Living History Flight Experience on Board a B-17

May 15, 2015 | Leave A Comment

Flying on a seventy year old airplane was never on my bucket list, but sometimes adventures come along that are life changing. This was one of them. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

There is nothing comfortable about flying in one of these planes. There are sharp edges everywhere and you have to climb around things to get from one part of the plane to another. At least it wasn’t sixty degrees below zero as it was when our boys flew bombing raids during WW II.

The Texas Raiders B-17 is an authentically restored B-17G and one of only nine (9) B-17 Flying Fortresses left flying at any given time.

“The Texas Raiders was assigned to the Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force in Houston, Texas.

The GCW has continued to upgrade and restore the aircraft to its original combat configuration by adding the ball turret and top turret. All of the work was carried out by the volunteers of the CAF group in Houston. At the present time, the top turret is undergoing assembly prior to installation on the aircraft. This will complete the last major restoration item within the aircraft. When completed, TEXAS RAIDERS will be one of only a few B-17s which have operational top and ball turrets.”

After the flight on Monday, I posted several pictures on Facebook, but here they are all together, along with my running commentary.

The opening scene of THE EMERALD BROOCH takes place inside the B-17 in May, 1944. I now know what it feels like to be up in one of the Flying Fortresses. Thank goodness no one was shooting at us!

5:37 Time to go
5:45 We’re getting ready to take off
5:46 Revving engines
5:46 Loud
5:46 Clear skies. Adrenaline pumping
5:47 We’re moving. This is too cool.
5:47 Made the turn. Ready.
5:48 We’re off
5:48 Wheels off the runway
5:48 We’re up
5:48 Smooth so far. Can walk around soon
5:49 Unbelievable!
5:50 Can get up now
5:59 WOW!!
6:00 From the cockpit – smooth ride. Windows are open. Can’t hear a thing
6:01 Wonderful
6:04 Hair blowing everywhere
6:06 Just as smooth as flight to NYC. Maybe smoother. Top of the plane wide open
6:08 Time to head back. I’m in my seat again.
6:09 The seat belt is impossible to figure out
6:09 Landing now
6:09 Wheels down
6:09 Screech
6:10 Safely back
6:11 That was a BLAST!!!!
6:18 Wow! What a trip

— in Richmond, Virginia.

If a sixty-five year old grandmother can do this, YOU can, too! Go for it! But be sure to braid your long hair before the flight. It took a bottle of condition to get out the tangles.