B-17 At Manassas AP

[JimLor]

For anyone interested, the EAA B-17 "Aluminum Overcast" will be at said AP this Fri, Sat, and Sun. The A/C is painted in the colors of the 601st Sqn, 398th Bomb Group. My Dad was in the 603rd Sqn at the end of the war. Thought some folks might be interested. I'm going to head over there sometime on Sat or Sun.

Jim

 

[FJR Gary]

Jim,

I'd love to go see it on Sat. Sunday is the Old Dominion FJR Riders get-together.

 

[JimLor]

Got more information today - one can schedule a ride should one so desire btwn 0800 and 1315. Starting around 1400 the a/c will be available for walking thru/around. $10 I believe unless you're real young or real old! Lorie and I will probably get there around 1500 - probably in the car since we're riding Sunday with the Old Dominion gang.

 

[FJR Gary]

Jim, I think I'll pass on the B17 ride. The onsite ticket price is "only" $425

 

[trimmantom]

I saw the old B-17 afew years ago down here in Ga. nice piece of americana.

At the time the plane ride included a leather flight jacket. Worth taking a look at.

 

[FJRocket]

Yes, back in the day, you could pay the big bucks and not only get a flight jacket (nylon, OD, with AO/B-17/EAA patches), but you could actually get stick time. 4 of my buddies flew the 17 on the departure leg to the next airport on it's schedule. They all flew for about 20 minutes and logged it. Ahhh the good old days. SORRY I MISSED THEM!!!

 

[JimLor]

Well, too many pictures so here's the first half (I hope):

Lorie and I went through the "Aluminum Overcast" yesterday - actually I went through twice! Here are some pictures:

Here's the namesake:

The front - this is a B-17G - G's had the nose turret and the semi-ball over the tail guns.

This a/c is from the 398th Bomb Group (triangle "W"; and the 601st Squadron - the "3O"; the "H" is the a/c identifier w/i the squadron)

Here's the front end from the inside (Bombardier and Navigator) - the control to the upper right of the Norden Bombsight is the control for the chin turret and move into position when needed)

Here's the cockpit w/some new instruments but with a lot of the original equipment:

Here's the ball turret from the inside and the outside:

...and here's the second half:

Here's the ball turret from the inside and the outside:

Here's a view looking aft from right in front of the ball turret:

...and looking forward:

Here's one of the sights on one of the waist M-2 50 cals:

And here's what they really mean by "fly-by-wire":

And here's where my Dad spent his time in the 398th Group/603rd Squadron:

All in all a really neat day - wish my Dad was with me but he's lives a couple of hours away - anyhow, he said he'd seen a B-17 before!

Hope you enjoy.

Jim

 

[FJR Gary]

Thanks for the nice pics Jim. I was going to ride out Sat. afternoon, but it was just too durned hot

 

[JimLor]

You bet Gary, I'm glad they came out so well here - thanks for leading again on Sunday.