Liberty Belle to visit England in 2007 ?

[bomberflight]

I just picked this up from the Liberty Foundation home page

The Liberty Foundation is currently raising funds/Sponsorship for the additional $275,000.00 needed to realize a very historic trip to fly the Liberty Belle overseas. The Liberty Belle will fly the exact route that our veterans flew over 60 years ago, Tour historic station 153, the home base of the 390th BG and once home to the original ”Liberty Belle”. For more information and some unique opportunities please call 918-340-0243.

The Liberty Foundation is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization, and all donations are tax-exempt to the fullest extend allowed by law. Donations can be made for the Liberty Belle “Oversea tour” and mailed to:

B-17 Overseas Tour
11564 east 7th street
Tulsa, OK 74128

http://www.libertyfoundation.org/index.php

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OK so here's the question European cousins ~ assuming they raise the cash ~ which country in Europe should they go to in order to sell rides to the public

Certainly won't be allowed in the UK ~ so where ????

[mustangdriver]

I think it should fly over Berlin.

[Ztex]

My thoughts exactly... and have the new ME-262 come up and intercept over the Brandenburg Gate!

How cool would that be?

I hope they are able to raise the funds it would be a great trip.
Z

[TAdan]

Better have a little friend flying escort then!

[B25PBYGUY]

Well, we've been working on this, and other things for some time. The Foundation has a plan. This is one of the reasons I flew the airplane here to the Nashville area after we finished at JAX. We're re-doing the instrument panel, since myself and one of our crew chiefs live in the area. Rest assured we'll do a bit of touring here in the States during portions of the first two quarters of the year too. The overseas events will be well publicized, and we'll be there for a fair amount of time.

[krlang]

Where in the Nashville area?

I'm coming down for Embraer class in January.

[Ryan Keough]

Seriously though, what is being done to get authorization to fly fundraising flights in the UK or mainland Europe. The Collings Foundation sought to do this in the B-24 several years ago but could not find the appropriate agency contacts to allow donor flights overseas. This has been a problem for any location outside the US since it is impacted by two things: 1) Flying passengers in an aircraft that doesn't hold a standard airworthiness certificate (Limited and Experimental) and 2) The carry of passengers originating and terminating in a country other than that of the aircrafts ownership is considered cabotage I thought... something that US charter operators have to be careful of... would this classify as well?

Just some thoughts and questions.

[Boneyard]

I fly from the one of the most original, still operational ex. 8th Air Force airfields left in the UK. It would be absolutely fantastic if the Collings B-24 came over and visited, it's been over 60 years since B-24s operated from the airfield.

Maybe one day......

[retroaviation]

I know that our B-24 (formerly known as Diamond Lil) went to the U.K. back in the 80's. 82 I think. I know a lot has changed since then, but I don't believe they ran into any troubles from the government then.

Gary

[Ryan Keough]

...It would be absolutely fantastic if the Collings B-24 came over and visited, it's been over 60 years since B-24s operated from the airfield.

It's all about the mighty dollar... the cost of getting the aircraft even across the pond and back could buy a brand new airplane here in the states! Add to that the "lost opportunity" cost if the plane comes over for even a month and loses the ability to perform fundraising flights... a lot of dough in the long run.

I see the only ability for something like this to happen is to have a large company sposnor or underwrite the effort. It's unfortunate that it comes to this, but the days of doing it "for the hell of it" are long gone I am afraid.