Vintage Flying Museum's B-17 Leaves Ft. Worth January 22, 2011 for New Home in Virginia Beach

Jan. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- FORT WORTH, TX – The Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth will be saying goodbye Saturday, January 22, 2011 to “Chuckie” its B-17 Flying Fortress. The World War II airplane will take off from Meacham Field for its new home, Jerry Yagen’s Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

“The new owner plans to keep the name, maintain its colors and fly it back once a year for the annual Big Band Hangar Dance,” said Charlyn ‘Chuckie’ Hospers, who owned the aircraft along with her late husband Doc Hospers. “He also plans to fully restore the aircraft and to continue to fly it to airshows throughout the Middle Atlantic States.”

The aircraft will leave early Saturday morning and will likely make a fuel stop along the way in Little Rock, AR, before arriving that afternoon in Virginia Beach. The flight can be tracked on Flight Aware (http://www.FlightAware.com) by entering its registration number N3701G into the Flight/Tail # block and clicking TRACK FLIGHT. The results will show viewers exactly where it is along its flight route.  

“Chuckie” is one of only a handful of airworthy B-17s and the only airworthy B-17 Pathfinder in existence. Even though it never saw action during WWII, it was originally equipped with a H2X Mickey radar unit in place of a ball turret and was intended to lead bombing missions.

Doc and Chuckie Hospers purchased the B-17 Flying Fortress in October of 1979, and in 1990, founded the Vintage Flying Museum [http://www.vintageflyingmuseum.org] at Meacham Field which housed “Chuckie” and other vintage aircraft. A small band of volunteers restored, maintained and operated the plane keeping it a visible showpiece of aviation history.

Following the death of ‘Doc’ Hospers last March, a very emotional and difficult decision was made to sell the aircraft. “We are honored to have been caretakers of an historical aircraft for over 31 years (almost half of its lifetime), and now the responsibility passes on to its wonderful new owner and a new chapter begins in the history of the aircraft,” said “Chuckie” Hospers.

Over the years, The Vintage Flying Museum has become known for its unique collection of aircraft and houses more than a dozen vintage planes. It is also well known for its community outreach and aviation education programs.  The museum will continue its regular operation and will host its annual Big Band Dance in the fall.

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About The Vintage Flying Museum [http://www.vintageflyingmuseum.org]
The primary mission of the Vintage Flying Museum, a Texas 501C(3) Non Profit, is to preserve America's flying heritage in word, deed and action. Over 200 members now support these efforts. Twenty aircraft are on exhibit including several which are extremely rare and historic. Additional displays include a dedicated reciprocal and jet engine room, a FAA Aviation Education Resource Center, WWII memorabilia and artifact exhibits, a unique aircraft model exhibit and gift shop. One of its greatest achievements and contributions to the community is the development of aviation education programs.