‘Aluminum Overcast’ Takes to the Air as Part of EAA’s B-17 National “Keep It Flying” Tour

Aluminum Overcast, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s restored B-17 bomber, returns to the sky on March 30th in San Diego as the first stop of nearly 60 planned for the 2007 “Keep It Flying” national tour. EAA has announced the first portion of the popular schedule, which includes more than 20 stops in six states between March 30 and June 19. The overall tour will continue into late fall and will include a week-long stop at EAA’s annual AirVenture fly-in from July 23 – 29 in Oshkosh, Wis.

The national B-17 tours have taken place each spring and fall since 1994. Since EAA began the tours of the aircraft known as “The Flying Fortress,” tens of thousands of people have experienced this unique airplane through its visits and aircraft ground tours. Thousands of aviation enthusiasts have actually flown in the renowned bomber, which is considered one of the greatest military airplanes ever built and one of the best-known aircraft types of the World War II era.

“The national tour EAA undertakes each year has become the nation’s most popular way to learn about this unique aircraft in an up-close way,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA President. “EAA is dedicated to preserving aviation’s magnificent heritage and our B-17 tours are a major part of that. This year, we also take great pride in saluting all our nation’s veterans through this tour.”

At each stop, flight “missions” are available in the airplane, which allow people to take flights in this spectacular aircraft. For more information regarding these flights, including ground tour and flight rates, visit the www.b17.org web site or contact EAA’s B-17 Tour Office at 1-800-359-6217. Special pre-book rates on flights are available for EAA members, non-members, and group rates are available for ground tours by schools or other large groups. The airplane’s crew is available at each stop to answer questions.

Through the past decade of national tours, EAA’s B-17 has created many emotional reunions for veterans who participated in B-17 operations during World War II. For most, it was their first “mission” in a Flying Fortress since that era. Even though more than five decades have passed since their wartime experience, the outpouring of emotion and memories have created a unique link through these veterans. They have often shared their stories, while also recalling and honoring their long-ago comrades, during the B-17’s visits to their communities.

EAA’s Aluminum Overcast was built in 1944, but was delivered to the Army Air Corps too late to see active service in World War II. It was purchased as war surplus for $750 by a private individual, and served in mapping and spraying operations in many countries until a preservation group purchased it in 1978. The B-17 was donated to the EAA Aviation Foundation in 1981 with the provision of being maintained in airworthy condition. After being displayed at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wis., for a decade, the airplane made its national tour debut in the spring of 1994. As part of an internal restructuring, EAA now fully owns the aircraft and operates the national tour.

Members of the EAA Warbirds of America who are experienced in World War II airplane operations will fly the airplane, which is painted in the colors of the 398th Bomb Group.

EAA is an international aviation organization with 170,000 members and more than 1,000 local Chapters. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or explore EAA’s World Wide Web site at www.eaa.org.