B-17G Flying Fortress “Yankee Lady” at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation
The Yankee Air Museum brought their Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress “Yankee Lady” to the Tennessee Museum of Aviation at Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (GKT) for the final stop on their 2022 Air Adventures Flight Experience Tour around the United States. A cold day and overcast skies did not keep people from showing up for a ride in this historic World War II bomber. Three flights were made on the day carrying passengers on their flight experiences. I was lucky to have my father join me on the ramp to watch the first flight of the day. I stayed until the end of the day to soak it all in. Because it is always a fabulous day when you get to see, hear, and smell round engines.
18Oct22
My first view of the Yankee Air Museum's Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Yankee Lady" as I arrived at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation. 18Oct22
The B-17 was open for tours and people were taking advantage of the opportunity. 18Oct22
Every B-17 Flying Fortress needs some nose art! And Yankee Lady is no exception. 18Oct22
Business front end of the B-17. The bombardier sat in this location using the Norden bombsight and guided the Flying Fortress to its target for bomb release. 18Oct22
The bombardier also controlled some heavy firepower in the chin turret located below the nose while protecting the bomber from fighter attacks. 18Oct22
It's a long way from the tail of the B-17 up to its nose. 18Oct22
Running up the engines prior to the first flight of the day. 18Oct22
Yankee Air Museum's Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Yankee Lady" parked in front of the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, TN. 18Oct22
Yankee Air Museum's Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Yankee Lady" parked in front of the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, TN. 18Oct22
Pre-flight briefing taking place preparing passengers for their flight experience. 18Oct22
A B-17 engine start is alway a smoky affair. 18Oct22
"Yankee Lady" taxis out for another flight. 18Oct22
"Yankee Lady" returns to the ramp after the final flight of the day. 18Oct22
Yankee Air Museum's Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Yankee Lady" parked in front of the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, TN. 18Oct22
Yankee Air Museum's Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Yankee Lady" parked in front of the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, TN. 18Oct22
Yankee Air Museum's Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Yankee Lady" parked in front of the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, TN. 18Oct22
Not only does a B-17 drink lots of AvGas. It burns a lot of oil. Time to refill the oil tanks on "Yankee Lady". 18Oct22
"Yankee Lady" has left her mark on the ramp at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation. 18Oct22
One of the Yankee Air Museum's crew members checking the fuel levels in the wing tanks on "Yankee Lady" at the end of the day. 18Oct22
Waiting on the fuel truck to arrive. 18Oct22
B-17 color matching the cold, gray skies. 18Oct22
First shot of the day was a shot of the B-17's nose. Final shot of the day is of its distinctive tail. 18Oct22
Bonus Images From The Day
18Oct22
The Tennessee Museum of Aviation is located at Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (GKT) in Sevierville, TN. As I walked out of the museum onto the ramp shortly after I arrived, this USAF CASA CN-235-300 came blasting out on takeoff. 18Oct22
The USAF CASA CN-235-300 was unmarked except for the serial number on its tail. It is likely attached to the USAF Special Forces for covert/secret missions. 18Oct22
My father, Dale Rowe, came out to the museum to join me and watch the B-17 Flying Fortress take to the skies. 18Oct22
Checking out the Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 radial engine on Yankee Lady. 18Oct22
Amazing to look at all the 1930's technology that went into the design of this World War II bomber. That is still flying nearly 80 years later. 18Oct22
Tail gunners position on the B-17. It's a very small space back there for a person to sit. And had to be unbelievably loud with two 50 caliber machine guns firing directly in front of you. 18Oct22
It was an extremely cool, overcast day. The temperature only got up to about 45 degrees. I was cold, so I know my father was as well. 18Oct22
The Tennessee Museum of Aviation has an A-7A Corsair II parked on the ramp awaiting restoration. As I was standing there watching, a sun beam came through a gap in the clouds and illuminated the side of the Great Smoky Mountains you can see in the background. 18Oct22