Originally Posted by
uxb99
Does it matter who is on board providing they are not fare paying passengers and understand the risks? It almost makes the essential crew sound expendable.
Yes it does matter. The crew has been assigned way before the airshow and through the hierarchy within the wing it is determined which qualified person will be a flight engineer or observer. Even though the airplane did not originally have a flight engineer, it is customary for a crew chief to act as one. That person will be on the jumpseat and help out with power settings and keeps an eye mainly on engine gauges since the pilots will be VERY busy with their eyes outside the cockpit and verifying instructions from the air boss with each other. There will be many people within the wing chomping at the bit to be on the airplane during the show. They can be a loadmaster or another crew member normally assigned to this B-17. Absolutely NO paying passengers, you must have proper credentials.