Blast from the past . . . really!

The Experimental Aviation Association's restored B-17 Flying Fortress paid a visit to our local airport this past weekend. It was a rare opportunity to board and walk, or crawl, through one of the greatest airplanes in our military history. It's easy to understand why it was called a flying fortress.

More than 12,000 were built for the U.S. military by Lockheed and Boeing during World War II. The first war production models went from design to completion in less than a year. Each of the four engine prop bombers cost a little more than a quarter of a million dollars to build and their only defense was eight 50 caliber machine guns.

While they were designed to fly for ten hours at a time, they were totally void of any of the comforts that we require for a one hour flight. There was no sound proofing, no insulation, no padded seats, no peanuts, and certainly no room to stretch out or walk around with more than two tons of bombs and thousands of rounds of ammunition on board. In fact, when the bomb bay doors opened to drop its payload, a third of the plane's floor disappeared and you could see the ground 10,000 feet below your feet.

Here is the link to its fall tour schedule. They do charge a small admission fee, but if you are a veteran, it's free. Yes, you can book a half hour flight, but the fee is considerably higher and there is a waiting line, so it must be worth it!