B17

[funeralweb]

Will share some video I have from a ride aboard Aluminum Overcast in 2014. Here's a pic:

 

[Cameramonkey]

Lady who was part of the ground crew told me how much it costs to fly the old bird. I don't remember exactly what she said but the word "thousand" was in the answer. I watched a crew member pour 6 gallons of oil into it. He said it uses a gallon per hour/per engine. Straight 60 weight. No wonder they take so long warming up the engines before they give them any throttle.

Radial engines. You dont fill the tank and check the oil like a regular engine; you fill the oil and check the tank.

The only time they dont leak is when its empty.

 

[funeralweb]

Gonna take a 5th grader to get video uploaded but here's some stills. The flight cost might seem pricey but there's nothing like riding aboard one of these. Couldn't imagine the hours-long missions at altitudes requiring oxygen and heated flying suits just to survive the trip to and from the AAA and enemy fighter-defended target area.

 

[funeralweb]

It ain't a B-17 but it is living history in our backyards. In Anderson today thru the weekend. See you tomorrow?

https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/flight-experiences/fly-the-ford-eaa-ford-tri-motor-airplane-tour

 

[femurphy77]

It ain't a B-17 but it is living history in our backyards. In Anderson today thru the weekend. See you tomorrow?

https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/flight-experiences/fly-the-ford-eaa-ford-tri-motor-airplane-tour

The old tri-motors are definitely cool! Of course anything with a radial engine automatically gets a by in my book.

Nuttin' sexier sounding than a radial at idle, well second to Natalie Wood asking if I'd like to join her for a midnight swim of course!

 

[ws6guy]

I wish they had tours later in the evening. my son would love to take a look at it but I cannot get off work in time. A couple months ago he was wanting any kind of model kit. He was being a very good boy one day so I decided to take him to hobby lobby and he could choose any snap together model. Out of the monster trucks and super hero stuff he chose the B-17. Once we got it put together we watched a couple of youtube videos about the plane and he was surprisingly interested in the history of the plane, at least for a 6 year old.

 

[DRob]

It just flew over the house. No mistaking that sound. They have been doing a north-to-south fly-over of the airport so I knew they would be back shortly. Broke out the binos and watched them when they came back around for the landing but, of course, it was much lower and partially obscured by trees. They were doing a flight around 4:00-4:30 and another around 5:30. Weather may have grounded them yesterday.

Just went over again at 5:00. Must be making up for yesterday's lost flights.

 

[actaeon277]

https://www.johnweeks.com/b17active/index.html

Someone once said that a B-17 operates on gas, oil, and money. Especially money. A B-17 will easily burn 200 gallons of fuel per hour, plus about 10 gallons of oil per hour. Consumables and wear items cost an estimated $3,000 per flight hour. For each hour a Flying Fortress spends in the air, ten are spent on the ground in maintenance. An engine overhaul can cost $40,000, and FAA required wing-spar inspections and repairs will cost each Flying Fortress in excess of $100,000.

 

[Indycar:v1.1]

Heard it Thursday reqignized the sound and went out side and saw it fly over 3 times to the East and was able to see it on final into Greenwood twice.

Old lady was amazed I was able to ID a WWII aircraft. I told her it was my dream aircraft, I grew up watching 12 O'clock High!

B17G model with chin gun in the nose! My ex'es Dad flew one in 1944 and I was lucky enuf to hear the stories and see the pictures!