Guest Post: EAA B-17 Aluminum Overcast Makes Tour Appearance in Cedar Rapids, IA

The Aero Experience thanks our friend Duane Cooley of DRC Images for contributing this coverage of the EAA's B-17G, Aluminum Overcast, tour appearance in Cedar Rapids, IA. 

EAA Chapter 33 hosted the EAA's B-17G Flying Fortress, known as Aluminum Overcast, during a visit to Eastern Iowa Airport October 23-25. The stop in Cedar Rapids was part of a Midwest tour swing that will end in Champaign, IL this weekend. The iconic World War II bomber was available for local flights and walk-around tours during the weekend, giving the public a glimpse of the (then) U.S. Army Air Forces' standard strategic heavy bomber. The EAA and other warbird operators are making a gallant effort to salvage the airshow and touring season with appearances such as this as weather and resources permit.

For coverage of The Aero Experience flight on this aircraft, see our story - History Comes Alive as EAA's B-17 Aluminum Overcast Makes Stop in St. Louis - and the video below.

Be Defiant! The Rutan Twin-Engine Aviation Oddity That keeps Turning Heads Wherever It Lands

By Carmelo Turdo

Be Defiant! That seems to be the message behind the unusual looks of this Burt Rutan design. The Defiant takes the classic Rutan swept-wing canard shape and adds two more seats and an engine in the nose, resulting in a bloated version of its famous Long-EZ cousin. The Defiant continues its contrary ways by having the rudder placed beside the retractable nose wheel, although several variants included here feature rudders attached to the vertical stabilizers on the wingtips. As with all experimental aircraft, the builder has discretion over the engines, avionics and cabin interior installed, and each Defiant has its own unique character.   

The first example below was on the apron today at Creve Coeur Airport, and the second was also there in August, 2018. The first Defiant features the usual underbelly rudder installation, while the second has wingtip rudders.

Over the last seven years, The Aero Experience has reported on the AirVenture Cup Race and EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2013-2019. Several Defiants were flown in for those events, including these examples:

Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation Inspires Interest in Aviation

By Carmelo Turdo

The Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation is developing new programs to support the mission of inspiring youth interest in the field of aviation. In just nine months, the foundation has renovated their hangar and set up a small museum, launched the Discovery Flight program with Gateway Flight Training, completed restoration of the F-4 cockpit mobile exhibit, made great progress restoring a Bell OH-58 Army scout helicopter to flight, begun installing airplane and helicopter flight simulators, and secured fun and educational activity equipment for very young children. The local community has been very generous, and the foundation thanks everyone who has donated so far this year. More programs will be launched this winter and spring, and your tax-deductible donation will be needed to make next year a great success as well!

B-17 Yankee Lady Makes Fuel Stop in Perryville on Flight to Bell Fort Worth Alliance Airshow

By Fred Harl

The Boeing B-17G Yankee Lady made a fuel stop at Perryville Regional Airport Thursday on a flight to this weekend's Bell Fort Worth Alliance Airshow. The public was invited to view the aircraft on the apron, and local news carried the story. Warbirds like the Yankee Lady attract attention when they make even a brief appearance at a local airport, and they provide an opportunity for visitors to see first-hand what the Greatest Generation flew during World War II. The Aero Experience thanks the flight crew and airport service personnel for providing this look at the legendary Flying Fortress.