The excellent news is that the Pink Lady has found a sponsor to cover flight insurance costs for 2008, and so she will continue to fly this year. Next year is uncertain however. The problem is that (as I covered in an earlier post) the insurance costs in France for this aircraft have been multiplied by 8 in recent years, thus bringing her into the same category as the other, more modern Boeing, the 767 passenger jet...Indeed, it costs 7,000 euros per meeting.

Mr. Dominé has confirmed that there is no truth to the rumor being spread in German forums that the aircraft needs to be grounded because of a lack of pilots who are qualified to fly. Indeed, there are three pilots at present that can expertly fly the aircraft, and training is not a problem. Afterall, there are many B-17 still flying in the United States. Indeed, the most difficult part in France is finding mechanics that are qualified to perform maintenance on the piston engines.

Concerning the state of the aircraft, she is in absolute prime flying condition. Indeed, she even underwent a major overhaul a few years ago, and has never missed a meeting due to any mechanical problems.

Something bewildering to us Americans, is that she cannot be capitalized in order to cover insurance costs. In France, article 1 concerning historical aircraft states that the aircraft can only have on board people that perform a specific on-flight function. Consequently, it is impossible to pay for her flight costs by giving tours during air shows, something commonly done in the US for b-17s. As she receives no help from the French government, all her insurance costs must be paid for by sponsors.

Therefore, given that mechanically she is in pristine condition and that there is no shortage of qualified pilots, it is clear that it is only the French government (whether by inappropriate insurance costs, absence of funding, and idiotic laws) that is doing everything possible to assure she is grounded, for she will fly as long as the ATV can cover insurance costs.

Concerning airshow presence in 2008, it seems that there are 3 planned:
  • La Ferté: May 31st
  • Melun: July 20th
  • One in September (?)