B-17

Tim takes a ride on the B-17 Flying Fortress - Aluminum Overcast - Click on Image to see full size.

B-17

Aluminum Overcast

The EEA had the Aluminum Overcast out at Anoka airport and KTLK-FM sponsored a ride for Tim.
Position&Hold

Getting Ready for Takeoff

Looking out the side window right before takeoff. The machine guns are barebone operators. Not much more than a barrel with a magazine.
Liftoff

She Climbs Slow

Even with four big radial engines this B-17 climbs at about 300 feet per minute.
Buckle Up

Just Enough Room

This plain is not built for comfort. You have to feel for those GI's that had to make those long bombing runs. That big yellow jug is an oxygen bottle.
Narrow Walkways

Tight Fit

The walkway from the bomb room to the back is about ten inches wide.
Bombs Away

Don't Push Any Buttons

The EAA has done a great job making everything in the plane look realistic - even the bombs. At least I think they're duds.
Radio Gear

Couldn't Get KTLK

The only thing that has changed is the size. It took a big box to fit all those tubes.
Communications

Looked Like Comm Gear

Looked like something for inner-plane conversation
Tuning the Radios

I Couldn't Get It To Work

I thought it might open the bomb doors.
Cockpit

Great Pilots

These guys looked like they were having fun.
The Top Dome

Two Guns - One on Each Side

Great View Out the Top
Front Dome

Tight Fit

Two Guns and a spotter to locate the bomb drop. Felt wierd riding in the front lower-section of the nose.
View From Nose

Great Place to Sight See

This was one of the coolest places on the plane. You're in the lower nose looking right down at the ground.
Bullet Magazine

Lots of Ammo

All the guns had bullet magazines loaded. In case we wanted to give them the whole nine yards.
Nose Gear

Out of My League

I didn't have a clue what most of this stuff was for. Eventually I could have figured it out.
More Nose Gear

Check Out Those Bullets

I'm glad I didn't have to adjust that control while someone was shooting at the enemy. Too close.
Cool Equipment

This Stuff Was Too Cool

Look at the equipment these guys had to work with. We pilots of today are spoiled.
Side-Window Gun

Barebone Lead-Thrower

These guns are just a barrel and magazine. They look like stripped down farm equipment, but obviously they were efficient lead throwers.
Clear the Runway

Is That a Whitetail

When you need to get a deer off the runway there's nothing like the B-17 for an efficient means of critter clearing.

Tim Lesmeister

Writer, Photographer, Radio & Television Host

Aluminum Overcast

The EEA had the Aluminum Overcast out at Anoka airport and KTLK-FM sponsored a ride for Tim.

Getting Ready for Takeoff

Looking out the side window right before takeoff. The machine guns are barebone operators. Not much more than a barrel with a magazine.

She Climbs Slow

Even with four big radial engines this B-17 climbs at about 300 feet per minute.

Just Enough Room

This plain is not built for comfort. You have to feel for those GI's that had to make those long bombing runs. That big yellow jug is an oxygen bottle.

Tight Fit

The walkway from the bomb room to the back is about ten inches wide.

Don't Push Any Buttons

The EAA has done a great job making everything in the plane look realistic - even the bombs. At least I think they're duds.

Couldn't Get KTLK

The only thing that has changed is the size. It took a big box to fit all those tubes.

Looked Like Comm Gear

Looked like something for inner-plane conversation

I Couldn't Get It To Work

I thought it might open the bomb doors.

Great Pilots

These guys looked like they were having fun.

Two Guns - One on Each Side

Great View Out the Top

Tight Fit

Two Guns and a spotter to locate the bomb drop. Felt wierd riding in the front lower-section of the nose.

Great Place to Sight See

This was one of the coolest places on the plane. You're in the lower nose looking right down at the ground.

Lots of Ammo

All the guns had bullet magazines loaded. In case we wanted to give them the whole nine yards.

Out of My League

I didn't have a clue what most of this stuff was for. Eventually I could have figured it out.

Check Out Those Bullets

I'm glad I didn't have to adjust that control while someone was shooting at the enemy. Too close.

This Stuff Was Too Cool

Look at the equipment these guys had to work with. We pilots of today are spoiled.

Barebone Lead-Thrower

These guns are just a barrel and magazine. They look like stripped down farm equipment, but obviously they were efficient lead throwers.

Is That a Whitetail

When you need to get a deer off the runway there's nothing like the B-17 for an efficient means of critter clearing.