The Vintage Flying Museum at Fort Worth’s Meacham Airport preserves one of
seven remaining B-17 Flying Fortresses still in flying condition. When the
warbird rolled off the Lockheed production line in 1944, it was on the cutting
edge of modern technology that helped the Allies win World War II.
In a rusting World War II hanger on the edge of the runway at the general
aviation airport, the B-17 named “Chuckie” sits with its nose pointed out the
open doors toward the skies.
The cavernous building makes the plane almost look small, but a single blade
from one of the four turboprop engines is taller than an average man. Chuckie
was one of the new breed of B-17s equipped with radar.
After the war, Chuckie served as a flying laboratory for electronic equipment
until 1959. For the next 20 years, the plane worked in the war against fire
ants in Alabama until 1979, when W.D. Hospers and his wife, Chuckie, saved the
last Pathfinder-edition of the B-17 from the recycling pile. The Hospers began
restoring the plane to its 1944 condition and appearance, although they have
not been able to find the radar turret.
When the plane is not thrilling spectators at air shows around the country, it
sits comfortably in the oversized hanger. Volunteers, many of whom are World
War II veterans, lovingly keep the old ship in flying condition along with the
museum’s 10 other airplanes.
The museum also has a Stearman PT-17, AT-6, L-5, L-3, Convair, and a Hawker
Hunter jet. From the Korean War era, they have two F-86 Sabers. On loan from
the Texas Air Command, a T-33 jet that flew over Vietman sits near the front
doors. A rare 1955 Piaggio jet sits in another hanger waiting to be restored.
The museum is less a collection of war memorabilia and more an airplane
education center. During the week, the museum hosts groups of school children.
The two rooms off of the hanger hold a mixture of model historic airplanes and
a few artifacts from World War II. On the other side of the hanger is a room of
historic airplane engines.
During the summer, the museum hosts free week-long camps for high school
students to explore aviation (Registration deadline is April 15.) A similar
class is offered to teachers.
On Oct. 11 the museum hosts a 1940s big band dance in the hanger. Their
biggest fundraiser of the year, the dance includes a fly-in and car show for
$15.
A little over one and a half miles north of the historic stockyard area, the
museum is at 505 NW 38th St., off North Main Street. A $3 donation box sits
under the nose of the B-17. There is also a small gift shop of flying
paraphernalia. The doors are open Saturday, 9am-5pm and Sunday, noon-5pm.
Weekday tours are available by appointment at 817/624-1935.
Coming up this weekend…
For information on where to see wildflowers along the backroads, call these
numbers:
Brenham and Washington County, 409/836-3695 or 888/BRENHAM.
Cuero and DeWitt County, 512/275-2112 or 512/275-9942.
Highland Lakes Area, 512/973-2803.
La Grange and Fayette County, 409/968-5756 or 800/LAGRANG.
Mason and Mason County, 915/347-5758.
National WildFlower Research Center, 512/832-4059.
Texas Department of Transportation, 800/452-9292.
Tyler and Smith County, 800/235-5712.
Yoakum and Lavaca County, 512/293-2309.
Annual Jamboree happens in Smithville at Riverbend Park, Apr. 3-5.
512/360-2557.
Bluebonnet Festival comes to Kingsland,
Apr. 5. 915/388-6211.
Old Settlers’ Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival livens up Round Rock,
Apr. 4-5. 512/346-1629.
Main Street Arts Festival in Ft. Worth takes over the downtown street leading
to the county courthouse, Apr.10-13. 817/336-ARTS.
Texas Brewers Festival visits Dallas’ Deep Ellum along Main Street, Apr.19-20.
800/BREWFEST.
This article appears in April 4 • 1997 and April 4 • 1997 (Cover).
