The Aircraft of MDT: B-17

Welcome to a special installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

Aluminum Overcast on her last visit to CXY

This week, HIA’s sister airport, Capital City Airport (CXY), will receive a visit from the B-17 Flying Fortress Aluminum Overcast. Aluminum Overcast is a B-17G that has been fully restored and makes an annual tour of the country.

The B-17 was originally developed in 1935 as a contender to replace the US Army Air Corps’s Martin B-10s. Although a crash of the prototype (known as the Model 299) meant that the contract was awarded to the Douglas B-18, the USAAC (soon to become the US Army Air Forces) did end up placing an initial order for thirteen of the Boeing bombers. The B-17 proved itself extremely capable, and by the end of production in 1945, more than 12,700 of the aircraft, across several variants, had been built. The B-17 saw combat across all theaters of World War II.

The B-17 earned its famous nick-name, the "Flying Fortress," when it was rolled out of the hanger prior to its maiden flight; reporter Richard Williams of the Seattle Times remarked on its many mounted machine guns, saying, “Why, it’s a flying fortress!” Boeing subsequently trademarked the name. The Model 299 that made that first flight had seven machine guns, the B-17G, the final production variant, had thirteen and could carry as many as 17,600 lbs of bombs. Of all the bombs dropped by the US on Germany during WWII, nearly 43% were dropped by the Flying Fortress, more than by any other aircraft type.

Aluminum Overcast is one of the nearly 8,700 B-17Gs that were built. The G variant was considered the definitive B-17 and more were built than any other variant. The particular craft that would become Aluminum Overcast, however, never saw combat; it was delivered to the USAAF on May 18, 1945, ten days after VE Day. After being stored as surplus, the aircraft was sold as scrap in 1946. It was resold shortly thereafter and went on to serve as an aerial mapping platform, a cattle hauler, and a pest control and fire-fighting aircraft. In 1978 the aircraft was purchased by a group known as “B-17s Around the World.” They named it Aluminum Overcast in honor of a B-17 that had been shot down over France in 1944. Facing financial difficulties, B-17s Around the World donated Aluminum Overcast to the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1979. The EAA put the aircraft on display until 1983 when it began a ten-year restoration project that refitted Aluminum Overcast with original and replica hardware. The aircraft is now an almost completely authentic recreation, inside and out, of a World War II era B-17, though allowances have been made for modern radio and avionics equipment to meet current airworthiness standards.

Aluminum Overcast

Each year Aluminum Overcast tours the United States and Canada allowing the public to walk through the aircraft on the ground or take half-hour flights. The tour is stopping at Capitol City Airport on August 30 and 31. Self-guided ground tours are available from 2–5 pm on both days. For more details, including information about flights, please visit the Aluminum Overcast website at B17.org.

The Aircraft of MDT: Bombardier CRJ

Welcome to the fourth installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

The Bombardier CRJ does not make the most flights to and from Harrisburg International Airport (that distinction goes to the Dash 8), but, with a potential maximum of over 24,000 per month, it does carry the most passengers. Aircraft in the CRJ family are operated by three of MDT’s airline partners: Delta, United Airlines, and US Airways. The CRJ comes in several variants, but the three that fly into Harrisburg are the CRJ200, CRJ700, and CRJ900. They are able to carry 50, 66 or 70 (depending on the airline), and 86 passengers, respectively.

Delta flight 5254 to Atlanta (ATL) prepares
to depart on a CRJ200

The CRJ name is an initialism for Canadair Regional Jet. The line is manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace, but the CRJ program was initiated by Canadair shortly before they were acquired, and after the purchase, the name stuck. Based on the Canadair Challenger business jet, the CRJ100 was introduced in 1992. The CRJ200, identical to the 100 except for its more efficient engines, followed shortly thereafter.

Following the success of the CRJ100/200, Bombardier launched the CRJ700 program. The CRJ700 family is based on the CRJ200, but features a new wing design as well as a body with a slightly larger circumference. The family includes the 66-78 seat CRJ700, the 75-90 seat CRJ900, and the 86-104 seat CRJ1000. The CRJ700 began service in 2001.

The Aircraft of MDT: Embraer ERJ-145

Welcome to the third installment of The Aircraft of MDT. In this series we are taking a look at some of the aircraft that you may spot flying to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

An ERJ-145 in American Eagle Livery

The Embraer ERJ-145 is a regional jet that entered service in 1995. It’s a common sight here at Harrisburg International Airport. Although the ERJ-145 isn’t the aircraft that makes the most flights in and out of MDT (that honor is held by the Dash 8), it is the most popular by number of airlines that operate flights on it. Of our seven airline partners, four—American, Delta, United, and US Airways—operate flights to and from Harrisburg on the ERJ-145.

Seating 50 passengers, the ERJ-145 is the largest of a family of jets manufactured by Brazilian aerospace company Embraer. The family also includes the ERJ-140 and the ERJ-135 which seat 44 and 37 passengers, respectively. As of May of this year there were nearly 1000 aircraft of the family operating around the world. Those operations include carrying as many

An ERJ-145 parked on the apron.

as 18,000 passengers to or from Harrisburg International Airport every month.

Aviation Field Trips for the Young & Young at Heart

Our Facebook fan page wall is a great place to crowd source the answers to many questions.  We know that many of you L-O-V-E to travel and be a tourist.  So we took the opportunity to ask our fans where they found to be the best spots for an aviation-themed field trip.  We were so pleased with the response!  

Looking for a great place to check out aircraft in your local area, or perhaps a new place to plan a trip to?  Well why not plane spot at these fantastic locations?  This list is not comprehensive and is in no particular order, but certainly includes some thoughtful recommendations from MDT fans: 

Wright Memorial (Kittyhawk, North Carolina)
Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane flights in 1903. With courage and perseverance, these self-taught engineers relied on teamwork and application of the scientific process. What they achieved changed our world forever.

St. Maartin

As the second busiest airport in the Caribbean after Puerto Rico's San Juan airport, St. Maarten/St. Martin airport serves as a gateway to the Lesser Antilles as well as an alternate route to the British Virgin Islands. And, given its famous dual French/Dutch personality, this fabulous destination is itself well worth at least a mini-vacation on its own.

Air Force Museum (Dayton, Ohio)

The National Museum of the United States Air Force galleries present military aviation history, boasting more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles on display -- many rare and one-of-a-kind -- along with thousands of historical items and powerful sensory exhibits that bring history to life and connect the Wright brothers' legacy with today's stealth and precision technology. We invite you to take an online glimpse of our galleries. Click on a gallery name to see exhibits, including aircraft, engines, equipment and weapons of the USAF. The section also highlights special exhibits, current exhibits and restoration projects.

Carolinas Air Museum (Charlotte, North Carolina)

The museum is conveniently located adjacent to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, so your visit will include watching all types of commercial and private aircraft land and takeoff.  The excitement of feeling the power of the big jets taking off is sure to be an experience all visitors will remember.

Museum of Aviation (Warner Robins, Georgia)

The summer is in full swing, and it’s the perfect time to visit the Museum of Aviation with vacationing visitors and your family. 

Guided tours are available and geared for people ages 5 to adult. They require a minimum of 10 people. The tours are history-based and led by the trained staff of the museum’s education department.

Museum of Flight (Seattle, Washington)The independent, non-profit Museum of Flight is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, attracting more than 400,000 visitors annually. The Museum’s collection includes more than 150 historically significant air- and spacecraft, as well as the Red Barn®—the original manufacturing facility of The Boeing Co. The Museum’s aviation and space library and archives are the largest on the West Coast. More than 100,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum’s on-site and outreach educational programs. The Museum of Flight is accredited by the American Associations of Museums, and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum (Pooler, Georgia)

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum preserves for all Americans the stories of courage, character and patriotism displayed by the men and women of the Eighth Air Force from World War II to the present.

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum’s vision is to sustain our cultural heritage, support lifelong character education, and to be a center of community engagement.

EAA AirVenture (Oshkosh, Wisconsin)

For 51 weeks a year, EAA is an international community of more than 160,000 members that nurtures the spirit of flight through a worldwide network of chapters, outreach programs, and other events.

But for one week each summer, EAA members and aviation enthusiasts totaling more than 500,000 from more than 60 countries attend EAA AirVenture at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where they rekindle friendships and celebrate the past, present and future in the world of flight.

Museum of Naval Aviation (Pensacola, Florida)

Fly high with an adventure at the National Naval Aviation Museum, one of the world’s largest aviation museums. Located aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, this historic treasure boasts more than 150 beautifully restored aircraft, hands-on exhibits and more than 4,000 artifacts representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviation. Watch the awe-inspiring Blue Angels at practice air shows from March through November, take a ride in a motion-based or Top Gun Air Combat simulator, have fun with the ultimate seven story giant screen movie experience in the IMAX Theatre and dine in the Cubi Bar Café, an exhibit itself. There are plenty of family-friendly ways to get the most out of quality time with the kids.

Free admission is an added bonus, as well as free tours inside the Museum and on the flight line.

Udvar-Hazy Center (Washington, DC)

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall. The building opened in December, 2003, and provides enough space for the Smithsonian to display the thousands of aviation and space artifacts that cannot be exhibited on theNational Mall. The two sites together showcase the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world.

Aircraft Graveyard (Tuscon, Arizona)

The Pima Air & Space Museum offers exclusive bus tours of the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), also known as the "Boneyard." The facility is located adjacent to the Museum at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

National Museum of the Marine Corps (Triangle, Virginia)

The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines--past, present, and future. Situated on a 135-acre site adjacent to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, and under the command of Marine Corps University, the Museum's soaring design evokes the image of the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima and beckons visitors to this 120,000-square-foot structure. World-class interactive exhibits using the most innovative technology surround visitors with irreplaceable artifacts and immerse them in the sights and sounds of Marines in action. 

CR Smith Museum (Dallas, Texas)
C.R. Smith Museum is named for the innovative aviation pioneer and former President of American Airlines, Cyrus Rowlett Smith. The building of the museum honoring C.R. Smith and his accomplishments was the culmination of a two and one-half year fundraising and building effort led by various AA employee and retiree groups. The museum opened July 3rd, 1993.
Artifacts, which began with the Paul Kent Collection, were acquisitioned, painstakingly catalogued and incorporated into the museum's displays and archives by staff and volunteers. Many of these original volunteers are still actively involved with the museum.


Have we missed any that you think should be added to the list?  Where's your absolute favorite location to plane spot and absorb aviation history?