It was loud. It was bumpy. It was the ride of my life, back into the past. I had a chance to fly in the B-17 "Flying Fortress" this past week, a prelude to its public visit to Casper Saturday May 13th. Captain Dave Lyon and the very savvy folk at the non-profit Liberty Foundation know if you put a bunch of reporters up in the sky in a vintage World War II bomber they're very likely to talk about it. In our case (my colleague Nick Learned was also along) we certainly did. A lot. You can read more here and see the video here.

I had actually taken this ride a couple of decades ago, with my then-radio partner Rick Arner. Somehow I didn't remember it to be quite this, well...physically challenging. Climbing into the plane, navigating the narrow catwalk, crawling through the tunnel to the nose of the plane, all a little more difficult than the last time around, but so well worth the effort.

Here are some photos from the day, I encourage you to take some of your own. If your pocketbook can swing it, book a ride. They're a little pricey, but well worth it and it takes a lot to keep the flying museum in the air. If not, take the family on our to the airport for a donation-based ground tour. You'll never forget it.

The B-17 Madras Maiden is in Casper today (Saturday, May 13th). Public flights and ground tours will be available on Saturday May 13th at Atlantic Aviation FBO, 7956 Fuller Street, near the Natrona County International Airport. Flights are 10am to 2pm every hour on the hour. Ground tours are from 2:30 to 6:30.

To book a flight or for more information,  call (918)-340-0243.

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