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Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.
Memphis Belle to fly again
- Thread starter bazzar
- Start date
Dutcheeseblend
Blenderer
Wow! Just out of the blue: "Hey mates, I forgot to say, but we also made B17."
Fantastic work!
Fantastic work!
Take my money now!!!!.... It would nice if they contacted the folks at VRS. From what John said, its easy to TacPack old WWII birds and would only take a week or two to pull it off. I for one will be plunking my money down either way. You guys just made my weekend. I don't the lady would feel the same, but I have been wanting a true FSX F model for a long time. Can't thank you enough.
Dutcheeseblend
Blenderer
Yep, TacPacking the bird won't be difficult for the people of AH, and at the other hand it's VRS's chance to get into full WWII warbird simulations (I'm thinking of a rotating, shooting turret, which would be possible for them according to what I've heard there).
Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
What a nice surprise, Baz! The B-17F, to me, is the most classic variant. There are so many great and historic paint schemes that belong on a true F-model.
The last true B-17F to fly was the late Bob Richardson's example, N17W, now permanently loaned to the Museum of Flight as "Boeing Bee". It flew as a fire bomber, and also participated in the filming of movies such as "Tora, Tora, Tora", and "Memphis Belle", in which it was the only true F-model of all five of the B-17's in that movie (the others being disguised as F-models).
The aircraft was restored to original Boeing factory specifications, though there are errors in the external paint scheme, with demarcation lines between OD and Grey being too high-up, and where as the rear fuselage would have been left bare metal during original production, it was primered with interior green instead for preservation, and the cockpits were originally finished in dark dull green/bronze green rather than black, as seen in the restored aircraft. A ton of photos of the interior of the aircraft can be seen on these pages (this is just page 1): http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/n17w/Timeline
And a couple more shots of the cockpit: http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/145769/n17w-private-boeing-b-17f-flying-fortress/ and http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/145641/n17w-private-boeing-b-17f-flying-fortress/
Just one of the several different nose arts carried by N17W during the filming of "Memphis Belle".
The last true B-17F to fly was the late Bob Richardson's example, N17W, now permanently loaned to the Museum of Flight as "Boeing Bee". It flew as a fire bomber, and also participated in the filming of movies such as "Tora, Tora, Tora", and "Memphis Belle", in which it was the only true F-model of all five of the B-17's in that movie (the others being disguised as F-models).
The aircraft was restored to original Boeing factory specifications, though there are errors in the external paint scheme, with demarcation lines between OD and Grey being too high-up, and where as the rear fuselage would have been left bare metal during original production, it was primered with interior green instead for preservation, and the cockpits were originally finished in dark dull green/bronze green rather than black, as seen in the restored aircraft. A ton of photos of the interior of the aircraft can be seen on these pages (this is just page 1): http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/n17w/Timeline
And a couple more shots of the cockpit: http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/145769/n17w-private-boeing-b-17f-flying-fortress/ and http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/145641/n17w-private-boeing-b-17f-flying-fortress/
Just one of the several different nose arts carried by N17W during the filming of "Memphis Belle".
Ian Warren
Charter Member
Golly Superb 
Alan_A
Charter Member
Nice one - looking forward to it!
I don't want to be one of those "but-what-about-what-I-want" types, and I'll definitely be in on this one. But...
... in the future, any chance of some early postwar variants, maybe some civilianized ones? Have always wanted a B-17 fitted out for SAR or salmon-hauling or what have you. It came to mind only because the absence of a chin turret put me in mind of some of the turret-less conversions. Again, this is not an "instead of" request, more a matter of, if you ever do it, I'll be in on that one, too...
I don't want to be one of those "but-what-about-what-I-want" types, and I'll definitely be in on this one. But...
... in the future, any chance of some early postwar variants, maybe some civilianized ones? Have always wanted a B-17 fitted out for SAR or salmon-hauling or what have you. It came to mind only because the absence of a chin turret put me in mind of some of the turret-less conversions. Again, this is not an "instead of" request, more a matter of, if you ever do it, I'll be in on that one, too...
heywooood
Mayor Emeritus of Taco City
Well I'm a big fan of the earlier Forts
when I was a kid watching 12'clock High and whatnot I thought the B17 was a big aircraft...
many years later when I finally saw one (Chino Ca) I was struck by how much smaller it was than
what I expected...9 men jammed in there with all that fuel and explosives flying for hours through flak and fighters - day in/day out weather permitting.
there are no words for what that must have been
when I was a kid watching 12
'clock High and whatnot I thought the B17 was a big aircraft...many years later when I finally saw one (Chino Ca) I was struck by how much smaller it was than
what I expected...9 men jammed in there with all that fuel and explosives flying for hours through flak and fighters - day in/day out weather permitting.
there are no words for what that must have been
bazzar
Charter Member 2018
I have read that ironically, the place to be was of all places, the ball turret. This was because the enemy fighters were focused on knocking out the pilots and bombardier so concentrated their fire on the nose in head-on attacks. The courage these men displayed is quite extraordinary.
It was so sad to see how the "Belle"had suffered over the years. Thank goodness she's now in firm and safe hands. These iconic aeroplanes must be treasured. We will never see the like of them again.
It was so sad to see how the "Belle"had suffered over the years. Thank goodness she's now in firm and safe hands. These iconic aeroplanes must be treasured. We will never see the like of them again.
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Great news! A sure buy!
