Flight in a B-17 in Denver, Colorado - 2008

"Another popular fallacy is to suppose that flying machines could be used to drop dynamite on an enemy in time of war."
--William H. Pickering, 'Aeronautics,'1908

June 2008 -- Flight in the Aluminum Overcast at Centennial Airport in Denver, Colorado

It's June 7, 2008, and there isn't a cloud in sight this morning at Centennial Airport. We arrived early in the morning to board the first flight. Unfortunately due to some maintenance issues, our flight ended up being delayed about 4 hours (Oh the suspense!) And yes, I (Connie) got weird looks when I was taking this picture.

This aircraft in particular is named Aluminum Overcast.

Here's our boarding pass for the flight, proving we spent obscene amounts of money to fly 1000 AGL in an aircraft that was built before there were televisions (*gulp*).

While one of us got to sit in the rear of the plane near the waist gunner stations, the other sat at the radio station just behind the bomb bay.

High-tech seatbelt.

Window seats are the best!

Once we had reached altitude, we were allowed to take turns going up to the nose-gunner station to take in the view.

We had to get this on video, for certain!

We initially headed south near Colorado Springs to get a fine view of Pikes Peak and nearby mountains.

The plane is flying rather smoothly.

Here's a view from the waist-gunner station.

I bet this seat could tell some amazing stories!

With four radial engines like these, the noise is tremendous...especially with several of the hatches open.

Near the cockpit one of the roof hatches was open - now here's a view!

Any higher and we can say goodbye to this piece.

Go back to Start of Traveling Parts Section

It's June 7, 2008, and there isn't a cloud in sight this morning at Centennial Airport. We arrived early in the morning to board the first flight. Unfortunately due to some maintenance issues, our flight ended up being delayed about 4 hours (Oh the suspense!) And yes, I (Connie) got weird looks when I was taking this picture.	This aircraft in particular is named Aluminum Overcast.	*Here's our boarding pass for the flight, proving we spent obscene amounts of money to fly 1000 AGL in an aircraft that was built before there were televisions (gulp).*
While one of us got to sit in the rear of the plane near the waist gunner stations, the other sat at the radio station just behind the bomb bay.	High-tech seatbelt.	Window seats are the best!
Once we had reached altitude, we were allowed to take turns going up to the nose-gunner station to take in the view.	We had to get this on video, for certain!	We initially headed south near Colorado Springs to get a fine view of Pikes Peak and nearby mountains.
The plane is flying rather smoothly.	Here's a view from the waist-gunner station.	I bet this seat could tell some amazing stories!
With four radial engines like these, the noise is tremendous...especially with several of the hatches open.	Near the cockpit one of the roof hatches was open - now here's a view!	Any higher and we can say goodbye to this piece.