EAA B-17 in front of the Reno-Stead Airport Terminal

Everybody Enjoyed the B-17 Tour Event!

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EAA B-17G Arrival at the Reno-Stead Airport in March 2017EAA’s Boeing B-17G “Aluminum Overcast” arrived at the Reno-Stead Airport through a cloud of snow flakes. It was a cold and windy day and a rude awakening for the crew arriving after a nice warm stay at the Napa. CA airport. The weather that day was just not suitable for passenger flying so the media flight was postponed until Friday afternoon.

Friday dawned with nicer weather though it was still a bit cold and the afternoon turned a bit breezy, as it does often in Reno. Even so, the B-17 made four flights with passengers. The last flight of the day was the media flight filmed and then broadcast by the crew from Reno’s Channel 4 TV (KRNV) – which included a marriage proposal (and acceptance) in the nose of the B-17 during the flight.

Saturday was an even nicer day, weather-wise and the B-17 made another three flights over the Reno area.

Sunday was the final day of the tour with another 4 flights full of passengers experiencing the B-17, including a WWII veteran who served as a B-17 bombardier.

Ground tours of the aircraft were available each day after the last flight. The tour was free to active duty and retired military personnel. The Nevada Air National Guard brought a busload of new recruits out to experience how military flying used to be.

The Chapter volunteers had a great time interacting with the EAA crew and the public attendees throughout the weekend. Chapter members helped with loading and offloading passengers, marshaling the aircraft into and out of its parking location and worked in the merchandise trailer selling souvenir items and ground tour tickets.

Chapter 1361 is very grateful to the sponsors who made the event possible: the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, the Reno-Stead Airport, Aviation Classics who made their portion of the airport parking area available the the B-17 and Dolan Auto Group who provided the car the the B-17 crew to use during their stay in Reno.

Here are some photos taken during the event (click on an image to see it larger):