Thread: B-17 Bomber...

Nice pix...that's a beauty,
I have crawled around in a couple them (one {can't remember the name} at an airshow in Oakland a dozen or so years ago, the other "I'll Be Around" at the Pima Air & Space Museum near Tuscon) and and it amazes me just how small they are compared to modern aircraft, they sure did a tough job-and did it well.

Originally Posted by Steve

This thing's been flying over my house all day, so I figured I'd grab a few pictures of it.

This is the B-17 Bomber "Liberty Bell":






On the local news this morning, they were talking about this plane and how it tours around the country. The talking head said the cost for a 30 minute ride "wasn't unreasonable". Checking the website for the Liberty Bell, "not unreasonable" is $430.00.

Good thing I'm just as content shooting up as I am shooting down.

Pretty cool, though...

I missed it last time at Moffet field...I will get there next time for sure, I think $430. is reasonable everything considered.

How much is a tank of gas on one of those?

Thats got to be a great way to retire. Restoring old warbirds and bringing a vital piece of history to the next generation. A hundred years from now you think we'll get to do the same in a B-52 or a F-22?

Originally Posted by Commodore

How much is a tank of gas on one of those?

Thats got to be a great way to retire. Restoring old warbirds and bringing a vital piece of history to the next generation. A hundred years from now you think we'll get to do the same in a B-52 or a F-22?

100 years from now there will still be B-52's on active duty........

Originally Posted by Steve

This thing's been flying over my house all day, so I figured I'd grab a few pictures of it.

This is the B-17 Bomber "Liberty Bell":






On the local news this morning, they were talking about this plane and how it tours around the country. The talking head said the cost for a 30 minute ride "wasn't unreasonable". Checking the website for the Liberty Bell, "not unreasonable" is $430.00.

Good thing I'm just as content shooting up as I am shooting down.

Pretty cool, though...

I had the pleasure at the Marina Air Show some a few years ago of my choice of going up in either a 17 or a B-24. I took the B-24. Whatever the choice, the amount of effing NOISE in those damned things in flight is astounding.

Originally Posted by goober

100 years from now there will still be B-52's on active duty........

Quite possibly.

Originally Posted by goober

100 years from now there will still be B-52's on active duty........

Originally Posted by Commodore

Quite possibly.

why bother messing with perfection?
someone said, "We need a flying thing to go far and drop a bunch of stuff"...and we wound up with the Stratofortress (I really like the fortress line: Flying Fortress, Super Fortress, and Stratofortress- 3 fantastic aircraft)
Ok, actually according to 'I'm too lazy to look it up' a.k.a. Wikipedia "On 23 November 1945, Air Materiel Command (AMC) issued desired performance characteristics for a new strategic bomber "capable of carrying out the strategic mission without dependence upon advanced and intermediate bases controlled by other countries"."

It first flew nearly 58 years ago, in 1952...no serious retirement anticipated, there is talk of 2040 or so, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Back to the B-17, here's a fun image, I was lying on the floor at the Pima Air and Space Museum's 390th Bomb Group Memorial Museum looking up into the bomb bay of B-17G "I'll Be Around"

Originally Posted by goober

100 years from now there will still be B-52's on active duty........

I don't see why not. The US Army 1911a was around for nearly 80 years and the 30 caliber machine gun designed in 1919 is also still used by many armies

A good fiction book on this is Flight of the Old Dog. I don't know how much of it is true but if it's even half that is one remarkable airplane

Great pics of a late model bird.

It is just amazing how small the B-17 is inside. If you ever get the chance to walk through one, it will really enhance your respect for the bravery of the crews that flew them in WWII.

Matt

We used to have an airshow in my hometown and a late model B-17 ("Nine O Nine" IIRC), a B-24, and an He-111 (spanish make) used to fly in for it. Really had a great time crawling around inside them when I was a kid. They even let me play in the ball gun (on both the B-17 and B-24) for a bit.

Originally Posted by Tanngrisnir3

I had the pleasure at the Marina Air Show some a few years ago of my choice of going up in either a 17 or a B-24. I took the B-24. Whatever the choice, the amount of effing NOISE in those damned things in flight is astounding.

yes......I walked through one but didn't get on for a flight, as to a 17 but am determined too. The 24 has the overhead wing, I bet the 17 is even nosier.
Its amazing that those guys flew these things 2-3 days a week for 8 hours a day.....that takes a certain type of endurance and grit.

And of course you kept going up, until one of these juicy options presented themselves unwanted or not.....

a) you got shot down lived and became a POW,
b) you got shot down and died ,
c) had an engineering failure, where in you crashed, burned and died, or were hopelessly mangled for the rest of your life
d) went crackers,
e) completed 25 missions....( oh, and there were more guys who were victims of option D than lived to tell about option E btw) .

Walking through one you're like, they are so 'open' its like you can touch the outer skin where ever you go, open areas for guns etc. and thats the only thing between you, the air, bullets etc..........compared to peoples aircraft experiences to day its like flying around a in a cigar tube with windows......

Originally Posted by goober

100 years from now there will still be B-52's on active duty........

if you had your way I am sure you'd do your best to make that happen....