"One for the bucket list" Topic

Yesterday I achieved 1 of my ambitions by getting inside a Lancaster bomber. My dad was a navigator on these and completed 30 missions over occupied Europe and Germany during 1944 so this was very special. I'm posting because anyone in the UK until this Sunday can share this experience. The Imperial War Museum at Duxford is allowing visitors onto their Lancaster as part of the normal entrance fee until this Sunday. Given that the museum is well worth a visit anyway, this is an added bonus.

I've done something similar, but in a B-17. My dad was the top turret gunner and flight engineer in an 8th Air Force B-17 in England.

Jim

Very cool. I have the same story but for a B-17G. You got to move all around the plane except for the ball turret.

The second half of my bucket list is to fly in one. Some day soon I hope.

Matthew

Twenty years ago I got to fly an hour flight in the nose cone of a B-17. It was fricking amazing. Scary too, especially landing, but one of the top experiences in my life. If you get the chance, take it.

Last year I went up inside the Lancaster being repaired at the Historical Aircraft Assoc. in Windsor, Ontario. It was pretty neat. The ball turret gunners hung their parachute on the inside of the plane because they couldn't fit in the turret with their chutes on!

There's one in Lincolnshire you used to be able to taxi around in.

My father in law was a ball turret gunner on a B-24. One mission they were damaged and the pilot ordered them to prepare to bail out when he realized he brought the wrong chute for his harness! Luckily they were able to make an emergency landing at a British fighter base. The crew always reminded him to check his chute after that!

The bomber rides are cheaper than fighters. Last summer I went to an airshow featuring a 2 seat P-51 – 15 minute flight was $1,500. USD I think the bombers are around $500. USD Sure would like to fly in the "Cadillac of the sky" though.

DeRuyter:here's the way one guy got a ride: some years ago I met an older fellow at an armor show. He had been a P-51 pilot. At one point,he said "I'll show you something",and pulled out his wallet and showed me a photo of him in Luftwaffe uniform.
The story was that, after the surrender, a German pilot visited their base. After lunch he was asked if he'd like to see anything.He said he'd always admired the Mustang,and his dream was to fly in one some day. My acquaintance said "I'll take you up". The German was so happy he gave him his uniform.

"Twenty years ago I got to fly an hour flight in the nose cone of a B-17. It was fricking amazing."

Got to do the same 10 years ago in "Sentimental Journey". When your coming in for a landing in the nose of the B-17 during the landing you are first to arrive. My ride was during a check ride for a pilot so I got the full treatment, stalls. feathered a prop, a couple of "touch and goes" besides the final landing. Also got to mess with the Norton bomb sight.

A year later I got a ride in the waist of a B-24.

Vigilant, I am jealous. Well Done sir. Nice to see the City of Lincoln still flying.

I had a fast taxi-run in 'Just Jane', the preserved Lanc at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre in East Kirkby about 10 years ago. It now costs around £200.00 GBP to do that, as they're trying to raise funds to get her airworthy. I also once had a flight in a Shackleton and that experience very clearly demonstrated to me how unpleasant it must have been to be WW2 bomber crew.