Flite Test - B-17 'Memphis Belle'

Ever wanted to step inside a B-17? Here's your chance!

[Positrack]

That's absolutely INCREDIBLE! Thanks for sharing, and MANY thanks to the folks at the Liberty Foundation for keeping this gorgeous machine alive and FLYING! It's just fantastic to see it in the air, particularly from inside!

[taofledermaus]

Aluminum Overcast is another great B17 that tours the U.S.  and offers tours and rides.   I highly recommend the rides.   What's REALLY cool is seeing the old WW2 vets that come out and unfortunately,   they will all be gone before these old planes are worn-out.

[TheBonafideHustler]

This deserves a like, people. HIT THAT BUTTON!

[williamgreer]

I ve seen the BEAUTIFUL, planeand HOPEFULLY she will beback sometime in the near future here in Broomfield COL.

[jeromeabriel]

Awesome review!!! It is fantastic to see this movie-star plane still flying. I loved the movie Memphis Belle and I love even more THE plane! BIG UP to the Liberty Foundation, thank you to them for all the good work and thank you to FLITE TEST for such a beautiful moment.

[RedwoodGeorge]

I was fortunate enough to be on board the Liberty Belle, a sister B-17 flown by the Liberty Foundation just a few years before she crashed and burned in a field outside Chicago.  I had the same impression as you guys: they're incredibly small inside. 

The pilot pointed out that in WW II most of the crew members were 18-20 year olds who were skinny teenagers ('Murica didn't really have an obesity problem back in those days)  Trying to fit a modern-width body down those narrow catwalks was a real challenge.

What a beautiful plane and what a great foundation - thanks for the video, guys!

[DiscoverRC]

A great aspect of going to see a B-17 is meeting the men who flew the missions-if you are in southern California the Miss Angela is based at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Last time I was there you could get a guided tour of the plane from a veteran. There was a veteran there who flew in the ball turret-yes he was the smallest guy in the crew! These guys have an amazing perspective on history, war and what it was like to fly missions where you was as likely to not come back as to survive. Sadly they will not be around forever, so take the time to visit them if you have the chance!

[mrpinkie]

The B-17 holds a very special place in my family, thank you for sharing this with everyone.

[Crafffter]

This is absolutely amasing. I am speechless. Just speechless. Thank you for showing this great bird to us!

[jimmihenry]

I'd never know how beautiful the B17 is, thank you for sharing!

[MrPetercooknh]

Holy chit... my favorite plane of all time right there. Must have built 10 models of 'em as a kid. I remember the first time I got to see one take off... the sight, the smell, the sound... I inexplicably just started to cry. I was in my 30's at the time and can think of no reason for why that happened. Nothing like that has ever happened since...

You guys are very fortunate...

[ShepdogMatt]

Absolutely awesome experience, you guys are very lucky. The opportunity to fly in a such a historic, iconic and amazing aircraft is something you just don't forget. My nearest was going up in a Tiger Moth as a kid and I've never forgotten that! Thumbs up to the guys that keep that beauty going.

[gittarpikk]

Just popping in to mention the great sound and choreography you guys do. No one seems to mention it but I want to now . Also the person that done the loop that you use at beginning and end of all your episodes...and the mixing  you use throughout is fantastic and the one that puts it all together is very talented and knows his/her stuff.

....so many times just goes thankless... for hours of hard work Keep it up...Its part of your 'signature'!

[JoeHarmon]

I was in that same exact plane last summer when these guys came to my local airport. Amazing experience. Got great pictures

[GLHS]

What an awesome video.  Those planes and the men who crewed them in battle were amazing.  The in flight footage was great.

[retren]

Truly amazing, thanks FliteTest for showing us all these great things!

[paparalph]

Thanks for sharing this. Have been a WWII airplane buff since I was a little kid. Have gone to the EAA in Oshkosh for years because of that era of planes, to ride on one of these has been on my bucket list. Someday I will get on one.

[flightmonkey]

It is soo crazy, because I just got back from the C.A.F Museum in San Marcos TX. I felt like a kid in the Candy store. They do provide rides in their planes too. They were working on them this weekend, cause they are comeing to San Antonio on September 25. Guess what? I'm going to be there too!!

[titouanb]

i got to see the Memphis Belle once at duxford a few years back. it is breathtaking just to behold.

[OneGenericName]

73 years old and this is still on my bucket list