Guest Column - Flight of the Imagineer
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A Flight in History

President Eisenhower said the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" was the most valuable weapon of WWII. Of the 12,761 built, only 100 remain, of which a dozen are flyable. One B-17G, Serial No. 44-85740 built by Lockheed in Burbank and delivered on May 18, 1945 has spent the last twenty years in restoration by the Experimental Aircraft Association. On May 1st at Van Nuys, California I took "A Flight in History".

In the one hour before take off, the ground crew poked, prodded, and crawled thru the great silver four-engine WWII bomber in a thorough pre-flight check. After the 1,700 gallon fuel tanks were given a light load of modern day 100 octane low lead gasoline, the crew rotated each three-blade propeller by hand prior to start up. As the service ladders were removed, six lucky passengers joined me in climbing aboard, the crew chief closing the small aft door then entering the cockpit to direct the first morning flight.

Three passengers sat in cloth sling chairs between the two rear 50-Caliber machine guns, I joined two more in the radio room, and another sat in a tiny aft-facing jump seat behind the pilot. Two small windows gave a view over the 103'-9" wings of the 65,500 lb gross weight bomber, which is 74'-9" long and 19'-1" tall. One can see the ground everywhere thru numerous gaps and openings since there is no weather stripping or insulation. The skin is no thicker than a couple of credit cards. My thoughts go back to the time when 20-year olds spent 11 hours as high as 35,000 feet in a 40° below zero windy draft. German bullets and ragged shrapnel could pass clear thru the aircraft at any time. But today the gaps would be our air conditioning system.

With a whine and a clunk, the first engine began to slowly rotate. A slight wiggle, a pop, and a cloud of smoke caused the ship to begin the shuddering of a radial piston engine coughing to life. Three more times this commotion played out, each additional engine increasing the shuddering wiggle of the great airframe. The power increased, and with some more interesting sounds and jerks, this wonderful old weapon began to taxi to the runway for run-up.

Each engine was brought to full power one at a time as I watched the pilot test the various fuel mixture, propeller, and magneto controls. We now were really shaken about as the prop blast buffeted the tail. Then we lined up with Runway 16 at Van Nuys Airport, the power increased on the four Wright 1820-97 nine-cylinder radial engines to their total 4,800 horsepower, and we roared to speed.

In seconds the tail was up, then the nose rose and with the most invigorating racket, up we went past the control tower where 50 years ago I was a Civil Air Patrol cadet. The air was filled then with the great WWII planes, and I used to dream of being a pilot someday. But right now today I was back in time in "A Flight in History".

In moments we were cleared to move about the cabin. I jumped out of the radio room, scrambled thru the bomb bay with a view of the ground below thru the door gaps, and into the bombardier's chair in the Plexiglas bubble nose between two more 50-Caliber machine guns. A hundred feet below, early morning golfers stared up at our thundering "Aluminum Overcast". My 180° fishbowl view of the passing world was absolutely stunning. Wings, engines, propellers, and guns framed my view right and left. To think that this entrancing sight would actually be an unprotected pedestal of terror long ago facing flak bursts and German fighters gunning straight for you.

Soon we were at our 2,000 foot cruising altitude as we made lazy turns over the Western San Fernando Valley. We seven passengers ran all over the ship trading views, vibrations, drafts and the cacophony of 36 engine cylinders rumbling at 2,000 RPM. Every view was interesting, especially from the cockpit where one is surrounded by the vista of wings, engines, and spinning props. In too short a time, the flight began the descent back into Van Nuys.

I returned to my nose bubble and hung on the Norden Bombsight as we made a hot 160 MPH low run 100 feet above the runway in a "Victory Pass" returning safely from our mission. In my 38 years of piloting, nothing has provided the goose bumps that this experience gave me. We landed, taxied to the ramp, and I jumped out screaming "YAHOO". The next passengers gave a blank stare. I didn't care. I just had the greatest "Flight in History".

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-- Bob Gurr (March 17, 2000)