A&M selling seats on WWII bomber to fly over game against Rice

Seven seats on a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber are being auctioned off for a flyover during the Aug. 31 A&M home football game against Rice University, the Texas A&M Athletic Department said.



The auction is going on at AggieAthletics.com and ends Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 3 p.m.



The four-engine aircraft flew strategic bombing missions over Europe during World War II.



The last auction of this kind was held in 2011 for an A&M - SMU game over Labor Day weekend. Flyovers from military aircraft are a tradition at A&M home games, with several types of planes making appearances over the past two decades.



Steve Miller, the assistant athletic director for events and external services at A&M, says the combined bidding will likely cover the expense of the flyover, which will cost up to $6,000.



Those winning a seat for the flyover aboard the vintage WWII aircraft must be over 18 years of age and weigh less than 250 pounds.



"The company operating the flyover has restrictions on persons due to the size of the aircraft and the passageways within the aircraft to reach passenger areas," said Miller. "The restrictions are not those of Texas A&M."



There are two nose seats, seats in the cockpit, and four in the radio room available in the auction.



Once the plane is airborne, passengers can move about the plane and take pictures and video if they like.



Of course, the winners will not be allowed to handle the controls of the plane, but they can see the cockpit while the pilots are at work.