Flying Fortress Flight Experience

Today I had the opportunity to ride along on the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) B-17 "Aluminum Overcast". I had wanted to do this for years, and wish I had done it sooner.

The EAA National Tour was at the Van Nuys Airport this weekend. Van Nuys is in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. Van Nuys Airport is the busiest General Aviation Airport in the World I believe.

I arrived an hour before the flight as requested. An added bonus was the fact that there were a few veterans there to add their personal reflections on being a crew member during WWII. This added so much to the flight, something that only riding in the machine could never have.

We departed north out of Van Nuys, then turned east, and toured over the eastern side of the valley, south to an area between Glendale and Burbank, and then on towards downtown Los Angeles. We then turned west and flew along the Hollywood Hills. There were great views of Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Sign, as well as downtown.

The route took us west past the 405 freeway, with great views of downtown to the rear, as well as out towards LAX, the beaches, and the ocean. We turned back north and flew over areas of Bel Air, and then back into Van Nuys.

The radio room overhead hatch was removed before the flight, and it made for great views (and alot of wind/noise). It was nearly 90 degrees, so it was warm, as well as a bit bumpy. This only added to the experience. It was difficult at times to move around. I can only imagine what it was like for the brave men dealing with Flak, Fighters, as well as the weather!

Here are a few pictures of the day:

Top Stuff!...:eusa_clap

Fantastic !! What a great experience that must have been.

My God! Beautiful! How much did it cost?

AARP said:

My God! Beautiful! How much did it cost?

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It was $375.00 as an EAA member. Slightly higher for non members. It is expensive, so I had saved my milk money for awhile so to speak.

It was well worth it. The experience, plus the personal recollections of the vets in attendance at the event were priceless.

I will now save my milk money for a flight experience in the Collings Foundations B-24. Of course by next year government interference and regulation may spell the end of these types of flights as well as other worthy aviation causes.

Incredible isn't it? I got to fly on the B-25J Panchito. Just awesome. Actually I'm a "Flight Safety Officer" with Panchito. Basically I was trained on how to babysit paying passengers. Things like how to buckle you in for take-off and landing, keep air-to-air photographers from climbing out of the aircraft while in flight etc. My favourite though from my instructor was these words "And in the event that the bird is going in for its last landing..." followed by instructions on securing the passengers and removing the emergency hatch. The other thing we do as Flight Safety Officers is dress in period or reproduction flight gear. Wish I could find my pictures. Your ride looks pretty sweet! Mine was in turbulent weather and after landing I had to pull a vintage manuever and smoke a camel or else I'd have pulled a real authentic maneuver and let fly my lunch!

Matt

MPicciotto said:

Mine was in turbulent weather and after landing I had to pull a vintage manuever and smoke a camel or else I'd have pulled a real authentic maneuver and let fly my lunch!
Matt

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It is a great experience! The B-25 is one of my favorite aircraft. In the early 90's I was living and working in the Joplin Missouri area. A restoration group known as the "Kansas City Warbirds" kept the B-25 "Fairfax Ghost" at the Joplin Airport for a few years. I was able to volunteer with them for 1.5 seasons before the aircraft was sold.

One of the highlights was the fact that Travis Hoover, aircraft commander of the #2 plane off the USS Hornet on the Doolittle Raid was a part of the group. He was a very kind man with much to share. I was lucky enough to get to ride along for two airshows.

Unfortunately on the first show I was unprepared for the maneuvering during the flyby "bombing" demo that involved low level, formation, bouncing around with the simulated bomb explosions on the ground. They were really pulling it around making it look good for the crowd. The lunch I ate less than 30 minutes before did not like it at all.... Thank god for hefty bags......As an embarrassing side note, as if it could get worse, when we landed back at Joplin that afternoon; there was a news crew there to shoot pictures and do a story as the weekend in question was around the anniversary of the Doolittle raid. Me and my hefty bag made a hasty retreat.....

That B-25 ended up eventually being bought, restored and now flies as the Red Bull B-25 in Europe.

Awesome...

I just completed this flight here in Seattle - perfect weather and an extended ride as we flew over the National Cemetery south of Seattle. Here's a few shots...

Waiting for the flight


Looking forward


Waist gunner's view

Fairfax Ghost

I was also on the crew for the B-25 in Joplin Mo. I got to go to 4 or 5 airshows in the Ghost. The best one was Oshkosh in 1992. That was the year they honored the Doolittle Raiders. There where 9 B-25s there for the tribute. Being on that crew was just about the most rewarding thing I've done. I am very proud to have helped show that part of history to the public.

That is tops! Thanks for posting man! Great pics!

Roger. Mission accomplished. Job well done.

-dixon cannon

warbirdfanatic said:

I was also on the crew for the B-25 in Joplin Mo. I got to go to 4 or 5 airshows in the Ghost. The best one was Oshkosh in 1992. That was the year they honored the Doolittle Raiders. There where 9 B-25s there for the tribute. Being on that crew was just about the most rewarding thing I've done. I am very proud to have helped show that part of history to the public.

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Small World! Welcome to FL from another new guy. 1992 was the same year I and my friend Travis were with the group. I was only able to go on two outings that year due to work. One of which was the Harrison Ark. Airshow. Were you on that one by chance?

Dave

oh my great - how much loveley must have that been???

i really wish i could have the chance to do this once - and thanks to you bbc, the pictures are very great. very detailled and just-in-place. gave me a good imagination of the real thing.

currently my mates and me are planning a very small air venture (not really a venture, more a club-show) and i am trying to engage a russian YAK trainer to make a display and hoping for a ride!!!

if we make it happen, promised to post some pics!

BTW if you have more of these beautiful pictures pls load them up somewhere and pls give them free to load ...

Excellent photos BBC and Maintcoder! I am very envious of your flight. In 2001 I had the opportunity to fly in a B-25 at the 59th Doolittle raiders reunion. I couldn't make the flight and have always regretted it. I did, however, make the flyover of a dozen 25's in bombing formation over Fresno, CA. It was a pretty awesome experience but I think you have it beat...in spades!! Congratulations and thanks for sharing the pictures.:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

I'm not jealous at all, nooo....

Congratulations on some well spent dollars.

Happy landings - Wow it looks like a lifetime experience.:eusa_clap
Thank you for sharing.