Taking a ride

[SHobbs]

Grandfather ( moms dad ) was a B-17 pilot in WWII, he was shot down twice. The second time was near Datteln Germany just after the bombs were released, AAA took the plane down resulting in him being a P. O. W for nearly three years. Fortunately every one of of his crew survived only to be captured as well. My great uncle even found one of his crew members which we have a recording of him talking about my grandad and that fateful day. I can't imagine what it took for these guys to keep climbing in these planes day after day to do what they did. I have been wanting to take a ride in one for years and found a place in Galveston that offers rides so I am taking mom and myself on a ride on the 12th over Galveston Island. The plane pictured is the actual plane we will ride in. The name of the plane is Thunderbird.







http://www.lsfm.org/b17flyingfortressbomber.html



File:B17g and b52h in flight.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[kenny61]

Every year ait our county airport they have a vintage airplane day and there are 2 or 3 old bombers, not sure which, models, that you can fly in for a few hundred bucks

 

[SHobbs]

We just arrived in Galveston ( 5 hr drive ) when the flight museum called to say the FAA grounded the flight. We decided to head to the museum to reschedule and at least see the plane. They normaly don't allow walk throughs in the plane while it's in the hanger but after talking to a member of the maintanance crew about the plane and why we were there he let us walk through the plane. Talk about cramped in some areas, once inside you learn real quick why crew members were not that big in stature. Walking from the waist gunner positions forward to the cockpit is definitely a challenge. The bomb bay is a skinny little catwalk into the cockpit which to get there you go through and under the top turret position. Getting to the nose you have to crawl down under the cockpit floor in which once in the nose there is no standing up.



After going through the plane you can't help but wonder how in the world if in an emergency situation how anyone got out of these planes alive but they did. My granfather did it twice, how I have no clue. Walking through was one thing, I can't wait for the flight. Seating arrangements are first come first serve so me and mom will be there first so we can sit in the nose during takeoff.



First picture is the bomb bay forward, notice the control cables along the ceiling. Second is the trap door under the cockpit into the nose and the third is looking out the nose.

 

[SHobbs]

Here are a few more



1st is the waist gunners . 50cal. 2nd is looking forward from the radio room and 3rd is the ball turrent which you have to be very small to fit in. One thing about the ball turrent and the top turrent I learned is that there are two . 50 cal. machine guns at ear level everytime they are fired your head just gets rocked with noise. Can you imagine shooting them for very long, it had to be deafening. One thing I noticed really quick walking through the plane was that once over enemy territory the noise inside had to be incredible.

 

[SHobbs]

Some more shots. The third is looking toward the tail you can see a little seat back there to sit on and his ammo boxes.

 

[kowaliga]

Probably frigid too. Nice photographs, nice work.

 

[PToombs]

Very cool! Awesome pics! I hope you get a good ride, enjoy it.

Don't forget to bring us more in-flight photos.

 

[SHobbs]

Got the word today, flight is scheduled for the 26th. The 25th will be hectic, we get back from Reno at 4:45pm. Hope to head toward Galveston by at least 7pm. Fingers are crossed that the weather holds up this time. We will have two cameras again plus the video camera, hoping for that nose seat to catch the taxi and take off.

 

[SHobbs]

Finally got our flight on Sept. 26. Thought it was going to get postponed again but the weather cleared and everything was a go. Not sure of the exact altitude but the view over Galveston was great. Sitting on the tarmac waiting for the engines to warm up before heading down the runway it was very hot inside the plane. I was soaked to the bone before we finally got off the ground and got some air moving through which almost felt like having a/c. I got the very up front seat in the nose for take off and landing.



Was an incredible day and the flight was everything I thought it would be and definitely worth the price paid. I walked away having just a small piece of what it was like my for grandfather and the thousands of brave airmen that climbed into these warbirds no matter which aircraft they were in. If the chance ever presents itself to take a ride in a vintage bomber, take it.

 

[rbattelle]

Wow, what a great airplane! You just can't beat the sound of a good old reciprocating radial air cooled spark ignition engine. [Can't beat the fuel economy, either!].

I am definitely jealous. May I ask what the flight cost? How long were you in the air?

On edit - Answered my own question -> $425/person.

Ryan

 

[SHobbs]

Ryan,



You get 30 minutes of air time which you are free to roam about the plane. Only places you can't go is in the ball and the tail. Texas is blessed to have three flying B-17's. There is the Texas Raiders in Houston, Chuckie in Fort Worth and Thunderbird in Galveston. Unfortunatley Chuckie does not offer rides and the Texas Raiders is in for maintanance untill further notice. As soon as Texas Raiders is ready I am planning a ride on that one and maybe they will offer rides in Chuckie in the future.



I can tell you that the ride was well worth it. Hard to believe thousands of airmen climbed into these planes everyday and put their lives on the line. I would definitely do it again in the future, who knows how long they will continue to fly. We were told after our flight that some senator here in Texas wants the wings cut off planes such as these, they believe they are unsafe to fly. Also told that the TSA wants to get in on it and require background checks and security screenings for all passengers and crew. Who knows if all that will happen, hopefully it never will. For a 65 year old plane she flew better than any modern jet I have been on.

 

[rbattelle]

We were told after our flight that some senator here in Texas wants the wings cut off planes such as these, they believe they are unsafe to fly. Also told that the TSA wants to get in on it and require background checks and security screenings for all passengers and crew.

Morons. If they don't succeed in killing it this way, the environmentalists will complain about the massive destruction of the rain forests from the untreated exhaust.



Ryan

 

[SHobbs]

I sure hope they don't kill it.