with some guys, but sure doesn't on a national or any kind of collective level. And it's one thing to be brave, quite another to face that day after day after day, knowing the odds are going to catch up to you sooner or later.

They truly were the greatest generation.

[g5m]

Sounds like the ride was a great time!

[TheGrimReaper]

Now, that is Awsome!!!

[gnoahhh]

Green with envy here, Rich!

[gkainz]

I am so so torn when presented with the opportunity for B-17 or P-51 ... I weigh the cost against how many gallons of avgas that will buy for my own flying and have yet to pull the trigger on that ... but kick myself in regret the next day every time.

[popper]

Climbed around the Memphis Bell when it was docked at Mud Island. City didn't want to maintain it so they sold it. Always wanted to climb aboard a 24 as FIL was a nav during WWII. This is neat. http://www.youtube.com/embed/iKlt6rNciTo?rel=0. Plants like this all over the nation then.