WWII B-17 bomber visits Heber Airport this week

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

People get tours of the WWII B-17G bomber,

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Jim Swanke, a member of the WWII B-17G bomber,

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

The WWII B-17G bomber,

Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune

Robert McBride rests on a machine gun as he looks out the window ot the WWII B-17G bomber,

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Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune People get tours of the WWII B-17G bomber, "Sentimental Journey" at the Heber City Aiport in Heber, Utah Monday September 17, 2012. The vintage plane is scheduled to be on display and available for rides and tours from September 17-20, at the Heber City Airport. This event is co-sponsored by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and the Heber City Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The bomber was restored by and is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by the all-volunteer non-profit Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The WWII Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today. There are only five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune People get tours of the WWII B-17G bomber, "Sentimental Journey" at the Heber City Aiport in Heber, Utah Monday September 17, 2012. The vintage plane is scheduled to be on display and available for rides and tours from September 17-20, at the Heber City Airport. This event is co-sponsored by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and the Heber City Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The bomber was restored by and is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by the all-volunteer non-profit Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The WWII Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today. There are only five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune People get tours of the WWII B-17G bomber, "Sentimental Journey" at the Heber City Aiport in Heber, Utah Monday September 17, 2012. The vintage plane is scheduled to be on display and available for rides and tours from September 17-20, at the Heber City Airport. This event is co-sponsored by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and the Heber City Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The bomber was restored by and is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by the all-volunteer non-profit Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The WWII Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today. There are only five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune People get tours of the WWII B-17G bomber, "Sentimental Journey" at the Heber City Aiport in Heber, Utah Monday September 17, 2012. The vintage plane is scheduled to be on display and available for rides and tours from September 17-20, at the Heber City Airport. This event is co-sponsored by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and the Heber City Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The bomber was restored by and is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by the all-volunteer non-profit Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The WWII Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today. There are only five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Jim Swanke, a member of the WWII B-17G bomber, "Sentimental Journey," keeps an eye on his passengers as the bomber flies over Heber, Utah Monday September 17, 2012. The vintage plane is scheduled to be on display and available for rides and tours from September 17-20, at the Heber City Airport. This event is co-sponsored by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and the Heber City Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The bomber was restored by and is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by the all-volunteer non-profit Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The WWII Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today. There are only five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune The WWII B-17G bomber, "Sentimental Journey" on dispaly at the Heber City Aiport in Heber, Utah Monday September 17, 2012. The vintage plane is scheduled to be on display and available for rides and tours from September 17-20, at the Heber City Airport. This event is co-sponsored by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and the Heber City Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The bomber was restored by and is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by the all-volunteer non-profit Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The WWII Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today. There are only five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Robert McBride rests on a machine gun as he looks out the window ot the WWII B-17G bomber, "Sentimental Journey" during a flight above Heber, Utah Monday September 17, 2012. McBride was a mechanic and worked on aircraft including the B-17 during WWII while stationed at Burtonwood Air Depot in England from 1943-1946. The vintage plane is scheduled to be on display and available for rides and tours from September 17-20, at the Heber City Airport. This event is co-sponsored by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and the Heber City Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The bomber was restored by and is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by the all-volunteer non-profit Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The WWII Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today. There are only five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune The WWII B-17G bomber, "Sentimental Journey" takes off from the Heber City Aiport in Heber, Utah Monday September 17, 2012. The vintage plane is scheduled to be on display and available for rides and tours from September 17-20, at the Heber City Airport. This event is co-sponsored by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and the Heber City Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The bomber was restored by and is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by the all-volunteer non-profit Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The WWII Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today. There are only five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune The WWII B-17G bomber, "Sentimental Journey" taxis into its dispaly area at the Heber City Aiport in Heber, Utah Monday September 17, 2012. The vintage plane is scheduled to be on display and available for rides and tours from September 17-20, at the Heber City Airport. This event is co-sponsored by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and the Heber City Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The bomber was restored by and is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by the all-volunteer non-profit Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The WWII Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today. There are only five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune The WWII B-17G bomber, "Sentimental Journey" taxis into its dispaly area at the Heber City Aiport in Heber, Utah Monday September 17, 2012. The vintage plane is scheduled to be on display and available for rides and tours from September 17-20, at the Heber City Airport. This event is co-sponsored by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and the Heber City Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The bomber was restored by and is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by the all-volunteer non-profit Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The WWII Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today. There are only five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world. Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune The WWII B-17G bomber, "Sentimental Journey" taxis into its dispaly area at the Heber City Aiport in Heber, Utah Monday September 17, 2012. The vintage plane is scheduled to be on display and available for rides and tours from September 17-20, at the Heber City Airport. This event is co-sponsored by the Utah Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and the Heber City Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The bomber was restored by and is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by the all-volunteer non-profit Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The WWII Flying Fortress "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today. There are only five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· September 18, 2012 11:22 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A World War II B-17G bomber named "Sentimental Journey" will be on display, available for tours for donors and rides for hire this week at the Heber Airport.

The bomber is maintained and operated as a flying museum and memorial by volunteers with the non-profit Commemorative Air Force.

From Monday through Thursday, visitors can climb aboard for a donation. Rides start at $425 per person, and reservations can be made by calling 602-448-9415 or by visiting the bomber.

According to the Commemorative Air Force, "Sentimental Journey" is the most fully restored B-17 flying today, and there are only approximately five B-17 Flying Fortresses still flying in the world. When not touring, the plane is located at the CAF Arizona Wing Aviation Museum in Mesa, Ariz., at Falcon Field Airport.

Read the story of the restoration of the bomber at http://www.azcaf.org/pages/sentjourn.html.