B-17 bomber flight

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

It's not every day members of the media get to fly over Okanagan Lake in a grand old warbird, but on Monday they got to do just that.

Reporters and others were invited for a flight aboard the B-17 bomber, Sentimental Journey, which arrived at Penticton Regional Airport this morning.

It was exciting, loud and a trip down memory lane. It was also smooth sailing, compared to the bone-chilling temperatures in an unpressurized plane and enemy fire crews dealt with during the Second World War.

"You can watch this on TV, but if you get in and go for a flight, you get a small taste of what veterans went through when they went on a mission," said chief pilot Russ Gilmore. 

The first B-17 rolled out in 1935 at the Boeing plant in Seattle. One local reporter exclaimed, at the time, "It's a regular fortress."

Thus it became known as the Flying Fortress. She flew in both the European and Asian theatres during the war.

Today, only about 50 still exist worldwide and only 10 still fly.

The fully restored Sentimental Journey is now flown by the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona, a flying museum staffed by volunteers.

There was already big interest from the public when it arrived at the Penticton airport. With people of all ages gathering around the plane to take pictures.

Big draws included the chance to speak with the crew and the image of movie star Betty Grable on the side of the bomber.

The Grable image ended up on the B-17 because it was voted by Second World War vets as the most popular pinup picture.

The public is invited to just tour the bomber or take a flight this week at the airport.

Flight costs are $425 U.S. for the radio room/waist gunner or $850 U.S. for the navigator/bombardier.

The tour availability is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through Aug. 2.