My visit with Aluminum Overcast

[BFMF]

I wanted to fly down to work last weekend and hop over to Spokane to see the EAA B-17, the Aluminum Overcast. The weather was great Saturday, but I decided to drive down because some bad weather was coming in that night and I would have ended up being stuck down there with the aircraft another day or so.

After getting off work early Sunday, I quickly called Felts Field up to see if the B-17 was still on display. It was, so I drove over to Spokane. They don't charge military personell, so when I got there a little after 3 in the afternoon, I was surprised when I didn't have to pay to get in. It was raining, but I took pictures anyway. After a while the rain died down. I went through the aircraft, but shortly stopped behind the flightdeck to talk with a couple of the EAA workers for a little while. After walking through the aircraft, I hung around to continue taking pictures. When it was about 530, things started slowing down, so I figured I should start driving home

[Airshow_lover]

So your army eh'?

[Rifleman]

I know how you felt Andrew, .....I got to sit in the left seat of a B-17 in Geneseo NY a few yrs back and the brain-flashes I had was amazing......just to imagine how it was with flak bursting right outside of those windows was very moving indeed !

[BFMF]

So your army eh'?

Yep

[quote]I know how you felt Andrew, .....I got to sit in the left seat of a B-17 in Geneseo NY a few yrs back and the brain-flashes I had was amazing......just to imagine how it was with flak bursting right outside of those windows was very moving indeed !

[H]

A really nice px, except that somebody seems to be partly obscuring the view of the plane (which, I think, it's upset about because it's about to clonk him on the head with the left nose turret gun).

[beaky]

Score!! She's a real honey.
I bet if you'd told them your grampa was a B17 crewman, they'd have given you a ride...

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Good for you Andrew...glad you had a wonderful time.

Did you feel "Aluminum Overcast" quiver a bit when you sat in the left seat?

She was telling you something....you both have something to be very proud of...you share a common bond .

Her being United States Army Air Corps and you being United States Army .
She has done her bit and now you are doing yours to keep "Freedom of Democracy" alive and well .

All the best...Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Omag 2.0]

I guess it was your Browning sidearm up his nose that made that guy loosen up?  ;D

Seriously, you're a lucky guy! I'm glad you had that opportunity and if you do happen to have some nice shots you haven't shown before, by all means, post post post!

[cspyro21]

I'm actually rather worried now Esselbach.....dressed like that, you look exactly like someone I know from my squadron in the ATC (think the British CAP )

[bubnme]

i seen it when it was on display in modesto california.  it was a beautiful plane.  i still can't believe the number of people they had packed in a b17 to begin with.  another one of these was on display castle air museum and an older lady (61) either tried the same thing with exiting the plane or fell out that bottom door.  she broke her ankle... bummer.