The Liberty Foundation's B-17 "Flying Fortress," one of only about a dozen still airworthy, takes to the air Saturday and Sunday mornings on a series of fundraising flights over San Antonio, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
B-17s, along with B-24 "Liberators," made up America's heavy bombardment fleet over German-occupied Europe during the Second World War, and also were used in the Pacific Theater against the Japanese.
About 13,000 Flying Fortresses were built from the latter 1930s through war's end,. says Ray Fowler, chief pilot of the Liberty Foundation B-17.
Fowler says 80 years after the prototype B-17 first flew, remaining examples are among the safest planes in the air.
"It's legendary for bringing its crews back even whenever it should not have flown with damage. It's just an amazing airplane," Fowler says.
Ashley Shelton, the B-17's crew chief, says seeing the Flying Fortress up-close is an inspiring experience for visitors.
"They are just totally blown away by it," says Shelton, whose husband, Greg, is the Flying Fortress' co-pilot. "It brings World War Two, and the history, and the importance of this aircraft to today, and it's really important to keep these airplanes flying."
PHOTO: MORGAN MONTALVO