I love flying, but....

[Scottler]

You all know that aviation is truly a passion for me, and probably for many of you as well.

HOWEVER....

I recently attended an airshow, and the Airboss noted that there would be a B-17 in town this week offering rides.

What makes this truly an amazing opportunity is that out of the 2000+ B-17s that were built, only 12 are left in the US that are in flyable condition.  And out of the dozen that remain, only about half are actually flying today.

This is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Do you know what they're charging for a ride in this relic?

$395!!!  A PERSON!!!  I would have loved to have taken my girlfriend for a ride, just to share with her this piece of our history, however, I'm not about to shell out $800 for a short spin in the thing!

IMHO, they would have made much more money if they'd charged less, and made up for it in volume.  Sure, it would have put more hours on the ship, but the money that was raised would be able to help with the maintenance...

Unbelievable...

I'm curious...how many of you here would spend that kind of cash on this?  How many of you actually have?

[Rifleman]

Here is a match for you Scott.........one of the bigger free flight model contests I have attended in the past is on the airfield at Geneseo NY where they have a war (aviation) museum of sorts..........they have two AT-6/SN-J types in which you can get a ride.........I watched as a father bought both sons a ride, for $150 each, same time, different planes.......I wanted to give it a go, but the $150/hr was too much for me........?

Here are those birds........

[Hagar]

It depends on your circumstances & how much it means to you. $395 US (

[Craig.]

i get to see one of those b17's next month at yeovil airshow, great plane cant wait

[Scottler]

Oh, it's definitely not a matter of having the money to spend if its something I thought worth it...It's just the principle.

Figure, at best you're going to get up there for an hour.  (And that's an extremely generous assumption.)

I just don't think that it's worth $395 (per person) for this...IMHO

[Hagar]

That's your decision. I imagine the proceeds (after running costs) go towards the maintenance of the aircraft.

What makes this truly an amazing opportunity is that out of the 2000+ B-17s that were built, only 12 are left in the US that are in flyable condition.  And out of the dozen that remain, only about half are actually flying today.

Keeping these old birds flying for our pleasure is expensive. I imagine lack of funds is the reason for the other 6 being grounded.

[Craig.]

then again you gotta ask yourself, is this something you may get to do ever again, then again is a B17 something you really have that much interest in flying on?? like you i love flying, i worked some crappy jobs just to experiance a few lessons, and the chance to fly to the states a few times. but does flying on a b17 interest me? not really, it would be cool but not worth that much. almost 4 more logged hours, or something else, i am not sure the exact cost of it but theres a dog fighting day avaliable for around that cost aswell, which would be more fun, again one of those rare experiances

[Hagar]

My old company sponsors the "Sally B", the only airworthy B-17 in Europe. As a company representative I was given a guided tour of the aircraft at Duxford last year. If I remember right she is only licenced to carry 4 passengers so they don't make a great deal of profit from passenger flights. They fitted airline type seats in the fuselage specifically for the purpose. I wouldn't have turned down the opportunity of a free flight but wouldn't have paid for it. On the other hand it would mean so much to a great many people who would willingly pay up.

It was a special gift but I believe my recent aerobatic lesson in the Extra 300 cost about the same. I know which I would prefer. That was certainly worth every penny.

[Scottler]

Well, it's definitely something that would interest me, being both an aviation buff and a history freak.  However, there's got to be a happy medium somewhere.

100 rides at $20 per passenger is going to yield $2000.

2 rides at $400 is only going to raise $800.

Seems to me that not enough people don't have this concept in mind anymore...

[Craig.]

remember though the 100 rides will take its toll on the airframe alot more than two, you may get $2000 out of it but the maintanence costs will be increased a heck of alot more than 2 rides. and of coarse fuel costs, more flights more fuel, higher costs

[Hagar]

I think you have to be realistic. I don't know how long the aircraft was available for pleasure flying but I suspect it was not nearly long enough for 100 trips. In the Sally B with 4 passenger seats an hour's flight for 100 passengers would take 25 hours. I doubt that $80 per hour would cover the cost of the fuel. It's the engine hours you have to watch rather than airframe. Take-offs tear the guts out of the engines & I'm sure the number allowed during a season is closely monitored.

[Smoke2much]

I'd gladly pay

[Scottler]

Right, but it's a matter of balancing things properly.  Yes, you'll have more take offs and landings, but the flights themselves will be shorter, therefore, less fuel would be burned in cruise....

It's not impossible...

[Craig.]

problem is takeoff is the most stressfull part of flight for an aircraft, so the more takeoffs you have the more wear and tear is going to be even more. in theory your idea is sound, problem is there is alot to be qorked round to put it into practise

[Hagar]

Well, I think this discussion is pointless. Whatever we say is not likely to affect anything. I'm sure the costs have been carefully worked out. These people are not usually profiteers or rip-off merchants - they're simply doing it to keep the aircraft flying. If doing so gives a little pleasure to those who don't mind paying the agreed price for a unique experience who can argue?