1 more for the bucket list done

[Oss]

For my brothers 60th birthday I gave him a choice
go up in a b17 with me or take a flight in one of the only 2 seater P51 Mustangs
I had been in Nine 0 nine which was the name of the plane in 2009 (but never up in the air.)when the Collings Foundation stopped at Westchester Airport  with their b17, b24 and the p51. I was also in the b24 but there was something about the b17 that just drew me in just like the 1st time I saw a Valkyrie so when Mike turned 60 I knew this was going to be his present if he wanted it and if he went up in the p51 I would go alone in the b17

He saved me some coin and we went up in the b17 yesterday
morning out of Cape May Naval Air Station at 9am with 8 other people and 3 crew
It was a perfect day, the flight itself was awesome. We got to walk around the plane and put our heads out from the top hatch in flight

The landing was seriously the smoothest I have ever experience.
The noise of those 4 Pratt and Whitney radial engines was visceral as the Valk motor only much much louder lol
Sitting in that ball turret under the cockpit was wild just a piece of plexiglass holding you from the drop


smokingjoe could fit in there ok I was squished real good to sit on that tiny wood chair but the view was just wow as we cruised north along the beaches
This is us standing with our heads out the top hatch at almost 200mph



We then walked thru the museum with loads of wwII Vietnam era planes, an f16 and numerous helicopters and even wwI planes

I highly recommend the experience (especially since I did not have to jump at altitude Serk)

To make it Valk related I rode the 01 Interstate you all know there and back.  On the way back maybe 2 hrs into the ride the bike started acting squirrely so I pulled into the 1st rest stop after lowering speed to 60-65 those last 3 miles and checked the air

Rear read 52 and front the same.   I had been running 80-85 with light traffic on the Garden State Parkway for 2 hrs.  Nothing out of the ordinary,  Let the tires rest for 15 minutes then lowered the air to 48 and continued at 65 till about mile 140.  Then the bike just started behaving normally and I continued again at 70 (just 3000rpm)

Strange ?

[cookiedough]

air pressure does go up after riding, but I doubt 50 or above right after or during riding?

cold psi should be 45 psi rear tops and around 40 for front tire give or take 2 psi.   I wonder if is normal for 50 psi when riding when warm out never checked and probably should.

[JimC]

Evam,
It looks to me that your brother goth BOTH the good looks, and the brains.
looks like a fun day.

Jim

[old2soon]

        She might have been a bit miffed cuz you elected to ride in a machine with 6 times as many cylinders as She has!   The B-17 ride IS on my bucket list.   Evan-when ya git a couple of cat shots and arrested landings we'll talk.   But I duz desire that B-17 ride.   RIDE SAFE.

[DGS65]

Sounds like a fun special day!
I have a good friend that volunteered and worked as crew on the FiFi they flew all over the country to show or offered flights for a fee.

[Jess from VA]

What a great experience.   

But seriously, a tire at 42 psi (often the Max psi printed on the sidewall front or rear, bike tire or car tire), when heated up riding long and fast freeway may go up 4/5lbs max (not 10lbs). 

[Serk]

...I consider you a brother...

....so when's my flight? 

[robin]

Evan, where was that and can i do the same thing?

[Westernbiker]

Cool Evan! Looks like you two had a blast!
Next time you are in town, visit the fighter museum out at Falcon Field in Mesa. Lots of cool planes!

[DIGGER]

I always wanted to ride a B17....I'm jealous.      My Dad trained as a tailgunner in WW2 but never saw action.

[Wizzard]

Awesome, they stop here at our airport about 2 miles from my house and I did the same ride. Awesome

[Oss]

Robin  
google Collings Foundation

They fly to many locations but you need to book in advance

They are in trenton now thru friday so jump on it
or go to Morristown on Oct 3rd

https://www.collingsfoundation.org/events/category/wings-of-freedom-tour/

[Wizzard]

next time they are here I want to go on the mustang

[Fazer]

They come to Lunken Field in Cincinnati as well.  I have not been up, but know people that have.  All have related, as you Evan, what a spectacular ride it is.

[The emperor has no clothes]

next time they are here I want to go on the mustang

Yikes ! $2,400 for 30 minutes is a little rich for my blood. It does sound fun though ! 

[Oss]

Just found this great video of a b17 flight on youtube and thought I would share it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsO8GTXgGAI

[Pappy!]

Darn it......
Serk beat me to it!

[..]

Shame that the plague has shut them down until next year.

[Oss]

No the FAA shut them down following the terrible crash of the B17 a month after my ride

I believe my pilot and co-pilot died but the young flight engineer got out along with the people in the back of the plane (where Mike and I were at takeoff and landing)

Seems there was a lapse in flight safety with 2 engines failing and the plane hitting light just short of safe runway.

There are other groups that fly B17 though so ...........

Being able to experience history in that manner was a life changing experience.  Wizzard glad you got to go up.  They were the greatest generation, selfless, patriotic,  full of courage/   Just sitting there in that flimsy skinned aircraft and imagining what it must have been like with flak and cannon firing at you was enough to give goose bumps. 50 missions on a tour? wow think of how many did not come back and these were volunteers

[Patrick]

Why haven't I read this before.

Those bombers are great airplanes. When we [ National Warplane Museum] owned the B17 Fuddy Duddy I flew right seat. The 17 was a gentleman. It was quiet, stable and smooth.

I've ridden in the B24 Witch Craft. They are the opposite. They are rude, noisy, obnoxious and vibrate. I like it. Plus its the plane my father flew [ well not that same plane but the type]. I got to lay in the nose gunners seat when they flew over to open the NASCAR Watkins Glen race. I gave the crew rides in our J3 so they wanted me to go with them. The ceilings were low that day and they weren't familiar with the area so I showed them the way down thru the valley.

Those airplanes are small. But the 24 was bigger than the 17, faster, hauled more, went farther  and there were more B24s built then than any other airplane.  Of the 3 manufacturers during the war Ford was making one every 55 minutes. My father flew them from all 3 makers and said Ford built the best ones.

Anyway it was nice to read that you 2 went for a nice ride. Thats great.