The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Of all the heavy bombers that flew in WWII, the B-17on a formation of B-17s without numerous holes in the
Flying Fortress was without a doubt one of the twofuselage of his aircraft. Most of the bombers of any
most famous, the other being the Lancaster. Thetype downed by fighters were stragglers; those that
prototype first flew in 1935 but it would be another fivecould not maintain or regain their position in formation
years before the B-17 was delivered in any quantity.as a result of damage from flak encountered during
They first saw action with the RAF in 1941. The firsttheir bombing runs.Built mostly over 3 years from
order filled by Boeing was for 39 B-17Bs withmid-1942 to mid-1945, these four engine heavy
turbo-charged Wright Cyclone radial engines. The 17Cbombers once filled the skys. Workers across the US
followed with seven machine guns instead of thebuilt a total of 12,731 B-17s. After the war, several
original five; this modification together with better armordozen B-17s lived on as fire-bombers and aerial
and self-sealing tanks in the 17d resulted from lessonssurveyors until the last one was retired in the 1970s.
learned in the early bombing raids over Europe. TheToday, a few B-17s have been restored to their
B-17E and 17F soon followed with a larger tail. The finalwartime splendor. Eleven are currently flying in the
version came out when head-on attacks by enemyUnited States, one in the UK and another one in
fighters proved to be a definite problem, which theFrance.Keeping a B-17 flying these days is an
B-17G countered with a chin turret with dual machineexpensive proposition. Someone once said that a B-17
guns. This gave the B-17 a defensive armament of 13operates on gas, oil and money. Especially money. A
machine guns in all.The Flying Fortress flew with aB-17 will easily burn 200 gallons of fuel per hour, plus
crew of ten in the 17G model. These were: Pilot,about 10 gallons of oil per hour. Consumables and
Co-pilot, Bombardier, Nose Gunner, Flight Engineer/Topwear items cost an estimated $3,000 per flight hour.
Turret Gunner, Radio Operator/Gunner, Ball TurretFor each hour a Flying Fortress spends in the air, ten
Gunner, Right Waist Gunner, Left Waist Gunner andare spent on the ground in maintenance. An engine
Tail Gunner.The B-17 was a heavy aircraft weighing inoverhaul can cost $40,000 and FAA required
at 36,000 lbs, with a maximum takeoff weight ofwing-spar inspections and repairs will cost each Flying
65,500 lbs. With a wing span of 103ft 9in, the lengthFortress in excess of $100,000.Consequently operating
was 74ft 4in while the roof of the cockpit sat 19 feeta B-17 is more than any one person can do. As a
above ground. The Fortress could operate at 35,800result, foundations own most of them, or museums set
feet although best operating altitude was in the 25,000up specifically to keep the Flying Fortress in the air.
foot range where it could achieve its maximum speedThese organizations are partly funded by corporate
of 287 mph. With a cruising speed of 182 mph, it coulddonations and air show fees, but most depend on
carry a 6000 lb bomb load with a range of 2,000 miles.touring. A B-17 tour will take the Flying Fortress from
Its maximum bomb load was actually about 17,000 lbscity to city across the USA and Canada, where she
but this was with a minimum fuel load on a short-rangewill be on display for tours and a lucky few have a
raid.The Flying Fortresses flew in defensive formationschance to take a flight on the B-17. If you hear that a
that presented an overall curtain of withering machineB-17 tour is stopping in your city, please do go check it
gun fire to enemy fighters. One German F-109 pilotout, contribute a few dollars and consider taking a B-17
who shot down 28 fighters but only four light bombersflight. You'll find it will be the thrill of a lifetime. Keep 'em
(not B-17s), said that he never returned from an attackflying.