People tentatively push forward to gawk at the stunning silver frame of the B-17 bomber parked on the airport tarmac.
Aviation enthusiasts marvel at its size and strength. History buffs look in appreciation at the machines that helped the U.S. and Allied forces win World War II. Children imagine manning one of its 13 turrets and protecting people from bad guys.
For veterans who served on these incredible planes, seeing it can be like stepping back in time.
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“When these guys were crew members, they lived on these things. It brings back a lot of memories in these guys,” said Roger Tomey, president of the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
A fully restored B-17 bomber will come to the skies of Johnson County next weekend. The Aluminum Overcast, built at the end of World War II, will take up residence at the Indy South Greenwood Airport, where people can take photos, meet the pilots who fly the historic airplane and take a ride in the spacious bomber.
Organizers of the event relish the opportunity to teach generations of flight fans about the importance of the B-17. More impactful is to take World War II veterans who served on the planes up for another ride.
“It’s a thrill to ride on it,” Tomey said. “There’s a lot of history here in this aircraft.”
The B-17 tour is organized by the Experimental Aircraft Association, an organization focused on growing participation in all kinds of aviation, from antiques to warbirds to unique aircraft such as aerobatic airplanes and ultralights.
Programs help teach middle school students about aviation science, and high school students about engineering and pilot programs, as well as providing resources for adults to earn their pilot licenses.
But some of the most popular events are its aircraft tours, said Sean Elliott, director of flight operations for the Experimental Aircraft Association.
“The B-17 program has been in existence since 1994, and it’s our No. 1 outreach for the organization. We take this airplane from coast to coast, and have tour stop hosts, which are often our chapters, that are very excited about seeing the airplane,” he said. “Then we bring a whole lot of people out to the airport to get a very positive view of what general aviation is all about and why flight is so magical.”
Partnering with airports around the country, the association brings B-17s as well as a B-25 and the Ford Tri-Motor out for public events and rides.
Greenwood’s airport has hosted both tours in the past. The events are always popular with local aviation fans, Tomey said.
“Each year, we call and see if we can’t get on the schedule for Greenwood. We work that into our educational programs with the local schools,” he said. “They had a record number of people come out of Greenwood last time.”
The B-17 bomber has a unique place in American history. Known as the Flying Fortress, it was used heavily in missions deep behind enemy territory in Europe during World War II.
The aircraft carried immense defensive firepower, toting 13 .50-caliber machine guns at different placements to ward off attacking jets. The heavily armored bomber could also withstand combat damage well and get its crew home safely, according to the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Between 1935 and May 1945, 12,732 B-17s were manufactured. Today, fewer than 100 of the original airframes still exist. Only 15 are able to fly, according to the Experimental Aircraft Association.
The Aluminum Overcast was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps on May 18, 1945, too late to see any action in World War II. After the war, it was sold through military surplus and served as a cargo hauler, an aerial mapping platform and in pest control and forest dusting.
The aircraft was purchased by a group aiming to restore and preserve the vintage B-17, and donated to the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1983. Over 10 years, the organization painstakingly restored the aircraft, and now uses it to educate others about the B-17s importance in history.
“It is truly the iconic symbol of World War II, when you talk about air power in the European theater. Anyone who has seen any programming or read any of the history of the war have probably been exposed to the B-17,” Elliott said.
One of the most moving aspects of the tours are when veterans who flew in a B-17 come out to see it.
Tomey recalled last year, when a man in his 90s came up with his walker to simply look at the airplane. Tomey started talking to him, and asked if he wanted a ride on the plane.
The veteran responded that he had been a ball turret gunner, hanging underneath the airplane in a cramped space.
“He said he’d had enough of these. He didn’t want to get on; he just wanted to look at it one last time,” Tomey said.
People can purchase a ticket to ride in the bomber, and tours will be given showing off the unique aspects of the plane such as the different gun turrets and bomber sights.
Organizers will also be on hand to give more information about the programs the Experimental Aircraft Association does locally, Tomey said.
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Aluminum Overcast B-17 tour
What: A showcase of a restored World War II-era B-17 bomber, the Aluminum Overcast. People will be able to tour the aircraft, and can purchase rides on it as well.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 10-12
Where: Indy South Greenwood Airport, 897 Airport Pkwy.
Who: Organized by the Experimental Aircraft Association
Flights: Tickets for flights are available for $435 for members of the Experimental Aircraft Association, $475 for non-members. Flights will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting. To book one, go to B17.org.
Tours: Tours of the aircraft will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the airport. Tickets are $10 for individuals, $20 for families and free for veterans and active military.
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