B17 Flying Fortress.
Discussion
I saw Sally B at Dragstalgia this year, she put in a fantastic display for the crowds. Such a graceful machine, the big radials certainly have a different sound to the Merlins in a lancaster but its different rather than not as good. I can imagine that being stood watching a whole squadron take off was an incredible sight.
I will see if I have any half decent photos to post.
I will see if I have any half decent photos to post.
Eric Mc said:
She went through various permutations in her career.
When she first arrived in the UK she was in bare aluminium and the main "restoration" required was the application of USAAF markings.
A couple of years later a remote control chin turret was added to make her look more like a wartime B-17G.
By 1984 the aircraft had been repainted in dark olive drab/neutral gray colours - which was the norm for B-17s up until early 1944 or thereabouts.
In 1989 she one of the B-17s used in the film "Memphis Belle" and was repainted in a lighter shade of olive drab and received markings to make her look like the original Memphis Belle (the original Memphis Belle was a B-17F - which didn't have the chin turret.
She has carried those colours ever since.
My father use to tell me about working in the fields in north Norfolk in 1943/4/5 an how they use to count the American bomber formations as they formed and went overhead in their hundreds and the stories always fascinated meWhen she first arrived in the UK she was in bare aluminium and the main "restoration" required was the application of USAAF markings.
A couple of years later a remote control chin turret was added to make her look more like a wartime B-17G.
By 1984 the aircraft had been repainted in dark olive drab/neutral gray colours - which was the norm for B-17s up until early 1944 or thereabouts.
In 1989 she one of the B-17s used in the film "Memphis Belle" and was repainted in a lighter shade of olive drab and received markings to make her look like the original Memphis Belle (the original Memphis Belle was a B-17F - which didn't have the chin turret.
She has carried those colours ever since.
Fast forward to the early 90,s and I was working for Team Lotus based at Ketteringham hall which ironically was the wartime headquarters of the 8th air force and two evenings we had a formation of 6 b17,s fly over
the second night they had a ME109 buzzing them doing fake attacks with mock machine guns firing
Still one of the most memorable /evocative and moving things I have ever seen
matchmaker said:
FourWheelDrift said:
B-17G used the R-1820-97 version of the Cyclone which was Turbosupercharged.
It helped it get to 35,000ft with a full bomb load.
Which means turbocharged...It helped it get to 35,000ft with a full bomb load.
The outlet of the turbocharger feeds the inlet of geared supercharger on the rear of the engine. This supercharger increases pressure further and helps to distribute the compressed fuel/air radially to the cylinders.
The P-47 and P-38 were also turbo-supercharged NOT soleley turbocharged.
Turbo compounding is different again, and usually refers to feeding power form an exhaust driven turbine mechanically back into the engine.
If you get yourself over to the US you can go up in one. I was lucky enough to be at the "fun in the sun" airshow in Florida in April and got a flight in the B17G "Texas Raiders". Fantastic experience and would recommend it highly - I even got a certificate.
Edited by eybic on Wednesday 3rd September 12:41
It's possible to buy flights in warbirds in the US. Sadly, there are risks involved -
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2474769/US...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2474769/US...
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