Plane Thinking

My husband sometimes watches those World War II history shows. And I have to admit, there’s something downright awe-inspiring about seeing all that heavy equipment on the screen: sinister U-boats and magnificent aircraft carriers in the sea, and in the air, the dashing Banshees and Tigercats and Dominators. But the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber has to be one of the best-known planes that ever flew missions over Europe in the 1940s, partly because it had a tough reputation for coming back safely, on a wing and prayer, despite heavy damage. And the shiny-bright, beautifully restored ones you see today are definitely easy on the eye, in a military-industrial sort of way.

See for yourself when the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum hosts the B-17 Flying Fortress Aluminum Overcast for a full week of family activities, ground tours, a ’40s-style Saturday-night Hangar Dance and, if you’re willing to pay for it, in-the-air experiences at Signature Flight Support, 8001 South InterPort Boulevard, Centennial Airport, Englewood. The show opens at 9 a.m. June 3 and runs daily through June 9; general activities are free, ground tours are $5 (or $15 for a family), the dance is $25 and reserved flights are $359 to $399 for thirty minutes. For details, fly off to www.wingsmuseum.org.

June 3-9, 2009