Historic WWII bomber is back in Chico
Tours and flights in a B-17G Flying Fortress bomber to be offered at the air museum through Sept. 19.
CHICO » Tours and flights in a World War II era B-17G Flying Fortress bomber will be offered through Sept. 19 at the Chico Municipal Airport, hosted by the Chico Air Museum.
The museum will be closed Monday, with no tours that day.
The B-17, now named Sentimental Journey, is part of the Commemorative Air Force fleet that tours the country.
President Brian Baldridge of the Chico Air Museum said it’s a homecoming of sorts for the B-17, which was stationed in Chico as a firefighting aircraft, and was photographed around 1967 in front of the hangar that now houses the museum.
The Chico Air Museum is excited to have the aircraft back in Chico, Baldridge noted.
According to Wikipedia. org, “On 27 January 1959, the aircraft was transferred to military storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. After a few months storage, (it) was acquired by the Aero Union Corporation of Chico, California, receiving civilian aircraft registration: N-9323Z. For 18 years, the converted bomber flew as a forest fire fighter throughout the United States.”
Baldridge said the plane was known as Tanker 17 throughout its firefighting life, and converted back to its original configuration as a bomber in the late ‘70s.
Access to the aircraft this week will be through the Chico Air Museum at 165 Ryan Ave., starting at 9 a.m. Sept. 10.
According to the Commemorative Air Force, the plane is “exceptionally rare,” being one of only a few B-17Gs in the world still flying. Roughly 13,000 were produced from 1936 to 1945, according to the plane’s background sheet. It was built in November 1944.
Regarding the visit, Baldridge said, “Our inspiration is to see as many WWII veterans with their children and grandchildren come out to see, ride, or tour this airplane. This airplane is an incredible piece of living history, and a rare tribute to the heroes who fought and flew in WWII.”
Ground tours of the aircraft will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Sept.10 through Sunday, Sept. 12. On Monday, the museum is closed.
Beginning Tuesday, Sept 14, ground tours will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. except when the airplane is flying. It is scheduled to begin flying and giving rides from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 17, 18 and 19.
Ground tours of the airplane are $10 per person or $20 for four tickets, available at the gate. Reservations are not required. Rides are $425 or $850, depending on the seating. Flight reservations can be made online at https://www.azcaf.org/location/ chico-ca-tour-stop/ or by calling 480-462-2992.
The organizers request social distancing guidelines are followed, and local mask guidelines will be followed.
The Chico Air Museum is a nonprofit aviation museum that contains educational exhibits, as well as indoor and outdoor aircraft displays. Except for special events, its normal summer operating hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.