Let's get Bombed !!! Okay let's go up on a B-17 Bomber . KMTN fly-in "Memphis Belle"

[JOHNNYXRAY]

Let's get Bombed !!! Okay let's go up on a B-17 Bomber . KMTN fly-in "Memphis Belle"







I am in the process of reserving the" Memphis Belle B-17 from the movie" on either Saturday or Sunday August 30 or 31st .It has 9 positions available per 1/2 hour flight. The going rate is approx. $ 450 a person. They were very supportive of our golf outing and donated 2 $450 seats . I was able to get them $450 back in hole sponsorships. I have about 3 people interested in going on a tour and flight .The ground tour is free. The winner of the helicopter drop donated his ride to his nephew so I plan on making a fly in ,buying a ticket and going for a pretty insane adventure along with him. Anyone want to join me ? It burns about $4500 worth of fuel an hour . So as pricey as the ride seems it makes since. Should make for a fun fly in . Any interest ? KMTN is Martin State airport near Baltimore MD . les , I know this is your home base hopefully I am not encroaching . I think they will be willing to give us a group rate should some of you be interested.

 

[mvanover]

I think I was the last B-17 field rep. I was in Paris when I was approached by a club "Fortresse Toujour Volante" (Fortress Always Flying). There was an NPRM that would call for removal from service of all B-17s. This organization was a bit concern as this particular airplane was one that flew in the movie "Memphis Belle". It was the only airworthy B-17 in France at the time. I was able, through Boeing Field Service, to contact a group of engineers at Renton, Washington that was restoring a B-17 for the Seattle Museum of Flight. They developed an NDT method for inspecting the lower spar chord that was accepted by the FAA and applied almost immediately by every operator of B-17s world wide. The results were forwarded to the FAA and no AD ever got published.

One of the reasons the B-17 was considered so rugged an airplane is the spars were 4130 tubular steel truss structure. It would take damage and still hold on, even with some heat applied. While many were lost during the big one (WWII), there were ones that brought their crews home in spite of damage that would have destroyed other airplanes. My uncle was a tail gunner on a B-17 and never stop raving about that airplane. I never knew the details that put it so much in his admiration, but I do remember him sayin' it was the best airplane in the war. He's gone now and I am sorry I never learned those details that impressed him so much. One of the "greatest generation", like my father, never talked much about the war they fought. It wasn't until my father passed and we had a memorial that I learned from his brother that he was at Bastogne during the battle of the bulge and among the first to jump across the Rhine River into Germany. He was in the 101st Airborne.

I have gone on a B-17 flight (509). It was worth the $400 at the time. Nothing like hearing four Wright 1820s winding up for take-off and then being synchronized into harmony. Watching the landscape go under from the bombardiers station was something I will never forget. Made the hair stand up on my neck. If you have the opportunity to take one of these flights. DO IT! These airplanes will not fly forever, except in the minds of those that lived the horror of war. We owe it to those that did, to experience just a part of what they went through every day.

 

[Unclerap]

My Dad finally got his wish in 1946 and got to fly the -17. He ferried them back from England after the war. He was deemed too small for bombers so was assigned to the P51 during the war. After 1/2 dz crossings in the right seat, he happily returned to his fighter squadron. He'll be 89 on Monday.

 

[vanhook]

Marty, I guess I had that backwards. I thought you were the first B-17 field rep.

 

[JOHNNYXRAY]

Thanks for all the input Marty ,Rap and Cloyd .Any takers for a fly in at Martin state next weekend .Get your BAC coin, a Beech nut t-shirt , tour or fly in the B-17 . Les , I Pm'd you.

 

[JOHNNYXRAY]

It wasn't the biggest fly-in turn out .Les, thanks for coming out and giving Andrea and I the tour of Martin State Airport. 6 am drive to Baltimore to meet the 10 year old Nephew of Martin Walls who paid for a foursome in the Golf Tournament. Martin did all the BAC Swing posters and printing at no charge . He was fortunate enough to win the Helicopter Ball drop for the Memphis Belle mission .He asked if his nephew could take the ride instead of him .I couldn't let a 10 year old go on this unsupervised so I purchased a ticket myself. Young Logan has never been on a plane before and has spent the summer building model warbird airplanes (and damaging them to make them battle worn). We had a delay in taking off due to a former Army Air Corps vet (92 years young) Who was being given a tour of the plane .(He had brought a couple pictures and stories from his days of being a bombardier on the B-17).He had some health issues and the most important thing to him was the pictures he had. The ambulance had to take care of him .I believe he is okay now. Marty, you said for $400 do it. I could not agree with you more. The flight was amazing !!!!! Approx 30 minutes of flight time ,After take off you are free to move about to the different stations . I am sore from smiling .I am including some pictures. Strongly recommend going on one of these flights and supporting these guys (Several B-17 options Sentimental Journey ,Aluminum Overcast (eaa),etc) I am partial to the Memphis Belle group.

 

[jkrane]

That. Looks. Awesome! Thanks for sharing Johnny.

 

[N6008L]

You're very welcome! It was nice to meet you and your family. And thank you for the tee shirt and coin!

Now that I have figured out what to do, we can arrange a fly-in if there's interest.