B17 crashes in Connecticut | Page 3 | FerrariChat

B17 crashes in Connecticut

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by GuyIncognito, Oct 2, 2019.

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  1. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    Nov 29, 2003
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    I noticed that the prop on the engine that the NTSB was examining appeared to be feathered. So, there was a problem early enough to take some remedial action.
     
  2. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    There isn't much of a hydraulic system on the B-17. From what I remember, just the brakes. The rest is electrical.
     
  3. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    #53 Tcar, Oct 4, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2019
    The list I saw (after this accident).
    46 survivors

    1 D model
    4 E models
    3 F models
    38 G models

    9 are presently airworthy - all G models
    4 others are being restored to airworthiness
    Others are display or storage presently

    They are in 4 countries (US, England, France Brazil)

    One of the E models is a cargo version.
     
  4. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    The E model cargo is being restored to airworthiness

    Another E model was sold new to an airline and used as such.
     
  5. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    Correction. The cowl flaps are hydraulically operated.
     
  6. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
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    This website has a list as well, and apparently it was updated recently because 44-83575 isn't included (i.e. no longer surviving).

    https://www.airplanesofthepast.com/b17-flying-fortress-surviving-aircraft.htm
     
  7. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    The PIC on this flight had over 4,000 hours in B-17s (mostly this one) including several engine failures in the past. And the airplane was very well maintained.

    So it will be interesting to see what the cause was, but sometimes it's just not your day.
     
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  8. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Jim Pernikoff
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  9. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    I got to thinking about the availability of R1820 parts and good mechanics to keep them in shape. During the war, they never tried to keep a troublesome or high time engine on the airplane. There were plenty of them to cycle through the repair depots and a lot of guys that knew how to work on them. They were a good engine then, too. Then came the R3350.
     
  10. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
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    I'm still waiting my chance to ride. B-17 flight I can afford, restored Concorde I cannot (if it ever happens - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34301689).
     
  11. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Somehow, there seem to be enough parts to service all the primary WW2 engines. There are enough aircraft flying each type to apparently make them worthwhile. R-1820s are flying on FM-2s, HU-16s, T-28s and probably even some DC-3s. I suspect some parts are being made new.
     
  12. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    Again, I incorrectly described the turbocharger location. All of the B-17 turbos were underneath the nacelles but the exhaust pipe on number two and three were on the SIDES of the nacelle. We could see the exhaust pipes on 1 and 4 but not usually on 2 or 3 if the airplane was right above. I apologize for being so confusing at times. What I see isn't always translated properly. The visions and sounds are still clear to me, however. I can't believe what Langley Field looks like now compared to what it was when I was there. It's nothing but a huge bare patch of concrete with no airplanes on it. When I was there it was a sea of aluminum and people.
     
  13. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Bob, I think that's a consequence of fewer manufacturers building fewer aircraft types that stay in service much longer, so less testing is needed. In the WW2 era, an aircraft took less than 5 years to go from state-of-the-art to obsolete. Today the aircraft are being designed and built to stay in front-line service for 25 years or longer. (Consider the B-52: still a front-line bomber, 57 years after the last one left the production line!)
     
  14. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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  15. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    It's a bit unfortunate that Jay Leno's piece on the B-17 was on the ill-fated Nine-O-Nine:

     
  16. Ryan S.

    Ryan S. Two Time F1 World Champ
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  17. Echo Charlie 1131949ZULU

    Sep 11, 2017
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    Edward C. Chewning
    Wow! 4000 hrs in a B17! When my dad went overseas I think he had maybe 200 + hrs . Edward
     
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  18. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    Read the link above... Mac had over 5,000 hours in a B-17 over 5 years ago. amazing.
     
  19. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
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    In the NTSB press conference video (Post # 39 @ 16.00 minutes) Jennifer Homendy said the pilot had over 7300 hours in the B-17.

    Wow, such a loss.

    RIP to all, including this B-17. I know it's weird, but I always felt that an aircraft has an entity of its own (not to the level of a "being" of course). Especially historic aircraft and those that I've had personal contact with.
     
  20. staatsof

    staatsof Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    This last June I tried like hell to get my wife to ride in the B17 Yankee Lady at the Reading Air Show because her dad was a B17 pilot and near the end of the day she was wavering ...

    Don't think so now :(
     
  21. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    Juan's take on the Preliminary Report... interesting.

     
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  22. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    The news media is homing in on the age of the airplane as being a problem. The age of the airplane isn't the problem. It is the age of the last maintenance on the airframe and engines.
     
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  23. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    Anyone know what the recommended Time Between Overhauls is for the Wright 1820 Cyclone engine?

    They said number 4 had gone 870 hours since the last OH.
     

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