1. The view about 8 a on Saturday. I wanted to arrive an hour before tours began so the airplane would not be obscured by tables and people.
2. Still "buttoned up" from the evening on the First Class Air ramp.
3. "Sentimental" was parked facing the eastern sunrise, absolutely perfect for photography.
4. This picture has been slightly retouched.
5. I was lying flat on the cool concrete when I took this picture.
6. A sign of life! Note the open forward crew entry hatch just in front of #2 engine's propeller. The courteous Commemorative Air Force crew went about their business starting about 8:20.
7. The four propellers were pulled through tot he same position following shut down the previous day and this is how the airplane greeted visitors; a nice touch. This is engine 1
8. "Sentimental Journey's" pilot Jim Kimmel did probably the most precarious work on the ground and up to about ten feet off it. Here he polishes the nose Plexiglass.
9. Other support crew preflighted the airplane as visitors began to arrive about 9.
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12. Three engines, just started, idle while the fourth comes alive.
13. A classic World War II aircraft taxiis to the active runway while a First Class Air Piper Cherokee another classic in its own right, decorates the ramp in the foreground.
14. Attendance Saturday was excellent. The weather was perfect.
15. The Springfield Chapter Illinois Pilots Association, who sponsored "Sentimental's" visit offered water, soft drinks, coffee, hot dogs, chips and cookies as a fund raiser for our chapter. Business was brisk all day.
16. B-17 pilot Jim Kimmel posed wtih two high school students. They asked him to sign posters to show their teacher they had attended the display. Kimmel is a former F-4 and F-16 pilot; had a great sense of humor and was kind and courteous with the students.
17. This fine family visited the B-17 and then the refreshments and allowed me to take their picture. The oldest gentleman flew B-17s in World War II.
18. Cecelia Tumulty is a candidate for Sangamon County Circuit Clerk this year, remember the name and vote for her where you find it November 4. I know I will.
19. One of several transient aircraft passing through First Class Air was this Columbia 300. The firm that produced it was recently purchased by Cessna.
20. The owner/pilot is a retired airlines pilot, on his way from Arizona to New Jersey Saturday. He was delighted with his timing, and visited "Sentimental" before refuelling and heading east.
21. This picture has been retouched.
22. This view is misleading because the bottom of the picture ends where the chin turret begins. Earlier models of the Flying Fortress were vulnerable to head-on attacks, and the two hand-held machine guns were nogh enough; hence the introduction of the B-17G.
23. The turret underneath the bombardier's seat added two more guns to the defensive package, allowed fast tracking of attacking aircraft and proved effective in combat over Europe.
24. A view of the data plate below the left cockpit windows. It shows the entire US Army Air Forces military serial number and complete designation.
25. One of the hardy CAF crew stood by with a fire extinguisher as engine #4 was run up early Sunday morning. A minor glitch encounted Satursday was addressed that night, and the brief test run Sunday confirmed that all was looking good for the coming day's activities.
26. Before things got busy, IPA Springfield Chapter President John Salz (right) presented CAF pilot Jim Kimmel with a Xerox copy of a transcribed war diary produced by the wife of a former B-17 pilot.
27. It was a treat to encounter a gentleman I know as "Banker Sam" who for months worked at Springfield's Security Bank South Branch. Sam is not only a first rate banker; his smile and patience while untangling my jumbled checking account always made visiting Security Bank a pleasure.
28. Jim Kimmel cleaing the nose "glass" Sunday morning. Another crew member checked the oil and kicked the tires before the first flight of the day. Seriously, the pre-flight given both days was unhurried, methodical and thorough.
29. "Sentimental Journy" is a thirsty bird. Here she gets a fill-up Sunday morning from the crack crew at FIrst Class Air.
30. The Arizona Wing, CAF insignia on the support trailer which travels on concrete wherever "Sentimental" journeys by the high road.
31. Starting number one.
32. Taxying out to the active runway.
33. What a terrific background, don't you think. Illinois' State Capitol Building dominates proudly the Springfield skyline as "Sentimental" turns onto the active runway (#31) and begins her takeoff run.
34. Gathering speed, Kimmel has gently lifted the tail, allowing the airplane to accellerate faster to lift-off speed.
35. The charming FENCE was added to the airport tarmac after September 11, 2001. It separates the general aviation ramp from the airline service area at the terminal.
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37. On the ground, the airplane taxis at an unhurried pace that's easy on the engine and tires.
38. The crew chief hand signals the front office crew that the bird is where it should be. A few seconds later, pilot Kimmel flipped a master switch that shut down the four engines simultaneously.
39. Starting about noon, prevailing wind allowed the B-17 to take off from the opposite end of the same runway, which is designated #31. It was an excellent turn of events because all of us at First Class AIr could savor the view as thei airplane climbed skyward.
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42. That takeoff route led to the bird turning to re-position itself for a scenic flight over downtown Springfield.
43. These pictures were taken with a Canon EOS 20D single lens reflex camera using a 210mm telephoto lens.
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46. This picture has been retouched.
47. The crew at the support trailer sold a variety of souvenirs to an eager public.
48. "Sentimental" had flown her last flight of the busy day as visitors gathered round for a walk through tour.
49. We were told at day's end that Springfield had been the most enthusiastic community visited during "Sentimental Journey's" summer tour. All flights were sold out, the visitors were happy to see the airplane, and the sponsors were exceedingly generous.
50. Earnest webmaster Job Conger posed for this picture kindly snapped by Sheila Hager. THANKS SHEILA!
51. A picket fence of shadows in the late afternoon sun.
52. This is also important information for dedicated aviation enthusiasts. It shows the civilian registeration number of the airplane very nicely placed under the horizontal stabilizer. There it does not interfere with the authentic appearance of the airplane.
55. Looking northeast.
57. The water around the small island jut off Lake
Springfield Marina is greener than blue, thanks to the algae that thrives in this part of
the lake.
58. The Vachel Lindsay Bridge, pictured here, is
named after Springfield native son Vachel Lindsay, an internationally acclaimed poet who
urged his friend V.Y. Dallman to create a lake to serve water and recreational needs of
our growing city. The new lake's dedication ceremony in 1934, three years after the poet's
death was attended the poet's widow and children.
59. The south end of the bridge is
anchored in a residential area shared by many Springfield citizens. 
60. The other end of the bridge permits access to the
public boat launching facility on the right and the recently closed Lake Spirngfield beach
house and public beach. Note how the water on the sheltered side of a man-made barrier is
so much greener thanks to the stagnant water,
61 Showing its proximity to the lake in this
view is the University of Illinois at Springfield, originally buit as Sangamon State
University looking southwest. 
62. The southwest quadrant of
beautiful downtown Springfield is shown here. The Springfield Hilton, known as well for
its variety of nicknames, none of which are suitable for sharing wtih children, is visible
in the upper left corner. 
63. On rollout after a terrific flight and a happy
landing, the CAF B-17 is visible under our left wing. 