Lone Star to introduce bomber rides
Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:41 am
I please to report that the Lone Star Flight Museum is to start selling rides with both their B-17 Flying Fortress and B-25 Mitchell 
I had the honour to discuss the idea with LSFM's president Larry Gregory last year at Oshkosh, but they had not been ready to "go public" till now.
You can pick up the story here ~
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/stor ... hyr3F0773C
I wish LSFM every success with their new fund raising venture !
I had the honour to discuss the idea with LSFM's president Larry Gregory last year at Oshkosh, but they had not been ready to "go public" till now.
You can pick up the story here ~
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/stor ... hyr3F0773C
I wish LSFM every success with their new fund raising venture !
Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:01 am
Great book me the B-17 next stop Iran! 
i'll stop those nutters if no one else will!
i'll stop those nutters if no one else will!
Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:17 am
Are there any pics of their B17?
Also, after my first b17 ride here is what I noticed
Everyone on board from execs to bookish types wanted to fire the 50 cals. Why not do something a little different like a mock combat run were the bomb bay has a couple flour bombs and some of the 50 cals are replaced with full auto "Gas Guns or high powered paint ball guns". Then set the scene up were they bomb and shoot up some old oil refinery, this is Texas after all.
Also, can they get more than 10 customers in the plane. It would be nice to fit a couple more in and stay up longer.
Also, after my first b17 ride here is what I noticed
Everyone on board from execs to bookish types wanted to fire the 50 cals. Why not do something a little different like a mock combat run were the bomb bay has a couple flour bombs and some of the 50 cals are replaced with full auto "Gas Guns or high powered paint ball guns". Then set the scene up were they bomb and shoot up some old oil refinery, this is Texas after all.
Also, can they get more than 10 customers in the plane. It would be nice to fit a couple more in and stay up longer.
Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:48 am
Here's a photo from the 2005 Barksdale AFB Open House airshow - the F-16 Thunderbirds are there this year 4/21&22/2007
Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:00 am
If they come around Pittsburgh, or are selling rides at Oshkosh, I am in the B-17 for sure. I went up in Fuddy Duddy, and now I want to do it again.
Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:04 am
out of interest how much do they charge and how long are you lucky so and so's in the air! 
over here your lucky to get a rid in a dragon rapide!
over here your lucky to get a rid in a dragon rapide!
Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:10 am
For around $425 you are in the air for around 30+- minutes. Or you can pay $1500 and wait in line for a flight between cities, much longer flight.
They let you walk all around the airplane except for the tail gunner area and ball turret. You can play with the Nordon bomb site and walk through the bomb bay area. It is priceless.
They let you walk all around the airplane except for the tail gunner area and ball turret. You can play with the Nordon bomb site and walk through the bomb bay area. It is priceless.
Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:12 am
I agree. No amount of pics and reading can replace flying in the real deal.
Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:25 am
I'm still trying to get the boys and I on a ride. We tried to get on Aluminum Overcast at EAA last summer but the wait was like 6 hours long! 
John
John
Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:33 am
Hy jpeters, if you book ahead, they give you a time to be there. I had mine at 12, I had to be there at 11 for briefing, and we flew from about 12 to 1245.
Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:45 am
Hmmm 
...good idea. I think I might just do that!
John
...good idea. I think I might just do that!
John
Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:47 am
I know Thunderbird has a complete top turret, something most B-17 restorations don't have. Does anyone know if it operable?
Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:41 pm
Rhinelander wrote:For around $425 you are in the air for around 30+- minutes. Or you can pay $1500 and wait in line for a flight between cities, much longer flight.
They let you walk all around the airplane except for the tail gunner area and ball turret. You can play with the Nordon bomb site and walk through the bomb bay area. It is priceless.
I don't claim to be the LSFM know it all, but you might want to double check the information that you've been given. Something about it sounds a little fishy to me as far as the city to city flights.
Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:44 pm
FlyingFortB17 wrote:I know Thunderbird has a complete top turret, something most B-17 restorations don't have. Does anyone know if it operable?
To the best of my knowledge they are all in working condition, LSFM just doesn't operate them.
Wed Apr 18, 2007 3:12 pm
Now I'm home after work I've got a bit more time to add some detail.
Larry's plan ( as outlined in an email to me in Jan'07 ) is to offer rides with the B-17 and B-25 at locations in TEXAS only this year.
This as home turf and they are not that far from Galveston if there are any maintenance issues.
The B-17's that tour only visit certain cities and there market research shows that people in other cities would come out to support them.
The other goal is to attract visitors to Galveston. Larry's vision is to offer a ride package which ( god willing ) will start with a Stearman flight, then on to the T-6, then once you've got your "wings" ... the B-25 and B-17.
He was looking at working with other local attractions and hotels to get discounts etc, so that people would go down and stay for a vaction, rather than a quick visit to take a flight.
We talked at Oshkosh last year about the interest that might be generated for overseas visitors and I thought that people ( inlcuding me ) would want to take advantage of such a fantastic opportunity.
Four classic warbird rides as a package ?
Pinch me someone ~ I must be dreaming
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Oh ~ before I go ~ yes Stehanie is right ~ on both counts
1 / Both turrets are functionally operational ~ but not used.
2/ I don't think LSFM plan to offer cross country rides to the public.
FAA rules for warbird rides only allow "local" flight, meaning the airplane must return to the point of departure for landing.
Therefore only crew can fly city to city. Some operators do offer crew status membership for people, which is naturally a lot more expensive than for a 20-30 minte ride.
Larry's plan ( as outlined in an email to me in Jan'07 ) is to offer rides with the B-17 and B-25 at locations in TEXAS only this year.
This as home turf and they are not that far from Galveston if there are any maintenance issues.
The B-17's that tour only visit certain cities and there market research shows that people in other cities would come out to support them.
The other goal is to attract visitors to Galveston. Larry's vision is to offer a ride package which ( god willing ) will start with a Stearman flight, then on to the T-6, then once you've got your "wings" ... the B-25 and B-17.
He was looking at working with other local attractions and hotels to get discounts etc, so that people would go down and stay for a vaction, rather than a quick visit to take a flight.
We talked at Oshkosh last year about the interest that might be generated for overseas visitors and I thought that people ( inlcuding me ) would want to take advantage of such a fantastic opportunity.
Four classic warbird rides as a package ?
Pinch me someone ~ I must be dreaming
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh ~ before I go ~ yes Stehanie is right ~ on both counts
1 / Both turrets are functionally operational ~ but not used.
2/ I don't think LSFM plan to offer cross country rides to the public.
FAA rules for warbird rides only allow "local" flight, meaning the airplane must return to the point of departure for landing.
Therefore only crew can fly city to city. Some operators do offer crew status membership for people, which is naturally a lot more expensive than for a 20-30 minte ride.