CAA: GA News, "Prediction of Aluminum Overcast Over Van Nuys April 19-23"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Wednesday, April 4, 2001

PREDICTION OF ALUMINUM OVERCAST OVER VAN NUYS APRIL 19-23
By Ruth Mutti
Press Release


The Van Nuys Airport neighbors asked for it, the Van Nuys Airport personnel
asked for it and the general public asked for it, so for the first time
since 1998,
the Experimental Aircraft Association's Aviation Foundation is bringing its
World War II B-17 Heavy Bomber Aluminum Overcast back to Van Nuys. Listen
for those four 1,200-horsepower Wright Cyclone engines late afternoon April
19th.  The B-17 will be available for flights and ground tours April 20th,
21st and 22nd on the ramp in front of the Synchro Hanger on Woodley Avenue,
across from the Flyaway.

EAA is an international aviation organization with 170,000 members and more
than 975 local Chapters with headquarters at the EAA Aviation Center in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin. EAA's Chapter 40, representing the San Fernando Valley,
is sponsoring the B-17 at the Van Nuys Airport.

The Spring/Summer tour of this beautifully restored "Flying Fortress" bomber
begins March 14 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and will end in Madison,
Wisconsin on July 5th. The B-17 will then return to its home in Oshkosh.

The B-17 tours have taken place each Spring and Fall since 1994. This is
only the second time this plane has ever been on the West Coast.  Since the
EAA Aviation Foundation began the tours, tens of thousands of people have
seen and toured the airplane, while thousands of aviation enthusiasts have
actually flown in the bomber, which is one of the best-known aircraft types
of the World War II era.

At each stop, including Van Nuys, flight "missions" are available in the
airplane, which allow people to take flights in this spectacular aircraft.
Prices are $325.00 for current EAA members and $375.00 for non-EAA members.
Membership will be available at the site. We suggest you make your
reservations early so
that you will be guaranteed a flight. When the airplane was here in 1998,
the seats sold out quickly.  For more information regarding these flights,
contact EAA's B-17 Tour Office at 1-800-359-6217 or call EAA Chapter 40 at
818-705-2744.

Ground tours are also available on April 20th, 21st and the 22nd after daily
flights are completed (about 2:00 pm):

·       $5.00 for adults (age 18 and up)
·       $4.00 for children (ages 8-17)
·       Children under 8, FREE (when accompanied by paying adult)
·       $10.00 per family (Adults and Children age 17 & under)
·       Past B-17 Flight Experience Participants and 398th Bomb Group Members,
FREE
·       Special group rates for schools or large tour groups can be arranged by
calling 800-359-6217.

At the Van Nuys location at Synchro Aircraft Interiors, Aluminum Overcast
will be joined by several planes stationed for static display.  One of the
local community's favorites, another beautifully restored flying museum
piece, the B-25 medium bomber Heavenly Body will be available for inside
tours, with the suggested donation amounts being the same as for the B-17.
There will also be two planes that are used for general aviation and one
other warbird (it's a surprise!) The famous aviation artist, Mike Machat,
will have his artwork on display and will be available Friday, Saturday and
Sunday.

Ed and Barbara Cesar, the owners of Synchro Aircraft Interiors, Inc. and EPS
Aviation Stages, have graciously donated the use of their ramp area for this
event.  You will find Aluminum Overcast on the ramp in front of the largest
hanger at the airport, what is affectionately known by the locals as the
"Synchro Hanger."

The hangar is an important part of aviation history.  It was built in the
1940s and was used during World War II, which makes it the ideal place for a
flying museum piece such as the B-17 to be available for public display.  It
was also used during the cold war by Lockheed for "Skunkworks," the
top-secret military project that built the U-2 (the aircraft that penetrated
the Iron Curtain), and other Lockheed aircraft like the SR-71 Blackbird, and
the F-117A Stealth Fighter.  Although the aircraft were actually made in
Burbank, a few earlier types were brought to Van Nuys, where the final
touches were done and where testing was performed in a secure area.

In addition to enabling people to discover more about the B-17 bomber, the
tour's mission also hopes to increase awareness of EAA and its programs.
Funds generated during the tour will help finance ongoing restoration and
maintenance of the B-17, as well as other historic airplanes in the EAA
Aviation Foundation's collection.

"We're enthused to be taking the airplane back to the West Coast, where it
was a very popular sight several years ago," said Tom Poberezny, EAA
Aviation Foundation President.  "This itinerary allows more people to see
the flying history represented with this aircraft.  We want to honor the
men, women and aircraft that played such an important part in World War II.
It will also help younger visitors appreciate the role such aircraft played
in the development of military and civil aviation."

Members of the EAA Warbirds of America who are experienced in World War II
airplane operations will fly the airplane, which is painted in the colors of
the 398th Bomb Group. Many of these pilots are retired airline captains who
donate their time. The entire flight crew will be available at each stop to
answer questions.

Aluminum Overcast, a flying example of one of the greatest military
airplanes ever built, was built in Burbank by Vega Aircraft (now Lockheed)
and was delivered to the Army Air Corp in 1945, too late to see active
service in World War II.  The airplane has had a colorful history since
them, however.  It served in mapping and spraying operations in many
countries until a private group purchased it in 1978.  The airplane was
donated to the EAA Aviation Foundation in 1981 with the provision of being
maintained in airworthy condition.
Aluminum Overcast was on display at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh,
Wisconsin until October 1993.  It was then moved to the Foundation's Kermit
Weeks Flight Research Center for maintenance and restoration procedures
necessary for its first national tour in the Spring of 1994.  This "Flying
Fortress" will eventually be housed in the AirVenture Museum's "Eagle
Hangar," in Oshkosh, which features numerous World War II aircraft and
exhibits.

EAA B-17 ALUMINUM OVERCAST SPRING 2001 TOUR SCHEDULE
*Flight Times: 8:00AM - 8:45am - 9:30AM - 10:15am - 11:00AM

City                  Dates
Albuquerque, NM       March 14-19
Santa Fe, NM          March 19-22
Tucson, AZ            March 22-29
Deer Valley, AZ       March 29-April 5
Palm Springs, CA      April 5-9
Long Beach, CA        April 9-12
San Diego, CA         April 12-16
San Bernardino, CA    April 16-19
Van Nuys, CA          April 19-23
Santa Barbara, CA     April 23-26
Paso Robles, CA       April 26-30
Fresno, CA            April 30-May 3
Visalia, CA           May 3-7
San Jose, CA          May 7-10
Sacramento, CA        May 10-13
Carson City, NV       May 18-21
Oroville, CA          May 21-24
Medford, OR           May 24-28
Eugene, OR            May 28-31
Portland, OR          May 31-June 5
Seattle, WA           June 5-11
Spokane, WA           June 11-14
Boise, ID             June 14-18
Idaho Falls, ID       June 18-21
Salt Lake City, UT    June 21-25
Grand Junction, CO    June 25-28
Denver, CO            June 28-July 2
Colorado Springs, CO  July 2-5
Madison, WI           July 5-9

NOTE:  All tour stops, times and locations are subject to change without
notice.  For current tour itinerary refer to EAA's World  Wide Web site at
www.eaa.org

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