Tomorrow morning at 9AM local time I'm crossing one off my bucket list [View all]

[Omaha Steve]

Edit: Info on today's ride here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026988648


I grew up watching three seasons of 12 O'Clock High. The B-17 has always remained my favorite plane ever built, even though my mom helped assemble the Enola Gay at the Martin bomber plant.

I still have photos of Steve Jr. and I in a B-17 when he was little. I've never gone up in the air in one until tomorrow morning. My reservation is in for tomorrow morning. Read on...



SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
The view from inside the B-17 as it flies from Lincoln to Omaha. The plane, built in 1944, will be on display and available for flights this weekend at Eppley Airfield.

http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/as-restored-world-war-ii-planes-drop-in-on-omaha/article_a63732e9-fb86-5aa8-bf5b-5dce9e12ffb2.html

As restored World War II planes drop in on Omaha, history comes thrillingly alive

POSTED: SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015 12:30 AM
By Mitchell Ferman / World-Herald staff writer

The metal behind the cockpit thumped like a heartbeat as the World War II bomber rumbled down the runway in Lincoln on Friday.

To the left of the metal were two red switches by the floorboard.

“Don’t mess with those,” flight engineer Robert Wiatt said.

In front of Wiatt sat two pilots, who ran through a checklist before taking off to Omaha for another Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour. Sweat dripped down the pilots’ legs as temperatures rose into the 90s. Air conditioning wasn’t around when this B-17 Flying Fortress was built in 1944.

FULL story at link. Video: http://studio.omaha.com/?ndn.trackingGroup=91341&ndn.siteSection=omahalanding&ndn.videoId=29393257&freewheel=91341&sitesection=omahalanding&vid=29393257




SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

WWII veteran Harold H. Hultquist of Fremont watches as a B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 plane from WWII prepare to fly from Lincoln to Omaha.