The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) stopped at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport this week with their WWII era B-17 G Bomber.
Pilot Lorraine Morris says it’s a heavy plane to fly but it’s a lot of fun. She has been a pilot for United Airlines for 25 years, flys the B-17 for fun and feels honored to do so. When it takes off it is very loud and remains so during the flight. Morris says it costs about $4500/hr to fly it.
The B- 17s were produced between 1935 and May 1945; 12,732 of them. A total of 4,735 were lost during combat missions. Currently there are less than 15 that can still fly. The B17 has 13 .50-caliber machine guns with chin, top, ball and tail turrets; waist and cheek guns. Air crews felt confident in the B-17 for its ability to return its crew safely home while withstanding heavy combat damage.
The B-17 that EAA tours with, called the Aluminum Overcast, never was flown in combat. It was sold in 1946 as military surplus for $750. It was used to haul cargo, in pest/forest dusting and aerial mapping operations. The bomber was donated to EAA in 1983. It took over ten years of effort by EAA members and volunteers to restore the aircraft. Veterans of the 398th combat mission whose B-17 was shot down over Le Manior, France in August of 1944 helped to finance the restoration. Their colors are carried on the exterior of the Aluminum Overcast in commemoration.
Call 800.JOIN.EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org for more information on EAA and its programs. Connect with www.twitter.com/EAA_update for continual news updates.