Aero-TV: Kicking The Tires On A Flying Legend... The B-17 Flying Fortress

Let's Get Up Close And Personal With A Flying Legend

Seen in a two part Aero-TV program a few weeks back, we talked about spending time with a ghost. In this case, the ghost looked a lot like a B-17... by the name of "Thunderbird."

We're back with Thunderbird one more time... this time to do a walk-around of the grand old beast, to look her over from stem to stern and teach you a few things about one of the grandest birds to grace the skies.

The B-17 Flying Fortress was an Army Air Corps heavy-duty bomber from World War II. These four-engine aircraft flew strategic bombing missions over Europe armed with .50 caliber machine guns and five thousand pounds of bombs. 13,000 B-17’s were produced over the course of the war, of which only 13 still are airworthy today. The Lone Star Flight Museum’s B-17 is painted in the colors of ‘Thunderbird’, an aircraft with the 303rd bomb group which flew 116 missions during World War II.

The Lone Star Flight Museum tells ANN that it, a 501 (c)(3) self-supporting educational museum, began as a private aircraft collection in June 1985. The acquisition of more aircraft quickly led to a search for a new home. In 1990, construction of a 50,000 sq. ft. Phase I facility began at Galveston's Scholes Field. Continued rapid growth required construction of a 30,000 sq. ft. Phase II hangar in 1991. Along with the aircraft collection, the LSFM began to acquire and display aviation memorabilia and artifacts, develop educational programs, and recruit volunteers through a Membership Program implemented in July 1991. The LSFM receives over 35,000 of volunteer service hours each year. Many programs and participation opportunities are available for members to promote and support the LSFM mission.

The Museum's flying collection of award winning aircraft annually logs more than 40,000 cross-country air miles to participate in flying displays and air shows. For instance, the Museum's P-47 Thunderbolt participates in the United States Air Force "Heritage Flight" program. Comprised of Air Force demonstration pilots and select vintage aircraft, the "Heritage Flight" unites the classic war birds of yesterday with current inventory jet fighters at aviation events across the country. This unique production takes the living history lesson to the public in the air and is seen by over 1.5 million people each year.

You Know You Want to Do This... Come With Aero-TV On a Walk-Around Inspection of "Thunderbird"

FMI: www.lonestarflight.org, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews

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