Friday, March 21, 2008

UPDATED with video: World War II bombers fly from Love Field

They're taking off from the Frontiers of Flight Museum, on the eastern edge of the Dallas metro airport

By John P. Meyer

Updated 06:33 p.m., March 21, 2008

Yesterday I had the privilege of flying aboard the Nine O Nine, a WWII-vintage B-17 Flying Fortress, one of the vintage warbirds which the Collings Foundation has made it their mission to preserve and make accessible to the public.

Currently headquartered at the Frontiers of Flight Museum on the eastern (Lemmon Avenue) side of Love Field, visitors to the museum from now (Friday, March 21) through Sunday (March 23) will be able to amble out onto the tarmac (great and evocative word, is "tarmac") and get an "up-close-and-personal" look at these veteran propeller aircraft. And for a monetary donation to the Collings outfit (on the order of $425 for a seat aboard the B-17, for instance), you can get even closer up and more personal by actually hitching a ride.

I was an early-day prospect for a heart-pounding back-seat ride aboard the Collings' P-51 Mustang, but it turned out there were too many actual paying guests showing up for that experience (and since it's only a one-person per flight deal, the media definitely play second fiddle for purposes of that tune). Word had it that one of the high-rollers shelling out $2,200 for a trip aboard the P-51 was Jerry Jones. So you might say I was bumped by the owner of the Cowboys. (Wiseguy.)

I took some video of my own thrilling B-17 flight over the metroplex which I will of course be posting, but while it's in process I wanted to go ahead and give you a look at what awaits you if you decide to head on over for a look-see.

The Collings folks are friendly and know their stuff, and of course the same can be said for the entire (mostly volunteer) crew of the Frontiers of Flight Museum. No airplane fancier of any age can leave that facility - especially this weekend - without a smile on his or her face.

Video at 11, though I'm not promising which day.

VIDEO UPDATE: My apologies to Charlene and Clark for washing their faces out in the sun, and also for the wind noise in my final interview with Fred. Beyond that, this video program should give you a pretty good idea what it's like to rattle around in a WWII Flying Fortress cruising along at about 1,800 feet over the metroplex. (Though it can't convey the pain when you connect the top of your noggin with a metal bulkhead.)

Note the WFAA Channel 8 film boys (Why Guy Mike Castellucci and his attendant camera dude) seated in the aircraft behind me during takeoff and landing; yours truly made a brief cameo (staring out the aircraft window) during Mike's broadcast piece which aired earlier this evening (March 21); once his segment is posted online, I'll link back to it in a comment.

Related stories

• Week in View: No Fooling Edition (March 27, 2008)

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• Lifestyle
• Local History

Comments

John Meyer Staff

Here's Why Guy's coverage of our shared flight: http://www.wfaa.com/video/index.html?...

My shadowy appearance on camera comes about midway through the piece, where you'll see me staring reflectively out the perspex-shielded waist gunner's portal.

4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Mike Orren Staff

Been seeing these planes over my East Dallas home a lot in the last 24 hours. A little disconcerting if you don't know what's up. They are indeed flying low...

4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Lisa Lawrence Merritt Verified

I really, Really, REALLY wanted to go out and take a flight...then I saw the price tag. Bummer.

4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )