B-17 Tour

Experimental Aircraft Association
Kiffin Yates Rockwell Chapter 1016
Asheville - North Carolina

SINCE THE CHAPTER'S INCEPTION WE HAVE HOSTED A TOUR STOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS FOR THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION'S BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED B-17, THE "ALUMINUM OVERCAST."


THANKS TO THE MANY CHAPTER MEMBERS WHO MADE THE PREVIOUS EVENTS SUCH A HUGE SUCCESS !
  Positioning the "Aluminum Overcast" adjacent to the CAP building on AVL's south ramp made access ideal for many hundreds of eager visitors.
Meticulous maintenance of this aircraft is evident in this shot. 
  One of only 9 flying B-17s, this aircraft made more revenue flights at Asheville than organizers had anticipated, and will return in the not-too-distant future.
Local flights consisted of roughly half-hour trips north of Asheville Airport (shown here), overflying the Weaverville area, Downtown, and the Biltmore Estate - typically followed by a low pass over the airport.  Weather for the event is always flawless!

Watching and listening to these classic throaty radials would make anyone's pulse quicken.  You can't help but imagine flying toward central Europe wondering if you'll return safely.

Here's a view from the first class seat aboard a B-17, the bombardier's position with an unobstructed hemispherical view that can leave you feeling like you're standing on the edge of a rooftop!

The waist gunners operated through wide-open holes in the sides of the fuselage typically clothed in electrically heated suits. Today these ports are covered with plexiglas and offer an incredible view - in this case of the Biltmore Country Club and the French Broad River in the background.
Amidships is the radioman's position occupied here by Jack Phillabaum "assisted" by Eric Carlson on the left.  These classic radios operated at far lower frequencies than today's equipment and required a trailing wire antenna that had to be reeled in prior to landing.


Following an unforgettable trip from Asheville, the Aluminum Overcast is secured at Hickory Airport by pilot Link  Dexter and copilot George Daubner.
Lucky Chapter 1016 members Tom Carothers and Al Todd (back row) along with Brent Battles, Eric Carlson, Jack Phillabaum, and Steve White (front row) were joined by Asheville Jet guest Gordon Roberts. B-17 Crew consisted of Amma Miller (maintenance) and George (left rear) and pilot Link Dexter (second from right with the cell phone).