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My dad and I went for a ride in a B-24 bomber today. The flight lasted about 25-30 minutes. I got to sit in the tail gunners seat, the front turret seat, and look out the sides. It was extremely noisy, I should have been wearing earplugs. The ride was bumpier than a B-17 and noiser too. But still exciting. I will post some pictures later this weekend.

Lucky bastard!

Lucky shit

*Begins focusing Sith Dark Templar energies to steal TrailerParkJawa's memories*

I look forward to your photos!

I bet your ride on the bomber was very cool! I got to take a brief ride on a Super Connie one time. There was a restored one at our downtown airport. It makes me wonder how people ever got comfortable with the noise and the ride of some of the older aircraft.

TrailerParkJawa wrote:My dad and I went for a ride in a B-24 bomber today. The flight lasted about 25-30 minutes. I got to sit in the tail gunners seat, the front turret seat, and look out the sides. It was extremely noisy, I should have been wearing earplugs. The ride was bumpier than a B-17 and noiser too. But still exciting. I will post some pictures later this weekend.

Cooooooooooooool, and you'vre ridden a B-17 too? You are very lucky.

Here is a quick and dirty index to some of my favorite pictures on the trip.
I cant seem to add a description using the basic web functions of geocities.

http://www.geocities.com/clearsmashdrop/b-24

TrailerParkJawa wrote:My dad and I went for a ride in a B-24 bomber today. The flight lasted about 25-30 minutes. I got to sit in the tail gunners seat, the front turret seat, and look out the sides. It was extremely noisy, I should have been wearing earplugs. The ride was bumpier than a B-17 and noiser too. But still exciting. I will post some pictures later this weekend.

I am green with envy.

Here is the organization that is touring these aircraft.

Who knows, they might come to an airfield near you!

http://www.collingsfoundation.org/menu.htm

Closest they'll be is Pennsylvania
Grrrrrr,,,,,,,,, (~_~)

Cyaround,
Jason

Not bad indeed.

Soontir C'boath wrote: Closest they'll be is Pennsylvania
Grrrrrr,,,,,,,,, (~_~)

At an airfield which is quite close to me though. Now I just need to remember to go.

Wow. Lucky *envious*

son of a bitch
rode in one of the 3 opperational b24 liberators.

bastard

That rocks!

TrailerParkJawa wrote:...The ride was bumpier than a B-17 and noiser too....

There was a special on PBS tonight about both the B-17's and 24's. They mentioned how the 24's weren't as battle tough as the 17's, and the 24's also had stability problems, esp above 20K ft. There was a little bit about how the 24's had real problems flying in tight formations and were often targeted first in air battles because the loose formations they often flew in were easier to fly through.

One pilot spoke of constantly having to adjust the throttle(s), the aerilons, and the rudder, just to stay on course or in formation, to the point of the pilot and co-pilot trading off flying every 15 minutes due to fatigue.

The B-17 was quite tough - on another board I saw a scan where a B-17 was rammed and lived to tell the tale.

NapoleonGH wrote:son of a bitch
rode in one of the 3 opperational b24 liberators.

bastard

I liked the B-24 because it is so unique, but given a choice I'd pick the B-17 for the next ride. If I have a decent job next year, Im going again. If I dont have a decent job this time next year , I'll be living on the street.

There was a guy there saying you can go for a P-51 ride for 500 bucks. 40 minutes at some field in Hollister. Now, that might be really cool!

Drewcifer wrote:There was a special on PBS tonight about both the B-17's and 24's. They mentioned how the 24's weren't as battle tough as the 17's, and the 24's also had stability problems, esp above 20K ft. There was a little bit about how the 24's had real problems flying in tight formations and were often targeted first in air battles because the loose formations they often flew in were easier to fly through.

One pilot spoke of constantly having to adjust the throttle(s), the aerilons, and the rudder, just to stay on course or in formation, to the point of the pilot and co-pilot trading off flying every 15 minutes due to fatigue.

The last version slated for production had a single tail replacing the twin tails to address this. Never made into production.
However, the PB4Y, the naval version, saw plenty of service, and several are still flying today.