A recent United Van Lines survey of where Americans are moving from indicated that people are leaving the state of Illinois. That may be so but on Memorial Day weekend 2018, there was practically no traffic on the Mississippi River bridge at Muscatine, Iowa.
Almost annually a WWII warbird visits the Hawkeye state. This year, Aluminum Overcast, one of nine flying B-17s made a three day stop in Burlington situated along the Mississippi River on May 4th through 6th.
Crawling up ladder to the nose of the plane you enter a world from the 1940s. Here in the cockpit is a mix of wartime flight technology from 75 years ago blended with modern avionics for safer travel.
One of the secrets of B-17 longevity in battle was the strength of its fuselage. Notice the rivet pattern of small squares on the aluminum airframe. These assembly points made it possible for the frame to better remain intact during flak bursts or gun fire.
One of four props at rest. Aluminum Overcast, until next time...
