B17 crashes in Connecticut

https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Firefighters-Respond-to-Incident-Involving-Plane-at-Bradley-Airport-561969581.html

B-17G, Collings Foundation aircraft...... None-O-Nine

Had arrived on Monday.
https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-historic-airplanes-bradley-airport-20190930-tj2w7ua3wbgjrh4qbmvo5udygu-story.html

 

The vertical tail was visible on the NBC footage, but the intensity of the fire in the earlier video does not look good.

 

Chas- Glad it looks like everyone survived. That 110/130 avgas really burns hot. Not sure if they were planning on carrying passengers after arrival, so glad none were on board.

 

Unfortunately it looks like early reports are incorrect, and at least two have perished.

 

Nine-O-Nine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-O-Nine

 

Bummer, I have some stick time in that aircraft.

I recall that when they gave rides there were no 'seats' and restraints for the passengers. During TO&L I was just sitting in the radio compartment leaning against a bulkhead. This was 25 yrs ago though.

 

Collings foundation runs a very professional operation with extremely qualified pilots and personnel. Interacted with them many times, they get top marks from me.

Very sad for them, they are like a brotherhood with the way they all work together. We all feel a tragic loss like this deeply.

 

So sorry for the loss of life, the most important thing here. Anyone know how few of these are still flying? I am sure it can be counted on one hand?

 

My brother's been working there for a long time.

https://businessaircraft.bombardier.com/en/contacts/offices/hartford-service-centre

I'm still waiting for his [text] reply, but he's a busy guy.

 

More than one hand, but less than two I think, with a few more being restored to fly.

A tragic day.

 

Some photos that I took at Greenville, SC in 2013:
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No, actually... there are 9 or 10 that are flyable... one less today.

 

RIP for the ones who died and fast recovery for those who were injured.

Interesting history on the plane. It was one of the last one's made and did not see war action. The original 909 was scrapped and this one took it's place as a tribute with all the correct markings. It crashed on landing once before when it went long on a runway and down a raven tearing off the gun turrets and landing gear.

Since then it has made it to over 2000 shows which is an incredible history. It is a very sad day when something like this happens.

 

Too bad it turned out so much worse than early reports. Loss of life and loss of aircraft are both tragic.

 

So sad.

The B-17 is my favorite object on this planet. I know thats a weird statement. But... it is.

SO sad to see one go down.

So sad that so many perished. Its just gut wrenching. I have always wanted to do one of those flights and it just never worked. It could have been me and my daughters on that plane. So sad to see such a great experience end in tragedy.

I also fear what this means for war birds in general.

I rented out the commerative air force museum here in arizona and spoke with all of the guys and they were saying that eventually they think the FAA will shut them down. He said... if any one of these tour flights goes down and a civilian dies or gets injured that will be the end of it.

Im afraid he might be right.

 

I think that tour flights may be in trouble but I don't think there will be any effect on airshow performances not affecting civilians.

 

I listed to the tower communications and it sounded like they reported a problem with #4 and requested an immediate return. They were given landing clearance, with all other aircraft to hold, and the response to that seemed normal. That was the last communication before the crash.

 

Sad news.
My father had a flight on this Fort about 10 years ago, and earlier this year a friend from Germany did as well.
Aluminum Overcast, the one I rode in, is now even rarer.
Pretty crazy that these nearly 80 year machines are still taking passengers up, but as said above those days may be over.

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I flew on a Collings B17 in 2006 with my wife and kids who were ages 6 and 4 at the time. It was an incredible experience, even the smell on board the aircraft was memorable. It was sobering at the time to think about the danger that plane took its crew into and out of.

Moving around the catwalks while in flight, into the glass bombardier nose, and standing in the open turret on the top of the fuselage are memories I won’t forget.

I’m very sad for the loss of life today. Peace to all the family and friends of those affected.

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This is absolutely terrible news. Very sad for all the deaths and injuries and the families involved. What a devastating event for something that always provided the happiest moments of the lives that took flights on her all previous trips. I still can't believe this happened, just horrible. My dream has always been to go for a ride in a B17.

 

At this point 7 dead, the other 6 in the plane injured plus 3 on the ground injured......

 

That's great that you could do that. I got a bit of stick time in several B-17's in 1945 when I was a 19 year old wannabe. We saw quite a few bad incidents and accidents, some with two engines out on one side. The 9O9 incident sounds like the lack of altitude was critical. I feel bad about the whole thing, especially when there were so many people on board. Not good.

 

How do you lose control of a 4 engine airplane when you only lose one engine?