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Vintage B-17 Will Offer Rides Despite Recent Crash Of Similar Aircraft

A vintage B-17 plane will carry paying passengers in Westfield, Massachusetts, this weekend. That's despite the deadly crash last week of a similar aircraft at Connecticut's Bradley International Airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board hasn't yet determined what caused the crash of a B-17 that left seven dead.

But people willing to pay around $400 dollars can take a ride on another one at Barnes Airport on Saturday and Sunday.

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal has called on the FAA to examine whether additional safety inspections are needed for vintage planes.

David Miller said the answer is no. He's the president of the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, which is offering the flights.

"These airplanes are so checked and re-checked — that I would go fly in these airplanes in a heartbeat," Miller said. "I would rather go fly on these than one of those 737 MAXes whenever they they get back, and they're brand new airplanes."

Miller said some people who had booked a flight have canceled as a result of the crash. 

Before joining New England Public Media, Alden was a producer for the CBS NEWS program 60 Minutes. In that role, he covered topics ranging from art, music and medicine to business, education and politics.
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