WWII bombers arrive at Tri-Cities Regional Airport

BY TOM NETHERLAND
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER

LEXINGTON, N.C. – What a thrill.

A trio of airplanes from World War II idled a few feet from the runway of Davidson County Airport in Lexington, N.C. on Monday morning. Large bombers Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator awaited takeoff alongside their small although formidable two-seat buddy, a P-51 Mustang.

Each flies as part of the Collings Foundation’s 110-city Wings of Freedom Tour. Monday culminated the tour’s stay in Lexington, N.C. The tour reached Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville, Tenn., Monday and will remain until early Wednesday.

Six lucky passengers were selected to fly from North Carolina to Tennessee in either the B-17 or B-24. Four chose the B-24 and two the B-17.

“[The B-17] is one of the strongest airplanes ever made,” said pilot Mac McCauley. “It’s an honor to fly a plane like this.”

First step, climb – yes, climb – into the B-17, which inside appears much as it must have during its World War II beginnings. There are no comforts – cushioned seats, high-speed Internet connections, mid-flight refreshments or anything else.

Instead, a few slabs of dark green cushions affixed with lap seat belts were found as the B-17’s engines grew from a growl to a roar.

Take-off time.

Next stop, Tri-Cities Regional Airport, an hour and a once-in-a-lifetime flight away.

“Everybody says they can’t believe how smooth it is,” McCauley said of the ride.

Smooth indeed.

Moments into the flight, the two passengers were beckoned to unbuckle and tour the plane. A narrow walkway leads from the rear of the plane, up a step and into the plane’s radio room.

A step up and a step down, a tip-toe across an extremely narrow strip of walkway brings passengers to just behind the cockpit. From there, about a three-foot step down presents another forward-seeking walkway, this one under the cockpit.

After a tight squeeze and another step, the passengers slipped into the plane’s mostly glass nose. A tiny chair sat right in the middle of the wrap-around window.
Welcome to the bombardier’s perch. Intoxicatingly mesmerizing views abound amid the plane’s front.

But for a bumpy ride over Holston Mountain, on which even pinecones on the colorful trees could be seen, the flight proved smooth. The ride aboard the mighty B-17 Flying Fortress felt like a summer afternoon rocking in grandma’s rocking chair.

“It’s a gentle angel,” said McCauley, who has flown the B-17 for 11 years. “It’s very, very stable.”

Several callers to the Bristol Herald Courier Monday afternoon sounded a bit emotional, too. They reported that though advertised as an event that runs until 5 p.m., a large gathering of folks hoping to tour the planes were turned away at about 3:30 p.m.

Several added that they were also informed that today’s opportunities to tour the planes would also cap at about 3:30.
Chaney said he thinks he may know why.

“I take it that there is such a demand to fly that they are closing early,” Chaney said. “We have to take people flying because of operational costs of about $4,000 per hour to fly the planes.”

Half-hour flights aboard the B-17 and B-24 cost $425. Flights in the P-51 Mustang, which amount to basic flight training, cost $2,200 for 30 minutes and $3,200 for an hour.

Apparently, Chaney said, demand for flights is high. Therefore, if the planes are in the air, then they cannot be toured during those times.

He added that if anyone wishes, they can call him at either (978) 562-9182 or (800) 568-8924.

“If there’s a big demand for flying, we have to go flying,” he said.

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer who can be reached at features@bristolnews.com.

Tom Netherland is a freelance writer who can be reached at features@bristolnews.com.