My Sentimental Journey; Flight in the World's Best Preserved B-17 Flying Fortress

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) had offered me a cross country flight on their B-29 Superfortress 'Fifi', but I would have been gone a week and on the hook to get myself back home again. I groaned. I couldn't do it. When you run a business that's grown by over 100% in 12 months, being away from it for more than a day is not an option - even for a lifetime opportunity like that. So, the matter was more or less shelved for awhile. Then, out of the blue (literally), an aircraft with which I'd had a long history with came to me. I'd toured the CAF's B-17G 'Sentimental Journey' as a kid with my father, back in 1987. It was a real highlight of my life back in those days. This email popped into my inbox:

'Hi Ron, I wanted to contact you to let you know that we have made arrangements for you to ride on our B-17 “Sentimental Journey” while we are in Wheeling, WV.  All courtesy of Adam Smith with CAF Headquarters in Dallas.'

You don't pass that up! 

All of this had come about thanks to my aviation artwork, which is my business and my living and my joy. I'd been commissioned by the CAF to paint a few of their aircraft over the preceding years:

  

Their gracious offer to give me a flight in one of the most historic aircraft in the world, that was never a part of any formal agreement or in payment for anything, is indicative of what is special about the warbird community today. There really is a uniquely genuine sense of hospitality, appreciation, and a common spirit among everyone involved - even though we often have very different backgrounds. When we can do something to support each other, we do it. When we can help one another out, we don't hesitate. And it all comes around. These are the best people I've ever worked with. 

With only a week notice I scrambled to get things in order. My wife couldn't come with me, so I asked around for a trip companion. Jana Pryor, a great friend and professional photographer, took me up on my offer. She couldn't get on the plane for the flight, unfortunately, but she was thrilled just get access to such a machine and in such a unique setting. The tiny airport in Wheeling was restored to its 1946 standard, replete with hardwood, beveled glass, marble and various period-appropriate displays of aviation history. Even the bathrooms were as they were in the 1940s. And no TSA security. No metal detectors. No big obtrusive fences. When we arrived there were only a half dozen cars in the parking lot. The only aircraft on the tarmac was Sentimental Journey. 

I wanted to livestream the flight on Facebook, but the signal wasn't strong enough. Jana streamed it from the ground perspective, but I took video of most of the flight and have uploaded it here. 

What a thrill!

See Livestream Video of Startup & Takeoff from the Ground

The whole experience lasted two hours, the flight itself roughly 45 minutes. As a pilot myself, I was actually amazed that the B-17 was as relatively quiet as it was. Sentimental Journey is one of only two Flying Fortresses in the world that still uses her superchargers, and that cuts down on the audible engine noise quite a bit. And she flew as smoothly as a 737. I can only imagine flying at 40,000 feet, however, where temperatures are often 50 degrees below zero. The B-17 gets a lot of wind blowing through her fuselage in flight, and is not pressurized. Now I know why so many bomber crews during World War II experienced frostbite. The flight up and down the Ohio River was breathtaking. Our landing was so perfect that, were it not for the screech as each tire met the pavement, I wouldn't have detected the moment. I was free to move about the aircraft in flight, too, enjoying the scenery from many different vantage points. It was hard not to park myself astride one of its swivel-mounted .50 Browning machine guns, however. And you quickly learn to get your 'sea legs' while negotiating the aircraft in the air. Nothing inside the B-17 is soft or forgiving!

It was everything I'd hoped it would be, and I'm grateful to the CAF team who put all of this together. I will do this again!


- Ron Cole

 

Ron Cole's Art Gallery in Downtown Zanesville, Ohio

Ron Cole's Gallery Luminaria

Located in the historic Masonic Temple Building in downtown Zanesville, OH

38 North 4th Street - Rooms 420 - 422

Ron Cole's painting of the Zanesville, Ohio Masonic Temple Building c. 1926

While over 90% of my sales and business is conducted online through my stores and social media, I opened my brick & mortar art gallery in downtown Zanesville, Ohio in 2014. Not a commercial venture, it's nevertheless the only place to physically view my work that is on permanent display, and I do offer my limited edition prints and many of my World War II aircraft relic displays for sale on site.

Mostly, however, my gallery is a cozy and atmospheric place for people to gather and enjoy a pleasent evening among art, photography, music and drink. In recent months I've surrendered most of my wall space to new and aspiring local talents who seek to display and sell their work. The first Friday of every month is always a terrific time, as my gallery participates in the local art walk and I always go overboard by bringing in new work and hosting some amazing musical talent. It's the one evening a month when I can leave the business of my business at home and just have a good time with friends and family.  

First Friday Art Walk event in Ron's gallery

Doctor Laura Schumann performing in Gallery Luminaria for a First Friday event

The photography of Carrie Turner on display

In early 2016 I began a sponsorship program that was intended to help local artists get some exposure and see if a professional career in their field was something they wanted to pursue. I wasn't the first established artist to offer such support, but I took it several steps further by offering my printing and framing services at no cost, and providing online marketing within social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

Since then I've sponsored many talents, most of whom had never displayed their work before and were so excited to sell their first pieces through my gallery. It's also been nice to provide other established professionals with a new outlet to show their alternative works in a setting such as I've been able to provide.

If you are able to visit Zanesville for a First Friday Art Walk event - don't miss out on the opportunity. Not only is my Gallery Luminaria always open (from 5 until 8, though usually open later), but most every gallery in our building is also showing and part of the festivities.

The 'B-25 Bomber Bar' serving drinks during a gallery event

My gallery is permanently located in downtown Zanesville, Ohio in the historic Masonic Temple Building (38 North 4th Street) on the 4th floor. My hours are currently by appointment (Phone: 330.883.2493) and I'm open from 5 pm until 8 pm every first Friday of the month. I'm always looking for new local artists to sponsor. If you're from Zanesville or the surrounding area, visit my Gallery Luminaria Program page online for more information about what I offer, or contact me via email.

- Ron Cole

An Aviation Artist Ventures Elsewhere

The Masonic Temple Building in Zanesville, Ohio c. 1926, by Ron Cole

I love painting airplanes, and it sure is nice that I can make a decent living painting them. Yet it's easy to get stuck in a specific genre' that almost never allows for exploration outside of it. I see that with a lot of artists who paint professionally; you become known for one thing and you get commission after commission to keep painting it over and over, like you can't paint anything else. Even when you love the subject, it can get a little redundant after a while. Since I also sell my own work in my own stores, and it's not unusual to sell fifty pieces in a week - I have even less time to branch out as an artist.

But I do force myself, sometimes. And it's nice when I can do it.

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 in Paris, by Ron Cole 

These excursions into uncharted territory usually no not reap immediate rewards in terms of commercial success. How does an aviation artist, who markets aviation art, suddenly advertise and sell a car painting or a landscape? The thing about selling your work in a brick and mortar store or online is that you really need a critical mass of work within a genre' that you can build a following around. Car people look for a car artist and search among his or her work to find that one piece that speaks to them - and they might buy it. If you have a hundred car paintings, you're in business. If you have two, like I presently do, odds are you won't sell much and marketing those couple of pieces will not pay for the effort. I personally think that my Ferrari 275 (above) is my all time best work, and it actually has been pretty successful commercially. But most people won't buy a painting based upon its visual merit alone. They have to be interested in that particular subject to want to put it on their wall.

'Spring Break' German Panzer 35t on the Eastern Front, by Ron Cole

These artistic adventures do, however, raise the quality of the work that is within an artist's commercially known genre' like nothing else can. It always amazes me how I've often subconsciously avoided certain compositional elements in a painting because I simply have not painted them before. The same is true when it comes to an overall style. My Ferrari proved revolutionary to me because, since it was not intended to be a commercial piece and wasn't a commission, I could free myself to, for lack of a better phrase - go nuts. The background is blurred and almost impressionistic. It mostly lacks the detail I'm typically known for, but it works so well. Those are things that I've been able to incorporate into my more commercial work.

General Robert E. Lee, by Ron Cole

My painting of Robert E. Lee similarly opened up a new world to me. He was actually a commission; one that came to me as a result of my childhood best friend having a book published about the Battle of Gettysburg. He asked me if I could paint portraits. I did not know, but probably, was my reply. I plunged into it, and from that time forward my airplane paintings suddenly started including more people in them than before.

Very close cropped detail of Ron Cole's Masonic Temple painting

There's a pretty good chance that I will always be 'an aviation artist' and I doubt I'll change the name of my business from Cole's Aircraft to something more inclusive. But, never say never. Paint what you love. Paint what you know. Paint what you know will sell if you wan't to make a living off of your work. But don't forget to explore when you have the time to do so. Keep churning over the soil. Keep reinventing. Keep it fresh. 

- Ron Cole

Ron's online gallery and store: Cole's Aircraft