For B-17 Fans

**Larry124** · 6th October 09, 08:05 PM

Good contemporary B-17 photos.
http://theunofficialmartinguitarforu...om/topic/89612

**Bugbear** · 7th October 09, 04:12 AM

Ya, they fly those over my house from time to time. They usually fly in a group of, I'm guessing, three, and it's fairly low. The engines of all the plains are out of sync, so they kind of have a lilting, galloping sound. I'm not sure how best to describe it. They're very loud, and the engines have a low pitch compared to most of the other aircraft that fly over. It usually shakes my little aluminum cottage.

**Old Hippie** · 7th October 09, 11:00 AM

You just have to love the sound of a big radial pushing a Hamilton Standard prop. Of course, the sound of FOUR big radials pushing four props is guaranteed to tilt the kilt!

(Let's set aside for a moment the sound of six R-4360s pushing six props...)

I think the B-17G is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever made. I recall in 1990 that one was being restored in my home town of Corvallis, Oregon. Once they had it flying they took it to Portland to get the second pilot multi-engine certified and to have an A&P look things over. Passed all tests and inspections with flying colours.

Everybody in town knew it -- they flathatted the place at full throttle and coarse pitch. I will remember that sound for the rest of my life.

Up here in BC we get to hear a piece of that every summer during fire season. The small water bombers are FireCats, which look and sound like an old B-26 with twin radials. When things are really smokin' we get one over the top of my office every 60 seconds.

**KFCarter** · 7th October 09, 11:12 AM

They're restoring one of those beauties at the Mighty Eight Air Force Museum just outside Savannah. Don't know if it's going to be airworthy... but it's quite a sight.

Great pics!!

**Woodsheal** · 7th October 09, 01:52 PM

Thanks! The Fortress is my all-time favorite warbird, though I prefer the clean lines of the F model (as opposed to the ugly chin-turret on the G's)....

**Santa Kona** · 7th October 09, 02:04 PM

Cool photos.

**Old Hippie** · 8th October 09, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

I prefer the clean lines of the F model (as opposed to the ugly chin-turret on the G's)....

I have a copy of Jablonski's "Flying Fortress" in my library. It's really interesting to look at the original Project 299 craft and see how it developed as the concept of air power developed.

**Eric Schutte** · 9th October 09, 11:32 AM

Just to chip in my 2 cents....I have been aboard the Liberty Belle and one other B-17G but alas, I am too poor to be able to fly in one. Really cramped inside, I cannot imagine the fear those 18 yr old kids felt as they were being flakked and shot at by Me109's.....my hat is off to all of them!

Eric