You can book a ride on it for the low, low price of $450, and believe that is probably to cheap for a ride on a 68 year old aircraft.
http://www.libertyfo...g/schedule.html
Edited by Amigatec, May 28, 2013 - 04:48 PM.
Posted May 28, 2013 - 04:47 PM
Edited by Amigatec, May 28, 2013 - 04:48 PM.
Posted May 28, 2013 - 05:07 PM
When did they make the Memphis Belle air worthy again? It used to be a static display in Memphis.
Posted May 28, 2013 - 06:03 PM
Posted May 28, 2013 - 06:27 PM
The original Memphis Bell, a B-17F, is currently undergoing restoration at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Ari Force Base in Dayton, OH
The flying "Memphis Belle", owned by the Liberty Foundation, is a B-17F, that was re-painted as the Memphis Belle for a 1989 movie about the original Belle.
I had the pleasure of seeing the original Belle when she was still on Mud Island in Memphis. The wife and I were taking a cruise from Memphis to St. Louis on the American Queen and the bus bringing us from the airport to the Queen went right past the Belle. There was enough time before the Queen left port that I was able to walk back to the exhibit.
Edited by OldBuzzard, May 28, 2013 - 06:28 PM.
Posted May 28, 2013 - 06:48 PM
Posted May 28, 2013 - 06:49 PM
Posted May 28, 2013 - 06:59 PM
I have seen the Sentimental Journal a couple of times, but never the Belle. I would love to see it.
The Journey was one of the last 17s built during WWII but it never saw action. It served for several years as a firefighting plane then was restored to military trim.
Posted May 28, 2013 - 07:02 PM
There was a B-17 that flew out of the Aurora, Illinois airport that crashed a few years back.
Posted May 28, 2013 - 07:03 PM
Posted May 28, 2013 - 07:45 PM
There was a B-17 that flew out of the Aurora, Illinois airport that crashed a few years back.
I know the widow of a man who crashed a P-38 Lightning, one of (I think) 6 left. He was an author who saved quite a few firsthand stories of the war, and wrote some great books for WWII fans. The man preparing the plane had done something stupid to the fuel, to the effect that the plane ran out of gas while in the air, and didn't win in the fight with the ground when the author tried to crash land it.
Ben W.
Posted May 28, 2013 - 09:12 PM
In my late teens I lived in Memphis for a few years before going in the Navy. I used to go by the Belle just about every day and stopped quite often. My Brother worked with the air national guard years ago and they did a partial restore on it. When we wrote or talked he told me what he was working on, on her.
Thanks OB for clearing that up.
Posted May 28, 2013 - 09:16 PM
Posted May 28, 2013 - 09:27 PM
Who ever gets the chance to stop by the Write-Pat. Air Museum, should, it's well worth the time. I have been there a few times.
Wish I could get up to Tulsa one of these days to see that show.
Posted May 28, 2013 - 10:11 PM
Who ever gets the chance to stop by the Write-Pat. Air Museum, should, it's well worth the time. ...
I grew up in Xenia Oh, and lived in Dayton for a short time and in Cincinnati for quite awhile after than. I've been to the AF Museum more times than I can count.
I was going to it when it was in Fairborn OH, long before it moved to it's current location. No matter how many times I've been there, I always see something new every time.
If any of you folks DO decide to go there, make sure to schedule at least two days for it, as you can't possibly see everything in just one day.
Posted May 29, 2013 - 01:53 AM
The Rock Island Base has a fantastic collection of arms to see.. worth the trip.. while there go see the JD shops..