Toured the Aluminum Overcast B-17 today. Too expensive to take a ride.

[John Schmidt]

It's been here in Orlando at the Executive A/P the last couple days. As a vet I was able to take a free tour but the old hip wasn't cooperating. I couldn't navigate the forward entrance very well so they let me in at the rear door. I wanted to take a close look at the bombardier's position but they wouldn't allow anyone up there. It was chained off so I just climbed aboard in back and sat there to take it all in. I never would have been able to handle the passageway through the bombbay, just not as thin or flexible as I once was. I did notice the left inboard engine had quite an oil leak at the prop hub, apparently wasn't of major concern. One guy saw me looking at it and trying to look a bit closer, he chuckled and mentioned they're aware of it.

Marvelous old plane with a lot of memories for some folk I'm sure. My experience is from the B-36 forward and their bombing and navigation systems. Not quite as cramped as the old -17 either.

[..]

Nice photos John       

[Patrick]

Great airplanes aren't they ? And, they fly beautifully. I've got 28-29 front seat hours in Fuddy Duddy. They are very well behaved. But, they sure aren't big enough for 'todays' people are they.
But, they are a must see for anyone interested. And, a ride is a great experience.

[John Schmidt]

Nice photos John       

Sorry, if I'd known we were going to stop there, I would have taken my camera along. It was my wife's idea to go past the a/p to see if it was still there. First time she had been out of the house all week and wanted to stay out as long a possible since she felt up to it.

[..]

My earlier post from my Android didn't work.

I'm pleased that both of you were there. 

[Tx Bohemian]

I never would have been able to handle the passageway through the bombbay...

Yea, that passageway looks frightening scary!
But the guys were in their 20s, 10' tall & bulletproof, like we all were at that age.

Still took guts!

The last time we had an Airshow here (few years ago) there was a B-17 (from Galveston I think) and a B-25 that you could walk through.  Even take a flight which I think was $350 then, not sure what it is now.

On the movies and documentaries they show when their dropping the bombs or fighting off enemy aircraft, but I imagine there were many boring hours to and from their destinations just cramped in this skinny tube!