Florida riders... B-17 coming your way

[kiwi#9582]

March 26 – April 10

Mission Schedule:                                     Departure from Hooks; Wednesday, March 26th, 9am.
      Punta Gorda, FL:………. Tue, March 26 – Mon, March 31.
                          “Florida International Airshow”.
      Lakeland, FL:………….. Tue, Apr 1 – Sun, Apr 6.
                          “Sun n’ Fun”.
      Pensacola, FL:…………. Sun, Apr 6 – Tue, Apr 8.
      Mobile, AL:……………. Tue, Apr 8 – Wed, Apr 9.
      Gulfport/Biloxi, MS:…... Wed, Apr 9 – Thu, Apr 10
      Hooks; Arrival pm. 

Punta Gorda is 105 miles S of Tampa. See: www.floridaairshow.com
Lakeland is 35 miles NE Tampa toward Orlando. See: www.sun-n-fun.org

[Thunderbolt]

If memory serves me correctly don't you have something to do with this worthwhile endeavor?  Keep up the good work if you do.  Hope some of the folks get to see it.  Must be an awesome thing flying in one.  I flew as a radio operator in the Naval Air Reserve in an old SP2E Neptune.  Cool old plane that most recently I saw being used to drop water on forest fires.

[kiwi#9582]

If memory serves me correctly don't you have something to do with this worthwhile endeavor?  Keep up the good work if you do.  Hope some of the folks get to see it.  Must be an awesome thing flying in one.  I flew as a radio operator in the Naval Air Reserve in an old SP2E Neptune.  Cool old plane that most recently I saw being used to drop water on forest fires.

I help with mainenance and am a qualified loadmaster.  I will probably be on first 1/2 or 2nd 1/2 of this trip....  maybe even the whole trip if they cannot find enough loadmasters to share the time.

Thanks for the reply and interest.  Hope to see you there... pass the word and ride safe...

P.S.... beside rides, we do tours.... AND if you know any WWII vets... they can TOUR the plane for free... AND, if there is an open seat on the rides, they can ride free.... Have them contact the staff...... e-mail  "info@b-17texasraiders.org"

[FloridaValkRyder]

I had the opportunity to fly in the Colling Foundation B-17, "The Nine-O-Nine" in Lexington, Kentucky. My brother ran the Air Museum there. What an incredible and loud experience that was. We flew for nearly an hour all over that part of KY. They opened and closed the bomb bay doors, let us go up into the cockpit for a quick peek and in to the bombadiers compartment. We were escorted by a P-47 Thunderbolt the entire trip. Gave you a feeling as to what it must have looked like during the war. It was something I will remember my whole life!

[kiwi#9582]

Yes... it IS a fantastic experience... thanks for the reply.   

[kiwi#9582]

Like us on Facebook!!!   

Thanks for the posts and replies...

https://www.facebook.com/b17TexasRaiders

[Pappy!]

And----
The B-29 "FiFi" is at the Leesburg airport as we speak.
Watched it fly in this afternoon. What a magnificent aircraft.
Will be set up to sell rides and tours.

[kiwi#9582]

And----
The B-29 "FiFi" is at the Leesburg airport as we speak.
Watched it fly in this afternoon. What a magnificent aircraft.
Will be set up to sell rides and tours.

Interesting... she MIGHT be with us in Pensicola on our trip... so, Pensicola might get a DOUBLE treat....

Thanks for the reply and info.

Ride safe.

[kiwi#9582]

UPDATE   ...

I am flying into the Lakeland show on the 3rd and going the last 1/2 of the trip through Mississippi stop.

Get a ride together and come visit... save up for a ride... or just tour the plane.  Ask for me and I can give you more info than some of the other guides on the plane.

Ride safe.  HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE... AWSOM EXPERIENCE.