B17 ride- part 3
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:28 pmDid I mention the view from the nose was fantastic? I had to compress and crop the bejeezus out of this shot... but even the original does not even begin to convey what it's like up there. Wow. Yes, I tried to look through the Norden bombsight, but it was caged or something- no go. Best not to fiddle with it. But who cares?
Did I mention the view was incredible? Oh, right...I did.
Heading back aft, I make a stop behind the flight crew seats again... the view from here ain't bad either. these gentlemen were very cool and professional, with the air of monks guarding a sacred relic. Friendly monks. The B17 flies like it's on rails... and there's nothing like sitting between two pairs of monstrous radials.
A waist gun: everything aboard this ship is lovingly restored to simulated combat-ready status (it was stripped out for various civilian duties, but the restorers scrounged every device and fitting they needed, eventually). The guns don't work, of course, nor can you move them. Too bad, but it's not like I want my money back on account of that!!
Our route was East along the south shore and back; here we're pivoting a little around a lighthouse; not sure which one.I didn't want to sit still too long by a window- I wanted to see, hear, and feel every part of the plane I could get to while she was flying. And it's good manners to keep moving, so others can check everything out.
I somehow remembered to remove my hat and sunglasses before peering, Kilroy-like, out the open hatchway above the radio/navigation stations... There's almost no turbulence at all inside this large opening, but extend any part of your body just beyond the edge, and the slipstream is like a giant firehose. I'm still untangling my hair...
Next: part 4!!
Did I mention the view was incredible? Oh, right...I did.
Heading back aft, I make a stop behind the flight crew seats again... the view from here ain't bad either. these gentlemen were very cool and professional, with the air of monks guarding a sacred relic. Friendly monks.
The B17 flies like it's on rails... and there's nothing like sitting between two pairs of monstrous radials.A waist gun: everything aboard this ship is lovingly restored to simulated combat-ready status (it was stripped out for various civilian duties, but the restorers scrounged every device and fitting they needed, eventually). The guns don't work, of course, nor can you move them. Too bad, but it's not like I want my money back on account of that!!
Our route was East along the south shore and back; here we're pivoting a little around a lighthouse; not sure which one.I didn't want to sit still too long by a window- I wanted to see, hear, and feel every part of the plane I could get to while she was flying. And it's good manners to keep moving, so others can check everything out.
I somehow remembered to remove my hat and sunglasses before peering, Kilroy-like, out the open hatchway above the radio/navigation stations... There's almost no turbulence at all inside this large opening, but extend any part of your body just beyond the edge, and the slipstream is like a giant firehose. I'm still untangling my hair...
Next: part 4!!
