Page 155 - EAA78.Newsletter.Archives.(February.2017-July.2021)

CHAPTER CHATTER, EAA Chapter 78 3

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