I got to ride on it from Peoria Il up to Chicago in the morning and then back in the afternoon. It was about 45 minutes each way. The only cost was my volunteer labor this weekend to the EAA. Some pics are blurey but the airplane shakes so much its a wonder any of them are clear.

This morning as I was getting dressed and thinking about how excited I was, I was also thought about how so many many men were scared shitless when they were getting dressed to go on a B17. They litterally saved the world as we know it, and we owe them everything.

Here it is on the ramp.


My Seat for takeoff. You had to buckle up for takeoff/landing, but you are free to roam for the rest of the time.


Radio station up through the bomb bay into the cockpit


Rear view port just forward of the tail.


Downtown Peoria



Left side out the bombardier station. Each engine produces 1,200hp and drinks 50 gallons an hour at the leisurely pace they fly at.


Right engines


I took my hat off for the picture and probably should have left it on.

Then I closed my eyes


Top secret stuff! (the bomb sight)


Out the top turret




Berlin would be easier to find with those fancy moving map GPS'


The bombardier also manned the forward guns.


It didnt hold that many bombs.


Ball turret


Blurry but interesting.

Sweet!

Quoted: Sweet!

I'll double that...........



Double Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



My grandpa flew those over Germany.  I have his wings and Lt. bars, wish I had his B17.  

awesome

I've been aboard that plane! Sigh, it was ovc 1000 the day I was to ride in it. They brought it in for the KSU aviation festival.

Dude, that is awesome.

Needs more Collins ProLine 21 though.

Fucking A!
<drool>

That's bad ass you flown out in it...

I climmed inside the B-17 owned by the WW2 club on the Tarmac here in Fort Laud Florida...

Beautiflu war-bird inside and out...

Nothing but a bucket of rivets & bolts,

Quoted: Needs more Collins ProLine 21 though.

Another great post, w/great pics

Jealousy sets in........................................my favorite WW2 aircraft

Dude, that is freaking awesome!  As said before, totally jealous.  Did they have the ball turret operational?  

Quoted: Dude, that is freaking awesome!  As said before, totally jealous.  Did they have the ball turret operational?

You couldnt get down in it, but when it was on the ground they let some kids crawl in it and they swung it around, so Im guessing it was disconnected to the motor, but free to swing.

Awesome. I've always wanted to ride in the B-25 they have down here. To bad its like $350 for a 20 minute ride.

I took a tour of one of those about a month ago. That thing is sweet!!! I bet it was awesome riding in that thing!

Quoted: Awesome. I've always wanted to ride in the B-25 they have down here. To bad its like $350 for a 20 minute ride.

Yeah if it wouldnt have been free there is no way on earth I would have been able to swing that.

need more pics of the dummy 50's.

I got to ride on Fuddy Duddy two years ago.
Aluminum Overcast will be at my chapter's
airport this Friday through Sunday.

The best seat in the house is looking back
over the tail from the radio op/waist gunner
opening. I got a great photo as we departed
AVL.

What a ride!

Johnny C!

P.S. Edit to add, if you will join the national
EAA & a local chapter, volunteer when they host
it, there is a good chance you can ride on it for free!  

sweetie! amazing pictures! I must say you have developed into quite the photographer. I am so glad you got to do this... and to anyone that knows KKid knows not much gets him excited- not even an expensive Xmas gift from but he was SOOO excited!


anyway, great pictures and if you want me to get them developed- e-mail me them or bring them in on a disc! love you!

I flew in this A/C in June of last year when it came to BFI.





One of the coolest things I have done.

Sir James...

Awesome!  If that's the one from the EAA museum in Oshkosh then I have been in it before.  My grandfather was a bombardier in those in the Pacific.

Quoted: -snip-

Thanks babe! (Why does it say you're from Alaska?)

Quoted: I flew in this A/C in June of last year when it came to BFI. i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn132/SirJames_album/DSC00414.jpg i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn132/SirJames_album/DSC00440.jpg i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn132/SirJames_album/DSC00437.jpg i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn132/SirJames_album/DSC00426.jpg One of the coolest things I have done. Sir James...

Those are awesome pics, better than mine for sure. Thanks for sharing! Its absolutely beautiful aver the water and city!

She is sitting at LEX right now. Last night I had to walk out behind the museum and rub up against her one more time. Very very sweet bird.

Wow. Each engine burning 50 gallons an hour? Just wow. No wonder it's so costly to take a ride!

I flew in CAF's B17 "Sentimental Journey" back in the summer of 2003.  It was $350 well spent and if I ever get the chance to do it again I'll take the hour ride.  It was awesome.  I could almost hear my g'pa talking me we flew, I too took off in the navigators position and had a good view of the top of the wings.    I got to land in the bombadier's position and that was as aweseme as it gets.  

I had just lost my g'pa the fall prior, he flew the B24 in the PTO (mosty "up the slot") but also put many hours in a B17 doing ferry work from San Fran to Pearl Harbor/Hickam.  He spoke highly of the B17 due to its ease of flight compared to the B24, "but on paper" he would say the B24 could do it all better.  

You'll never forget the experience and I suggest you go up every time you can.