EAA chapters have been a vital part the continued success of the B-17 tour since 1994. If your EAA chapter is interested in hosting Aluminum Overcast on its tour, this is your chance to get involved!
All EAA chapters in good standing are eligible to apply to host a tour stop. The information below provides useful background information about how the B-17 tour works and how chapters play a part.
What do chapters do?
Chapters assist with the preparation, planning and execution of each stop.
EAA takes care of many of the "big issues" like crewing and maintaining the airplane, flight operations related issues, all bookings of airplane rides (both in advance and when the airplane is in town), providing collateral for marketing of the tour, etc. Six people travel on tour with the airplane to each location, consisting of two pilots, two maintenance personnel, and two tour coordinators.
What we really need help with are items that need local input, like local knowledge and extra volunteers to help with the smooth running of the tour stop.
Each chapter is asked to provide two key volunteers:
Marketing Chairman - This volunteer will work directly with EAA.
Merchandise, Ground Tour & Equipment Chairman - This volunteer works with the Senior Tour Coordinator after the B-17 arrives.
The chapter is provided with a step-by-step tour stop manual that outlines their duties and provides guidance based on our past experience.
What are the benefits?
The B-17 tour stop always brings positive media coverage to your airport and chapter, and projects a positive message about aviation in your local community. At every tour stop we make at least one, sometimes two free flights full of local media representatives. Each tour stop generates an average of about 20 new EAA members (and potential new recruits for your chapter).
Chapters receive a commission on seats, merchandise and ground tour sales. Proceeds average about $3,000 per chapter.
Application process
The purpose of our application process is to help us decide the best locations for the B-17 to visit, and to give every EAA chapter the opportunity to be considered for the B-17 program.
If you are interested, please submit a completed application form. Every applicant will receive a positive or negative response by mail once the schedule is set.
Please understand that constructing the final tour schedule is a complex task involving factors such as travel and maintenance logistics, past performance, geography, demography, and proximity to other tour stops. Please bear in mind that we receive more requests than we can fulfill in a given year.
Chapters are encouraged to arrange extra activities (such as food, Young Eagles flights, or hangar dances) to coincide with the B-17's visit to their community.
If you have any questions, please contact the EAA Air Tours Manager at 920-426-4843 or b17@eaa.org.
Completed Applications should be returned to:
EAA Flight Ops
1145 W 20th Ave
Oshkosh WI 54903
