EAA Concedes Its B-17 Bomber Will Not Make Oshkosh

Despite its best efforts, EAA announced this week that there simply is not enough time to prepare its B-17 Aluminum Overcast for a planned ferrying flight from California to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. EAA had hoped it could pull off both readying the replacement B-17, Fuddy Duddy, and Aluminum Overcast so that both could appear at the annual aviation event, but now it's clear that available time and resources will only permit work on Fuddy Duddy to be completed.

"We really busted our guts to get both airplanes ready in time," said EAA Museum Director Adam Smith. "We just plain ran out of time for Aluminum Overcast. But we are very pleased to report that annual inspection work on Fuddy Duddy is complete, and pilot checkout flights are slated to begin early next week." On Saturday, July 17, volunteers will gather at EAA's Weeks Hangar to chip in and polish the aircraft.

Every year homebuilders and restorers throughout the country, and in some cases, the world, work night and day to complete their projects in hopes of flying into EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. EAA experienced some of that heartache of those who fall short. EAA maintenance workers did what they could and then some, but too much remains to be done to make a safe ferrying flight possible.

The decision to abandon the attempt will allow staff members to move on to other pressing duties in preparation for the 52nd EAA AirVenture fly-in, which arrives in less than two weeks. Plenty of seats are available on Fuddy Duddy during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as well as the ensuing Salute to Veterans tour that kicks off in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the week after convention.

FMI: www.b17.org