dmarkwick 261 Posted June 21, 2011 Very sad news. B-17 has always been my favourite aircraft. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dm 9 Posted June 21, 2011 Bad times :( I'd rather they kept flying them (with this as an acceptable risk) than relegate them all to being hangar queens tho. Aircraft belong in the sky, not a tin shed! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
[aps]gnat 28 Posted June 21, 2011 Oh No ! So very sad .............. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HyperU2 11 Posted June 21, 2011 At least the crew got out, one last gift from an old veteran. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonci87 163 Posted June 21, 2011 Yeah, the crew is more important than the plane. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PELHAM 10 Posted June 21, 2011 Did this aircraft tour the UK air show circuit a few years back? If so it was nice to see it parked near the BBMF Lancaster bomber so you could compare the two. Hopefully it can be salvaged, if not maybe there will be some spares for other B17s. Looks like the crew had a lucky escape - would not mind hearing the tale of that! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mosh 0 Posted June 21, 2011 That's a shame, I've seen that plane (I believe it's that one) flying overhead many times... I live a couple miles from Spirit of St. Louis Airport, where they used to hold air shows and displays until a few years ago. :( Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakerod 254 Posted June 21, 2011 I live near Aurora so here it is from a local newspaper: Kane County Chronicle (Liberty Belle Crash) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spooky lynx 73 Posted June 22, 2011 Is there a chance to repair it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonci87 163 Posted June 22, 2011 Unlikely, its comnpletely burned. Maybe they can get some spare parts out of it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-)rStrangelove 0 Posted June 22, 2011 Shame. My father still got the movie on video. :( Guess they were all lucky to be alive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spooky lynx 73 Posted June 22, 2011 Unlikely, its comnpletely burned. Maybe they can get some spare parts out of it As I saw at the photos, only middle part of the frame is completely destroyed. Maybe other parts (tail and wings for example) may be used for rebuilding... Sad to see when such old and famous aicrafts get dammage:( BTW, is it possible to build a replica using remained parts of this warbird? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonci87 163 Posted June 22, 2011 Sure it is, but it would cost a huge load of money. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spooky lynx 73 Posted June 22, 2011 Keeping this plain operational already costs a huge load of money:) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
[aps]gnat 28 Posted June 22, 2011 Hey, I'd donate to keep another example of such an icon flying ..... even if I never got to see it in person on my side of the world. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dmarkwick 261 Posted July 4, 2011 In one of those odd coincidences, on Sunday a B-17 flew directly over me. I guess it was on the way to the Waddington airshow. Perhaps from Duxford, where I believe there is a museum B-17. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baff1 0 Posted July 4, 2011 I live near Duxford, I don't think it's regulary housed there, but I've seen it over ahead a couple of times in the last few days. Or at least they have one in a hangar, but I've never seen a working one on the runway. My guess is that it's on tour. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
[aps]gnat 28 Posted July 5, 2011 So how many B-17's are there out and airworthy? I would have guessed 1 maybe 2 at most ....... Maybe I'm really off ..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dm 9 Posted July 5, 2011 Gnat;1973861']So how many B-17's are there out and airworthy?I would have guessed 1 maybe 2 at most ....... Maybe I'm really off ..... There are a total of 51 surviving airframes worldwide: 10 active flying 9 on static display 2 currently undergoing restoration to fly 3 currently undergoing restoration for display 5 in storage 19 partial airframes/hulks http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_B-17_Flying_Fortresses Edit: Although that quote from the B-17 page seems to dispute the numbers on the "remaining B-17s" page (the remaining page has more airframes listed) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfbite 8 Posted July 5, 2011 I saw this in the metro a while back.... Sad story indeed... The B-17 has to be my second favourite Bomber after the lancaster..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwarden 1125 Posted July 6, 2011 sad story to lose veteran good story to save all the lives on board (shows the frame was well designed after so many years) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Schofield 10 Posted July 8, 2011 I don't think they're going to let this savior of a machine just go to scrap. It looks intact enough to me via that picture, I think it can be restored with due time. Probably never to fly again, but better in bed than dead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
[aps]gnat 28 Posted July 8, 2011 Well .... maybe the wings will be donated to another worthy body ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
