I don't know how many of you remember the 'invasion' of the online flight sim guys, but I was the product of that action. My coming over here was mainly do to how cool Sapphire was, in talking with us about flying, etc. So I thought that I would post something here that I thought was pretty cool, having to do with flying.
This past weekend I had the opprotunity to ride in a WWII bomber, a B-24 Liberator. It has always been a dream of mine to fly in one, being my grandfather was a bombardier during WWII. With the aircraft being in town, I just couldn't pass up the chance to fly in it.
Got up early Sunday morning and went to the airfield and waited for my turn.
About 1 hour later, it was my groups turn to ride.
We stood around waiting for the passengers from the early flight to get off so I started to snap pictures left and right. About then my buddy pushed me on the shoulder and told me "Get going!". I looked up and the crew chief was waving someone up. So I ran up fast as I could. He leaned over and told me.....go to the seat behind the pilot. So I made my way up by the body of the aircraft (by the bombbay) and proceeded to get up in the cockpit area. I got strapped in and started to move over to get a picture of the Co-Pilot. This is what I saw.
I was impressed. Not that she was a woman. But that she was a younger woman, that was flying a WWII era aircraft, that flew by pulleys. (You have to have some strength to fly aircraft of this nature. Remember, these bombers a BIG, and don't exactly turn on a dime!)
Needless to say the flight was smooth as silk. So after we landed I went up to talk to her a bit and asked how she started flying for the Foundation. She told me she started up one summer and has been doing it for 6 years now. She has a total of 600 hours in the B-24J. Something that not many people can say they have (short of veterans and WASP's )
I was also lucky enough to get a picture with her also.
(From Left to Right. My buddy from work, the Co-pilot, and myself)
So my ramblings out to those ladies who want to fly. Go for it! Who knows where it might take you.
Craig







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