B-24 Flight Experience

Re:B-24 Flight Experience (Neale600)

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:45:35 GMT

This is very similar to the B-17 & B-25 rides on the "Yankee Lady" operated by the Yankee Air Force at Willow Run in Ypsilanti Michigan. The rides are $425 for the Fort & $400 for the Micthell. Michigan residents actually can get a tax credit on a portion of the cost. On the B-17 you enter through the crew door located near the waist gunners position. Other wise the procedures are very similar to those described by captn71.

Simply go to the Yankee Air Force (Willow Run) web site for a flight schedule & availability.

Neale600

P.S. I've wondered why "Willow Run" (Steve) hasn't donated a B-24 to the YAF. After all they were built right there.

Re:B-24 Flight Experience (captn71)

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:37:51 GMT

Thanks all for the kind comments.
To Alan,
Collings will not fly the aircraft for rides unless 6-7 people sign up for a flight (because of their cost-per-hour to fly it). You enter through the bomb bay and 6 people are seated in the waist gun compartment (directly behind the bomb bay) and one person is seated on the floor in the radio compartment directly behind the cockpit. No one other than the pilot & copilot are seated in the cockpit itself. In the waist, there is a narrow ledge on the bomb bay bulkhead (equipped with seat belts) that seats 3 abreast (that's where I sat, nearest to the fuselage where there is a window--best place for video-ing, etc). Three more are seated on the compartment floor below the gun windows--they have really no view out of the windows while seated there. There are usually 4 Collings crew aboard (the 2 pilots, and 1 or 2 others). No one is allowed to unbelt and stand up until the bell rings after takeoff. I don't think you would be able to see much of the takeoff or landing from the cockpit view while seated in the radio compartment. Before boarding, one of the Collings crew gives the passengers a safety briefing.

When the bell rings after takeoff, you are allowed to stand up and wander throughout the aircraft--from stem to stern. You go through the bomb-bay on a narrow catwalk. Do NOT step off of the catwalk onto the bomb bay doors. They were not designed to hold the weight of a human, and you will break through them and rapidly exit the aircraft (no parachutes are provided!). Once through the bay you'll have to climb up onto the flight deck and are allowed to stand behind the pilots, but not interact with them. To get to the nose (nav station, bomb-sight, nose turret), you have to crawl underneath the flight deck, to the right of the nose wheel. They don't operate the belly ball turret on these rides and you can't get into it. At our height and weight we wouldn't really fit too well anyway (I'm 6'1" and about 190 lbs).

When the bell rings again, you have to return to your "seat" and strap in for landing. The flight is approx. 30 minutes in length (sometimes slightly longer) and costs $425.00 (US) per person. To me it's worth every penny. As a warning I will stress that you move about the aircraft carefully, especially watching out for your head--there are a lot of sharp objects around that you can easily smack your head into if not careful. Easy to bloody your head. You can lean out of the gun windows, but I wouldn't recommend it. As I said, there are no parachutes and if the plane hit unexpected turbulence you might take a dive out.

As you can see from the video, the gun windows are open and it is quite windy inside. The engine noise is very loud, so if you have sensitive ears or problems with loud noise, take some ear protection along. The flight doesn't go above about 3500 feet in altitude, so there is no problem with "popping" your ears, or breathing. If the weather is cold, take a jacket--the inside of the aircraft is not heated. If it's warm, you can go in short sleeves. I would not recommend sandals or flip-flops (even though in the video you see the young Collings crewmember in them)--rubber sole shoes, boots, or tennis shoes are best. I also recommend visiting every part of the aircraft, which you can do on a flight. The public static- display only allows visitors to go into the waist compartment and exit the bomb-bay--the tail and nose areas are off-limits.

Enjoy the flight--it's an experience you won't soon forget! You can begin to see a little of what the WW2 crews experienced on a mission.

Bill

Re:B-24 Flight Experience (AlanStarcher)

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:58:12 GMT

"Witchcraft" is coming to Jacksonville in two weeks --
any suggestions on what I should do to make my flight experience most memorable? (I now have an example of how to video the flight.)

Any areas of the aircraft to which I should pay special attention?

I'd like to be seated in the cockpit for take-off/landing, then I can wander the plane while in flight.

I'm six-foot, 200 lbs -- could I fit in the ball turret?

Re:B-24 Flight Experience (Al Blue)

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:55:07 GMT

This is by far the best film of a Collings B-24 flight I have ever seen. Well done!

Al Blue

Re:B-24 Flight Experience (bkazmer)

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:06:24 GMT

Really very nice job... I need to go do this soon!

Re:B-24 Flight Experience (eesharpener)

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:40:51 GMT

Bill,
Thanks for sharing this.
I really think the PIP for the takeoff portion is a nice touch.

B-24 Flight Experience (captn71)

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:44:47 GMT

I've posted a video of a flight I took aboard the Collings Foundation B-24J "Witchcraft". Welcome aboard and enjoy the flight.

Bill