COLLEGE STATION, Texas— Many members of “The Greatest Generation” had the unique experience of flying in the B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber or the B-25 Mitchell aircraft during World War II, and now those two aircraft will be part of the first Texas A&M home football game flyover next Saturday, Sept. 4.

Seats on the two aircraft are being auctioned off on AggieAthletics.com. Click on auctions in the upper right hand of the home page. The auction ends Wednesday, Sept. 1.

The B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber, a four-engine aircraft, was an Army Air Corps heavy-duty bomber that flew many missions in Europe armed with .50-caliber machine guns and five thousand pounds of bombs. Of the 13,000 B-17’s produced during the war, only 13 are currently airworthy today. The Lone Star Flight Museum’s B-17 is painted in the colors of ‘Thunderbird’, an aircraft with the 303rd bomb group which flew 116 missions during World War II. There are five seats available on this craft.

The B-25 Mitchell aircraft is the only aircraft flying the colors of the Doolittle Raiders and there are three seats available on this craft. The nose seat on this aircraft would be an amazing experience.

Anyone with a desire to fly in these aircraft may win the bid, as long as they are at least 18 years of age and there is a weight limit of 250 pounds per passenger. Many of the passageways on the planes are quite restrictive. These aircraft were not designed for standard passengers, but they have successfully flown people of limited mobility. Some physical exertion is required and if you have any health concerns, please consult your physician.

The individuals who win the bid will need to arrive 45 minutes prior to the scheduled flight time to get acquainted with the planes and their crews. Seat assignments and safety precautions will be discussed as all passengers must be seated and must wear a seatbelt for all ground operations, takeoff and landing. Once airborne, the passengers will be allowed to move about the plane, take pictures and video.

Some things to remember, with warm conditions in Texas during September, the temperature inside the planes will be quite warm. Dress comfortably and drink plenty of water before your flight. Ear plugs are provided and closed-toed shoes are a strong recommendation. No sandals or flip flops, please. High or pointed heels are not permitted as well. Space is restricted inside the planes so the smaller the cameras or video recorders, the better.

The winners will NOT be allowed to handle the controls of the planes, but passengers will be allowed into the cockpit section during flight to observe the pilots, but FAA regulations prohibit passengers from occupying a pilot seat or interfering with the pilots during the flight.

Winners will be contacted during the week with a more detailed schedule.

The Aggies open the 2010 football season at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4 against Stephen F. Austin at Kyle Field.

LINKS TO THE SITES:

http://aggieathletics.cstvauctions.com/gallery.cfm

http://aggieathletics.cstvauctions.com/auctiondisplay.cfm?auctionnbr=23483