B-17
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A few years ago, I got to take a ride on a B-17 at the airplane museum in Chino. That time, I was in the back of the plane where the gunners were. It turned out that two passenger seats that go first are the bombardier and navigator up front in the nose of the plane. Ever since then, I’ve been on the mailing list for the Commemorative Air Force and every time I see that they’re doing another show, I try to be first in line to get the good seat up front. And this time, I managed to get one.
In the briefing, they told us that we’d be in the air about 20 minutes, and the two of us in the front should switch seats at the 10-minute mark so we both get to ride in the front seat. They also warned us that the front of the plane is actually louder than the back, since it’s right in the middle of the line of the four engines.
All told, it was an interesting up-close and personal experience of a bit of history.
