Amy Lisenbe/Nevada AppealAluminum Overcast, a World War II B-17 bomber, sits parked at the Carson City airport Monday afternoon. The plane is shown nationally by the Experimental Aircraft Association. BELOW: Pilots Rick Fernalld, left, and Dan Bowlin, right, of the Aluminum Overcast B-17, operate controls as they fly the plane over the Carson Valley Monday afternoon.
When you reach a certain age you begin to think of things you want to do before it's too late " bungee jumping, helicopter skiing, flying in an ultra-light eggbeater, hiking to the Colorado River at the Grand Canyon. For this writer, mission accomplished.
But there was one more that never seemed possible " to fly in a World War II B-17 bomber. Monday at the Carson City airport, he did so. One more checked off.
If flying in a B-17 is one of your dreams, you can do it today and Wednesday at the Carson City Airport. Or if you just want to look over a warbird built in 1945 that was once sold for $750 as scrap, a Flying Fortress, the Aluminum Overcast, will be waiting for you.
To book a ride (reservations are best), just call (800) 359-6217 and make a date or see www.b17.org. Prices are $359 for an Experimental Aircraft Association member, $385 for an EEA walkup member; $399 for the general public with reservation, $425 for a walkup non-member.
Tours are $15 for a family, $5 for adults and kids under 8 free.
Not cheap, but how often can you buy a dream?
The B-17 was the workhorse of the Fifth Air Force in Europe. A total of 12,731 were built, and 4,754 were destroyed in combat. Today only 12 B-17s are still flying.
There are 10 seats for passengers in the Aluminum Overcast, none exactly airliner comfortable. The seat belts are bulky and tricky, and the view is mostly of bombs in the bomb bay until you get to altitude and are free to wander. It's close quarters but the view from the glass nose is something you'll never get in a 747.
The plane is noisy, no insulation. But the crew chief will offer ear plugs as well as "barf bags" ("They're yours for keeps if you use one," says the crew chief). But never fear, the ride isn't as silky as a jet liner, but this is an aircraft pulled along by four Pratt and Whitney piston engines on wings as thick as two feet, and only a little bouncy.
Pilots for the visiting B-17 are Dan Bowlin and Rick Fernalld. They know their business in wheeling the 65,000-pound aptly named Fortress around. Aluminum Overcast was saved from the scrapheap by a private individual and donated to the EEA with the provision that it be kept airworthy. It began national touring in 1994.
Another B-17 is scheduled to appear at the Wings Over Carson show June 7-8 at the airport. That show will include all kinds of military and civilian aircraft, plus barbecues, a food drive, fly-bys at low level, and demonstrations of radio controlled aircraft by Mark Leesberg. And of course, all the local planes. Call 887-1234 for details.