B17 Bomber

Expensive? According to the EAA in 2005 operating costs for a B17 ran $3000/hr. Engine overhauls (figure 2 per year) $40,000. 5000 hours of maintenance/yr - that's over $1 million. I expect those costs have increased considerably.

There are 3 flying that you might possibly get to ride in. Take the flight.
 
That old bomber brings back old memories,and my neighbor was a tail gunner in England during WWII,had 28 combat missions,he will be 92 this December.

Ret Chief USAF
 
eisman said:
Expensive? According to the EAA in 2005 operating costs for a B17 ran $3000/hr. Engine overhauls (figure 2 per year) $40,000. 5000 hours of maintenance/yr - that's over $1 million. I expect those costs have increased considerably.

There are 3 flying that you might possibly get to ride in. Take the flight.
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That makes it more understandable. Also, that I am clearer...I meant for me. IMHO, $500 a person for 20-30 minutes is not a ride that Im up for at this time. There was a time Id been like hey lets take the whole family.:thumbup::cool:

Its just not that time. Not yet:)

and I love planes. I had the B-17, B-15, B-24, and a B-29 hanging from my ceiling as a kid. I painted em and tied em up with fishing line. Have a couple for my son too.

So, if you can swing it.....GO Fly Brother:)
 
eisman said:
Expensive? According to the EAA in 2005 operating costs for a B17 ran $3000/hr. Engine overhauls (figure 2 per year) $40,000. 5000 hours of maintenance/yr - that's over $1 million. I expect those costs have increased considerably.

There are 3 flying that you might possibly get to ride in. Take the flight.
Click to expand...

I live in the city, so i might ride by on my way out to the camp site, just to see the planes.... But i hate flying! My ears pop.... but dont regulate. I get really bad pressure headaches. For the same reason I cant go diving either....... I couldnt afford the 500 price anyway :)

Real funny story. I was taking a military hop or jump flight years ago. me and another soldier going home. At the time I lived in Florida, so did he. Well it was during Florida's hurricane weather. The flight ended up being cancelled, then a few hours later we are told there is a little plane headed that way.. so we jump on.... We got to sit right up in the front and everything. me and him was the only 2 passengers. We were already a bit tipsy from the wait, but then we were offered a small bottle of vodka as a thanks for our service... we was getting lit on the plane... Then the plane starting hitting turbulence.... The the pilot came on and said we are going to have to crash land.... Then me and the other soldier started freaking out.... Barely a second later the pilot starts cracking up on the intercom and says... Sorry men, I have always wanted to do that LMAO.. I dont think my heart stopped pounding for several hours lmao.
 
About 8 or 9 years ago, a B-17 stopped in town. It cost me $5 to crawl around in it but it was well worth it. Took all kinds of photos and video. The best part was a photo my wife took of my 2 1/5 year old son being held up in the pilots window. He smiled and wave at just the right time... It made the best gift for my son's grandfathers (both vets).

If anyone has a chance to fly or crawl through one of the old war birds , do it.

Fred
 
That is really amazing. I would love to get to take a flight in a B17 and I HATE flying. I would get over it to ride in a B17 though.

Garth
 
:thumbup:Great looking bird! I use to be in aircraft maintenance with the Marines, and we had a big air show in El Toro CA every year. I really enjoyed seeing the vintage WWII planes.:)
 
There is one on permanent display at the Fantasy of Flight museum in Orlando, Florida; along with hundreds of fully restored and operational aircraft from the period.

n2s
 
Very cool!
During WWII my father was a flight engineer in B-17's with the 8th Army Air force in England and I believe it was the 6th in Italy?
He is gone now. I can remember watching TV shows like 12:00 high with him as a youngster and he would explain different things about the B-17 Bomber.

Would love to get the chance to fly in one. Many of the WWII bombers were destroyed for just Aluminum scrap metal to be sold after the war.

Laurence
 
not2sharp said:
There is one on permanent display at the Fantasy of Flight museum in Orlando, Florida; along with hundreds of fully restored and operational aircraft from the period.

n2s
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info., I'll check that out next time I'm in Orlando.
 
They are pretty bare bones for sure. There was another vet at the event telling stories since he was not able to climb into the plane to take the ride. He was telling us about the suits they had to wear because of the cold.

Here are a couple more pics of the inside

IMG_5062.jpgIMG_5063.jpgIMG_5064.jpg
 
Nice pix man.
I just read about a German Me-109 pilot who refused to shoot down a crippled bomber and pointed the bomber pilot towards home. Google, Charlie Brown bomber story.
 
That's super cool! Thanks for the pics! 500 is a little rich for my blood; I can get something very interesting started over there at ye olde Busse custom shop for that kinda scratch!
There's a guy down in the Keys with a Mig that will take you up and get as crazy as you're willing to go. That was 4 or five hunnert about ten years ago.
 
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