Flew in a B-24 the other day

[sullie363]

I’m a news photographer and happily volunteered to change my shift so I could go shoot this story. I’m sure many of you are familiar with the Collings Foundation and their fleet of WWII aircraft that they tour with.

Here we are on landing
https://twitter.com/evanbellkatu/status/1008752124597899264?s=21

And takeoff
https://twitter.com/evanbellkatu/status/1008724588723761152?s=21

And this was our full story
http://katu.com/news/local/veterans-get-once-in-a-lifetime-experience-flying-in-rare-wwii-bombers

I flew in the B-17 Liberty Belle about a year before it was destroyed. Such a privalage to get to fly on these old warbirds. Gotta say though, the 17 is A LOT easier to move around in when in flight. Anyway, just thought I’d share since I know you guys appreciate this stuff.

[Guppy35]

I flew in the 24 back in the 90s with the brother of a KIA B24 pilot.  Sat on the flight deck next to a former B-24 gunner on his first flight in a 24 since the war.  Was quite the experience.

[Vraciu]

Diamond Lil is a B-24 (LB-30).  Number 18 off the line.   So for my money the Collings Foundation is not the only game in town. 

[colmbo]

I flew in the 24 back in the 90s with the brother of a KIA B24 pilot.  Sat on the flight deck next to a former B-24 gunner on his first flight in a 24 since the war.  Was quite the experience.

That had to be an awesome experience.

I was honored by being able to take a B-24 pilot and his family on a flight.  He was wearing the B-10 jacket he was wearing when he bailed out, it still have the tear in the back where it snagged as he bailed out.  He also had the wooden, carved eating utensils he used as a POW.  I let him fly the airplane and the looks on the faces of his family was one of the greatest moments flying the bombers.

[Vraciu]

That had to be an awesome experience.

I was honored by being able to take a B-24 pilot and his family on a flight.  He was wearing the B-10 jacket he was wearing when he bailed out, it still have the tear in the back where it snagged as he bailed out.  He also had the wooden, carved eating utensils he used as a POW.  I let him fly the airplane and the looks on the faces of his family was one of the greatest moments flying the bombers.

I thought of your icon when I saw the twitter cockpit photo.   

[Brooke]

Sullie, thanks for posting.  Nice! 

[Puma44]

Great stuff!  Thanks for sharing Sullie! 

[DaddyAce]

Oh heck, I was sharing this with one of my sons, and he told me they are at our local airport now.....will have to at least go take the tour......   

[Brooke]

The tour is very worth it, too.

They let you walk through the whole thing, sit in all the gun positions, etc.

[DaddyAce]

The tour is very worth it, too.

They let you walk through the whole thing, sit in all the gun positions, etc.

Ohhh, good news, thanks Brooke!  Will definitely go check them out!

Sullie, you're a lucky man!

My oldest son offered to pay for a ride in a P-51 for me some years back....but have never felt comfortable letting him spend that much $ for a short, albeit thrilling, ride.  I could be scuba diving in Indonesia for a couple weeks on that kind of money.