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Barnstormers Logo ISSUE 386 - July 2015
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Your Own 12 O'Clock High Experience - Fly in a B-17

By Kevin Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
Watford, Ontario, Canada

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, "Yankee Lady," from the Yankee Air Museum
in Yspilanti, MI during the "Thunder Over Michigan" Air Show.
During World War II, the Allied Air Forces flew both night and daylight bombing raids against the Axis forces from France to Germany and from Italy to Africa. The iconic Avro Lancaster and the Handley Page Halifax bombers of the RAF were mainly tasked with nighttime ops whereas the American Air Forces took up daylight bombing missions using the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, among other 2-engine aircraft.
The mainstay bomber of the Royal Air Force, the Avro Lancaster, left. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator, right, flew with several air forces during World War II.
Though the bombers performed similar duties they also differed in many ways. For example, the Lancaster could carry a heavier payload and was faster but the B-17 was more heavily armed and, therefore, better at defending itself. Regardless, the aircraft and aircrews flew long hours, with heavy payloads, through heavy and dangerous flak as well as having to defend themselves against both day and night fighters.
Yankee Lady taxies out, left, during the 2014 Thunder Over Michigan Airshow in Yspilanti, MI at Willow Run Airport. Yankee Lady takes to the air, right.

The mainstay of the American bombing campaign throughout most of the war was the 4-engine Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Though the B-17 was relatively heavily armed it was found that earlier versions lacked adequate defence if attacked head on. The B-17G was the first variant of the Fortress to fly with a chin gun housing two .50 calibre machine guns thereby increasing the total armament to 13. This proved to be an effective and dangerous aircraft when attacked, capable of defending itself from virtually any angle.

Several B-17's are still flying, most in the USA, including "Sentimental Journey," left, from the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The only remaining section, right, of the massive B-24 Liberator plant at Willow Run which has been saved and will become the new home, and museum, of the Yankee Air Museum after restorations are completed.
There are several surviving examples of the B-17, some static and some flying, most of which reside in the United States. The Yankee Air Museum has a beautiful example flying with the museum out of Yspilanti, MI, operating from Willow Run Airport where, during World War II, B-24 Liberators were produced. However, the pride and joy of the museum is their stunning Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, "Yankee Lady."
Yankee Lady in a nice bottom side pass at Yspillanti.
Yankee Lady was initially delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps but transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard in September of 1946, serving at the Naval Air Station in Elizabeth City, NC. From there, the aircraft was eventually struck off strength in 1959 and spent the next 30 years serving in different capacities throughout the U.S. with an assortment of civilian companies until 1981 when it found its current home at the Yankee Air Museum.
The flight crew working at keeping the B-17 in close,
shown in black & white for that nostalgic, wartime look.
If you've never had the opportunity to see a B-17 Flying Fortress, Yankee Lady is a stunning example of this historic bomber and can be seen at the museum or at an assortment of air shows and aviation events in the States as well as a few in Canada. Though a rare sight in Canadian skies, Yankee Lady visited London, Ontario and the Jet Aircraft Museum 3 times in 2014 and she's returning for 2 visits again this summer.
Yankee Lady on her way from Yspilanti, MI to London, Ontario looking out the left waist gunner position, left. The return trip from London, Ontario to Yspilanti, MI as the sun begins to set, from the nose position, right.
The first visit is coming up on August 8th and you can book a flight in this striking aircraft by visiting the Yankee Air Museum's website. When you pre-book, if you're the first to book on a specific flight, you may have the option of doing your flight in the nose of the B-17 giving you a spectacular view and experience.
Flying into the sunset, bound for Willow Run, looking out the nose of the B-17, left. Two of the four radial engines getting us to Willow Run before the sun disappears below the horizon, right.
The sound of the 4 radial engines as you rumble down the runway may find you thinking about those brave men who flew from various bases in England, bound for any number of targets over Europe such as aircraft, steal, ball bearing and engine factories. The smell of the airplane, the sound of the airplane and everything inside the airplane will give you a better understanding as to what bomber crews went through during those long missions in which they faced cold, fatigue, fighters, flak, poor weather and more.
Some of the crew of the Yankee Lady that you could be flying with, left.
Yankee Lady overhead, bound for the circuit, right.
Yankee Lady and her crew from the Yankee Air Museum will fly into London International Airport in London, Ontario and will be setting up with the Jet Aircraft Museum. If you miss out on taking a flight in Yankee Lady, a donation of $5.00 will get you into the B-17 for a ground tour which is a wonderful experience. Depending on pre-booked flights, the crew will complete up to five flights through the day before packing up and returning to Yspilanti, MI.
Nose gunner gun sight, starboard side machine gun as the sun sets on approach to Yspilanti, left. Putting the Yankee Lady to bed after our return to Willow Run, right.
A flying B-17 is a rare thing in Canada, as well as in parts of the U.S. so don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to fly in such a historic aircraft. Whether you're an aviation enthusiast, a pilot, a model builder or maybe the B-17 is your favourite aircraft, flying in Yankee Lady is an experience you will never forget. Before your flight you'll be briefed and then you strap in before start up. Once the pilot and crew have completed their checks, you'll taxi out to the runway and then take to the air, spending approximately 30 minutes flying over London and parts of South-Western Ontario before returning to the airport. During your time in the air, once given the all clear by your crew members, you may have the opportunity to spend time at the waist gunner position, or sit in the radio operators seat, even have a look at the bomb bay and the cockpit. All-in-all, you'll spend roughly 45 minutes inside the aircraft.
Bomb bay doors open during a level pass at the Waterloo Airshow 2014.

There are few opportunities and places where you have the opportunity to experience history that comes to life. Taking to the air in a B-17 is more than just experiencing history, it's also a way to honour all those who wore a uniform in defence against the Axis of Evil. Remember all those who wore a uniform, fighting for the freedoms we have today in the United States of America, Canada, Great Britain and so many other countries who fought for those same freedoms. Come to London on August 8th so you can honour those brave men, and women, who flew and fought for us.

Yankee Lady showing off her top side with a high angle of bank
during a pass at the Thunder Over Michigan 2014 Airshow.

To book your flight in the B-17 Yankee Lady on August 8 or September 26 in London, Ontario at the Jet Aircraft Museum, visit the Yankee Air Museum website: yankeeairmuseum.org.

Yankee Lady and her last pass during the 2014 Thunder Over Michigan Airshow.
By Kevin Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
2moorekwm@gmail.com

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