Saw something REALLY cool today- B-17 bomber!!

Comming home from York Sat,. one took off from the WW II air show in Reading Pa., right over our head. Gave me chill's, what a sight.

 

How about that sweet sound of the 4 Prat & Witneys??? ... Now imagine 4 B-17's flying in a box formation over yer head???...

 

Thanks for the pics. I was able to fly in "Aluminum Overcast" in about 1997. It was well worth it. The last time I checked on flight costs from the E.A.A. ,(about 2 years ago), the price for a B-17 ride was still about the same as it was in 1997.

Last summer, I was able to fly in "The Southern Cross" C-47, another memorable flight.

 

We have had the B17 and B24 several times here at the airport I work at and is always a popular attraction.

 

Very cool!

 

Here's one that is currently being restored at the Chino Air Museum.

 

These others are supposedly in flying conditions.

 

'Very cool...

 

I believe I saw that flying over me down in Palouse yesterday. Told my wife to look at the B-17 in the air. She didn't seem as excited as I was.

 

Yesterday marked the 67th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy France... I totaly forgot about it!.... I feel bad...

 

Here is a pic of my son that I took in front of the B-25 named "Take off Time" at this years Reading WWII weekend. We had a great time and to see it all through the eyes of my 4-year old who was amazed the whole day was priceless - Fryguy

 

Thanks for the pics and storys guys! I wanna go for a flight next time it's here!!

 

Pick up a used copy of Ed Jablonskis' "Flying Fortress" book, also his "Airwar" Series of four books. Amazing, humbling suff. It will leave you in awe of what these guys did, and went through.
The U.S. would put up 1,000 heavy bombers a day out of the UK, B-17's and B-24's.
Another great book is "Log of the Liberators"

 

very cool man. Thanks for sharing the story and your pictures!

I work at Scaled Composites in Mojave. There's all kinds of crazy aircraft that come and go from the Mojave Air & Space Port. Haven't seen a B-17 (yet!), but a fully restored B-25 was here not too long ago. And those old planes sound WILD when they're flyin over ya. As was previously stated, I couldn't imagine what a formation of those planes would have sounded like... Probably sounded pretty f**kin SCARY

 

a group of car guys get together each week for lunch at the local greasy spoon, but once in a while we go on a "road trip" to see someone's collection, or rod shop or whatever. last week we went to urbana, ohio airport where there is a b-17 being restored, very fascinating, mind boggling. every piece of aluminum has been hand made and replaced, must be about 3 million rivets, makes me think that car resto is just childsplay in comparison! turned out to be the best "road trip" yet.

 

that is something i would want to see in person, i mean riding in a ac-130 now was cool but riding one of them would be killer!!!! very cool pictures my friend!

 

Thanks for the pic's. Very cool. I saw the Aluminum Overcast along with all the flyable B-17's (around 7 ) at the Geneseo, N.Y. air show in 04'. What a sight to see the seven of them making a pass along with a few P-51's and other vintage fighters. And what's really cool is it's a grass field. You can just imagine yourself at one of those English airfields back in the day. The show is coming up July 10th and I'm not going to miss it.

 

She was in Napa last week maybe or maybe a couple weeks agao. Anyhow it made my day while I was a work to hear that fly over my office!!

 

You got that right. One of the sweetest sounds ever. Unmistakable.
I've ridden in a B-25 and Beech 18. The B-25 is one of the loudest things I've ever been around. Close to a Top Fueler or Funny car.

 

A B17 crashed near Chicago:

http://www.suntimes.com/5936097-417/world-war-ii-bomber-plane-crashes-in-cornfield-near-oswego.html

 

Yikes! It sounds like from the story, the plane was on fire in the air, and landed safely in a cornfield. Hopefully it is repairable...

 

More links and pics: Not much left.
http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216851

 

it's the liberty belle, from what i see it's a total loss. probably save some major assemblies to fix other planes, but that plane was 90% completely new after she was restored...

 

Edit: I just saw why this thread was back at the top, really should have read all the way through before posting, sorry. It really sucks the old bird went down, at least everyone got out ok..

We have and air show out here once a year where they bring out the old warbirds. Last year I had the B17, the B25 and a P51 fly in formation over my house at low altitude... What an awe inspiring sound, it shook the whole house...

Kinda unrelated story, my late gramps was a flight engineer on a B29 stationed in England in the 50-60's. He use to tell stories about "accidently getting lost" over soviet territory and "accidently taking pictures" of there air bases, then getting escorted back to friendly skys by MIGs.

He was also known to load his old Harley 45 up into the bomb bay on empty runs, then they'd fly to Germany, unload it, and he'd go to town to grab a bunch of beer and brats, load the bike up again, fly to France, unload the bike, go pick up the bread and women, load everything up and head back to base for one hell of a party... Guess those old guys knew how to have a good time

 

Aw man that is so sad... glad nobody was hurt, but to lose another 17--there just aren't enough of them left.

 

Dammit, I saw this thread back at the top and now I know why. Saw it on fox news a minute ago. Sad, glad everyone got out ok...

 

Definately not enough of them around anymore!
I get mixed feeling about these planes when accidents like this happen. What's better.....Flying them like they should be, or static display, so we don't loose anymore?!?!? I guess it's like having a cool car, and being afraid to drive it, because it may get wrecked.
I live a couple miles off the end of the runway of an smaller airport that hangers several vintage war planes, as well as a Ford Tri-motor. There's nothing cooler then being outside and hearing the roar of an approaching vintage plane coming from the airport. They even have a fighter "squadron" that will do fly-overs every once in a while, sometimes accompanied by a bomber!
I LOVE the fly-overs, but I worry about the loss of these planes, as they are irreplaceable! I was glad to hear that the crew of the plane that crashed in Chicago was able to escape unharmed! Hopefully parts can be salvaged and help another bird live.