This is a discussion on What a ride, went up in a B-17 today. within the Off Topic & Humor Discussion forums, part of the The Back Porch category; Went out and flew a local today. Once in a lifetime opportunity, caught a ride on the Liberty Bell, a restored B-17. The crews of ...
Went out and flew a local today. Once in a lifetime opportunity, caught a ride on the Liberty Bell, a restored B-17. The crews of those planes must have been something else to fly at 25,000 feet with the wind blasting in on them for 10 to 12 hours at a time. The experience was worth every penny for the ticket. Oh and keeping it gun related, both waist gunner positions had de-milled Ma Deuces installed.
Home | Liberty Belle B-17 Flying Fortress
IMG_0828.JPG IMG_0832.JPG IMG_0871.JPG IMG_0859.JPG
When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
"Don't forget, incoming fire has the right of way."
Array
That is awesome! I'm jealous!
Array
Yep, went on that ride a couple of years ago. Quite the memorable ride indeed. It was awesome crawling around in there while under way. The plane is much smaller than it looks on TV historical footage. Plus there is basically no armor, and zero creature comforts either. Kudos to all those brave baztards that flew missions in those planes!
EDIT: Here's a couple more pics, to add to 'msgt's'
IMG_1595.jpg
The bomb sight - awesome view from this position!!!
IMG_1592.jpg
This is a view looking out from the top turret gun position. Imagine looking out there and seeing a ME-109 on your tail!
IMG_1590.jpg
This is looking through bomb bay and you can see a guy standing in the top turret gun position. Behind him you can see pilot and co-pilot.
-
Last edited by Chevy-SS; September 3rd, 2012 at 09:33 AM. Reason: Add a couple of pics
'Be careful, even in small matters' - Miyamoto Musashi
Array
I'm extremely envious!
I would love to take a ride in any military aircraft.
Congratulations on your adventure, msgt/ret.
Array
Originally Posted by Sontag
^^^^YeP^^^^^!!!!!!!!!!!^^^^^^
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
Washington didn't use his freedom of speech to defeat the British, He shot them!
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy." -- Ernest Benn
Array
I am officially 100% jealous.....
VCDL Member
"Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready."
Theodore Roosevelt
Array
Array
Sweet! Very very cool! Hope to get an opportunity like that someday.
BigJon
"Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt" ~ Mark Twain
Array
Nice.
Array
Noisy but a sweet noise nothing else like a big radial and prop. There were a few older gentlemen there and one was a former waist gunner. Met some very nice people and many were former and children and grandchildren of WW-II Vets.
When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
"Don't forget, incoming fire has the right of way."
Array
What he said, that he said....
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
I asked my stock broker the other day, what I should be investing in ....his reply, canned goods n ammo !!!
Very cool...I'd do that in a heartbeat!
Nice pics, too!
"That I cannot do."
"Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks."
***********************************
Certified Glock Armorer
NRA Life Member
I'm always amazed at how small they are inside.
Going from the waist gunner’s position to the cockpit I did have a bit of a problem of squeezing my fat little butt across the catwalk in the bomb bay. Should have taken a picture aimed slightly higher but there is a V shaped support just behind the cockpit on the catwalk. Just noticed in the pic, the support is center frame.
IMG_0846.JPG
When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
"Don't forget, incoming fire has the right of way."
Posting Permissions
18Likes
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
