Flying the Friendly Skies
By Office of Communication
Posted on April 29, 2014, April 29, 2014

Flying the Friendly Skies

Several plane enthusiasts took a joy ride on the legendary B-17 Flying Fortress during Tuesday' s Aluminum Overcasttour at the Arlington Municipal Airport.

The flying, which was co-hosted by Harrison Aviation and the Arlington Municipal Airport , featured a beautiful B-17 bomber originally built in the 1930' s. The Boeing B-17 is often referred to as the Flying Fortress because the plane is armed with bombs and thirteen .50 caliber machine guns.

The B-17 was the first Boeing military aircraft with a flight deck instead of an open cockpit and it features clear blister machine gun mounts, which makes it easier for gunners to see their targets.

Over the years, 12,000 B-17s have been built. Only 11 remain in the United States.

Aviation, Highlights, News