Gonna Take A Sentimental Journey

[Captain Crunch]

A grand old WW2 war-bird, the B-17G named Sentimental Journey, flown by a crew from the Commemorative Air Force (formerly the Confederate Air Force) out of Mesa, Arizona, is visiting here this week-end.

She is one of only ten B17s flying in the world today, out of a total of more than 12,000 produced during the war. This one was built in 1944. Everything aboard has been restored to WW2 specs, including the Norden bombsight. The .50 calibers have been de-activated, of course.

30 minute flights were available, at $425.00 a person. I had to take a pass, sorry to say.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[JD]

She's beautiful

I'd love to take a flight as long as I could be in the nose

[SIXTO]

I think I would have emptied my penny jar to come up with the $450.

[P95Carry]

That's an expensive flight but hey - what a beautiful bird.

Can hardly image the 1,000's of man hours that have gone into maintainance and restoration. That is one superb chunk of history.

[SIXTO]

That's an expensive flight but hey - what a beautiful bird.

It is a lot of peso's for a ride, but I would look at it as a donation for the next project these guys do. Preserving our history is priceless.

[falcon1]

What a beautiful old lady! Thanks for posting!

"...the world grew up...he** of a shame."--Patton

[Miggy]

It is a lot of peso's for a ride, but I would look at it as a donation for the next project these guys do. Preserving our history is priceless.

+1! The wife would kill me but I always loved those old birds. One would be flying in the wings of history!

[Baby Hulk]

It is a lot of peso's for a ride, but I would look at it as a donation for the next project these guys do. Preserving our history is priceless.

+2

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful!!
Objects like this are truly precious to those who love history.

[jackofspades]

Over Father's Day, we had "Aluminum Overcast" out here at one of our Airports.. while I couldn't save enough pennies for the $400.00 to go for a ride.. we did stand in line and take the 'ground tour' and got to climb around inside it (had to stay out of the cockpit, and the bombardier's "area")..oh, and the turrets, they wouldn't let us sit in there either.. the kids loved it.

If it comes back next year, maybe I'll be able to scrounge the pennies up for the flight..

[Bud White]

http://picasaweb.google.com/usnpao/T...07726780349650


they had the b-25s here recently i was unable to go to the show too bad

[Bud White]

This is the local b-17 the "Yankee Lady" it barely escaped the fire in 04 i think it was when the hanger burnt to the ground lots of stuff was lost i think the ride is 400$ here too

[retsupt99]

Beautiful birds...if around here, I think I'd add the pennies and take the trek...

Thanks for the pic's

ret

[ppkheat]

During WWII my father was an aircraft mechanic in Europe and N. Africa, so I grew up with great tales of airplanes, and have learned a lot from him. A few years ago B-17 "Aluminum Overcast" came to town. I paid my bucks (tax deductible), got a flight jacket, and got to ride on it for an hour flight. The hour flight included 10 minutes of actual flying time in the left-hand seat !!! And they take your pic while flying it. The "real" pilot in the right hand seat asks over the intercom about your flying experience and with that information he varies his involvement with your flight time.

It was a great flight and experience, afterwards I was on a high as if I had bought ten new guns on the same day. During the flight they let you pretty much go all over the plane, to each position, though not tailgunner. By coincidence I was sitting in the bombadiers seat (glass nose) and what a spectacular view, and I was sitting there when the "real" pilot buzzed the field prior to us landing. It was breathtaking.

About a year ago, I took a ride on a B-24 Liberator, it was for only 30 minutes and no actual flight time allowed. I believe it is the only flying B-24 in existence. If you have the choice between the two, take the B-17, it's much easier to maneuver throughout.

[Bob The Great]

That would be awesome, as long as they didn't stick me in the belly turret for the duration of the flight.

I would have to live on ramen noodles for a few weeks, but that would totally be worth $450, especially to actually "fly" a B-17! Next time I have some disposable income, this might be worth a road trip.

I've always loved WW aircraft, and the B-17 is just iconic. I'm getting excited just sitting here thinking about it.

[BIG E]

That would have been a good reason to add 450 bucks to the CARD. Not many things qualify for that kind of spending, but a ride in that baby might have done it for me.