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I got to fly in a B-17G

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Exterous

Super Moderator
I got to ride in a B-17G recently and it was an amazing experience. Also the most challenging photography environment I've been in so far (vibration, tight space, constantly changing dynamic range not only from inside to outside but as the plane banked). So these are a mix of my cell phone and my 5D with wide angle:

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I sat across from one of the waist gunner positions for take off
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Better view outside than this guy's
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Ball turret with ammo:
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Bomb bay:
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Flight deck:
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Nose of the plane:
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Bombardier's position:
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Don't be fooled - that guy is probably like 5'9". That space is tight. I almost could't get situated with my larger frame and camera
 
Great pics! I got to do this at an airshow a few years ago. Truly unique experience (wasn't cheap either). I didn't get pictures as nice as yours either!
 
That's awesome. Thanks for sharing.

I was always amazed at the B17...especially after watching the Memphis Belle movie when I was younger.
 
Did you have to engage in fisticuffs with a giant, bald, shirtless Nazi before you could board the plane?



That looks like the Big House, btw (? is that what they call it?)
 
TheVrolok said:
Great pics! I got to do this at an airshow a few years ago. Truly unique experience (wasn't cheap either). I didn't get pictures as nice as yours either!
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Dang! I got to go up in one of those MASH-style helicopters...huge bubble cockpit, no sides on it. Just you, in a seatbelt. It was actually surprisingly smooth, but yeah...I'll stick with airplanes lol.
 
Kaido said:
Dang! I got to go up in one of those MASH-style helicopters...huge bubble cockpit, no sides on it. Just you, in a seatbelt. It was actually surprisingly smooth, but yeah...I'll stick with airplanes lol.
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Sounds awesome, but a little horrifying, too.

I've also flown in a B-25J and C-47. I'm hoping to ride in a P-51D and/or SB2C this year. The ride in the 51 is pretty damned pricey tho.
 
I got to fly on Aluminum Overcast about 4 years ago. One amazing ride on a sunny afternoon, must have been pure misery in the cold of 30,000 feet for hours.
 
TheVrolok said:
Great pics! I got to do this at an airshow a few years ago. Truly unique experience (wasn't cheap either). I didn't get pictures as nice as yours either!
Click to expand...

Thanks! It was...not easy

Scarpozzi said:
That's awesome. Thanks for sharing.

I was always amazed at the B17...especially after watching the Memphis Belle movie when I was younger.
Click to expand...

Its a pretty awesome plane. I had no idea how much literal crawling they had to do to get to various parts of the plane

snoopy7548 said:
That's so cool. Did you get to fire the machine gun, or at least ask if you could?
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I just assumed you couldn't 🙂
 
zinfamous said:
Did you have to engage in fisticuffs with a giant, bald, shirtless Nazi before you could board the plane?



That looks like the Big House, btw (? is that what they call it?)
Click to expand...

Yeah but he was pretty old at that point so it wasn't a tough fight. And yeah thats the Big House

TheVrolok said:
Sounds awesome, but a little horrifying, too.

I've also flown in a B-25J and C-47. I'm hoping to ride in a P-51D and/or SB2C this year. The ride in the 51 is pretty damned pricey tho.
Click to expand...

If you do the P-51 are you going to do it at a place that lets you fly it through aerobatics? I did that with the T-6 and know a place in FL that offers that with the P-51. Would recommend!
 
Great pics.

I had an opportunity to take a ride on "Fifi" (B-29) about a year ago but was forbidden from doing so by the husband. He already doesn't like flying and me going up in that was a bridge too far apparently.
 
Exterous said:
If you do the P-51 are you going to do it at a place that lets you fly it through aerobatics? I did that with the T-6 and know a place in FL that offers that with the P-51. Would recommend!
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Unfortunately no from what I recall. Fairly certain it's a pretty "vanilla" ride from what I recall. But the place is 15 minutes from my house. We'll see, I'm going to see if I have some other alternatives as the price tag for the ride is upwards of 2 grand for 30 minutes.
 
K1052 said:
Great pics.

I had an opportunity to take a ride on "Fifi" (B-29) about a year ago but was forbidden from doing so by the husband. He already doesn't like flying and me going up in that was a bridge too far apparently.
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Fifi is going to be here in less than a month. She's on my short list for a ride if I don't do the 51.
 
TheVrolok said:
Sounds awesome, but a little horrifying, too.

I've also flown in a B-25J and C-47. I'm hoping to ride in a P-51D and/or SB2C this year. The ride in the 51 is pretty damned pricey tho.
Click to expand...

Yeah...I don't have a fear of heights, but it was a little disconcerting leaning out an open window, hovering in the sky, with no parachute, strapped into a seatbelt with a flimsy chair bolted to the floor lol.
 
K1052 said:
Great pics.

I had an opportunity to take a ride on "Fifi" (B-29) about a year ago but was forbidden from doing so by the husband. He already doesn't like flying and me going up in that was a bridge too far apparently.
Click to expand...

Forbidden? Damn! There is no way anyone could stop me from jumping at the chance to ride in a B-29!
 
PowerEngineer said:
Forbidden? Damn! There is no way anyone could stop me from jumping at the chance to ride in a B-29!
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Well as any married person can attest you've got to pick your battles lol.

I grew up flying in all kinds of small planes so my fear factor is relatively low. The husband never really flew until we got together. I'm still kind of amazed that I managed to get him on a CJ2 last year when we were offered a free hop.
 
That is super cool man! I'd love to do that. Thanks for posting the pics and video.

I have been inside one of those, there is one at the Palm Springs Air Museum and you can go through it from cockpit to the rear of the aircraft. It is a tight space for sure and I have no idea how anyone folds themselves up enough to get into that belly turret.
 
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