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warbirdguru
4/4/2008 1:42:29 PM | I was just wondering if anyone had seen this B-17 restoration currently taking place...There is a painting on the wall of an aircraft in 401st colors.... I believe this could be a potential paint scheme for the aircraft when it is finished, and she is being made airworthy!
http://www.b17project.com
Has anyone else seen this?
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EDanaII
4/4/2008 4:57:52 PM | I have now. 🙂 Thanks for posting it.
Of course, if they're gonna restore it as a 401st plane, I vote for the Hard Seventeen!
... yea, I know... I'm a wee bit prejudiced. 😉
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Paul Bellamy
4/13/2008 10:02:25 AM | 
How nice does this look???? 😃
And from the distinguished visitors........
TTFN,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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EDanaII
4/15/2008 1:49:03 PM | It looks awesome, but it's the wrong serial number, I tell's ya! Just wrong! It should be changed to: 2102659 and the letter J!
(Evil Grin)
Ed.
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Paul Bellamy
4/15/2008 2:39:24 PM | Well, 44-85813 is the serial number of the plane currently registered as N3154S (formerly N6694C), which is the Registry of what will be the result of the Urbana rebuild.
However, it incorporates parts from a number of airframes, and their histories are quite interesting.
Looking at the bits and pieces as they arrived, plus info made available from the restoration team...
44-83316: Fuselage centre section (Bomb bay and Radio Room).
'316 was a B-17G-75-DL, sold by the Air Force to 20th Century Fox in 1964 and used as a prop for the 12 O'clock High TV series. The forward fuselage was fitted to 44-85813 in an earlier rebuild sometime between 1967 and 1983.
44-83525: Tail.
'525 was a B-17G-85-DL, and was the last B-17 to remain at the Davis Mothan storage yard, being there until 1967. After film work, including "The War Lover", and the rounds of various museums she was displayed as Suzy Q in Florida until damaged in Hurricane Andrew, currently believed to be under restoration. Her Civil Registration is N83525.
44-83722: Wings and Fuselage parts.
'722 was converted from a B-17G to a B-17H/SB-17G air-sea rescue aircraft with a lifeboat underneath, then became a training version of the same (TB-17H) before being used as a target for Atom Bomb tests in Nevada until 1965. The remaining hulk was used for spare parts, ending up being owned by the same chap as '525.
44-85813: Parts and identity.
'813 was used by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation from 1945 to 1966 as an turboprop engine testbed (EB-17G/JB-17G), with a fifth powerplant fitted to the nose. After that (around 1969-70) she was rebuilt to standard with the forward fuselage from '316 and flown as a firebombing tanker before crashing in 1980.
So... should she really be 44-83316, as that's where 2/3 of the fuselage comes from, or 44-83722 due to having her wings? 😉 Whichever, I can't wait to see her flying with the 401st's Yellow Flash.
Note: The above information is the best I can find at the present time, but may not be 100% accurate.
TTFN,
Paul, your local B-17 Geek.
Paul Bellamy
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EDanaII
4/16/2008 10:26:10 AM | Jeez, Paul! You really are a "B-17 geek." But that's why we like ya! 🙂
As to what plane it should be, you left out one very important argument as to why it should be the Hard Seventeen: 'cause I said so! 😉
Yes, it will be wonderful to see the 401st represented among the surviving B-17s, regardless of which plane they choose to represent.
Ed.
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Phoenix
4/16/2008 2:06:25 PM | Paul,
Where do you find the time to collect all this information? Don't you work or sleep or eat or watch TV or annoy you neighbours??? you must be doing 24/7 research, all I can do is read my Blue Book one paragraph at a time per week 😂
Slow down so I can catch up :mrgreen:
All the best
Dale
improvise, adapt, overcome
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Paul Bellamy
4/16/2008 5:39:01 PM | "Phoenix":
Paul,
Where do you find the time to collect all this information? Don't you work or sleep or eat or watch TV or annoy you neighbours??? you must be doing 24/7 research
To be honest, most of the research is by other people, I just know where to look for the results and cross-reference them. 😉
Admittedly I've been spending 6-10 hours at a sitting most days these last couple of weeks doing some very specific B-17 technical info-hunting. I now have the complete parts list for both the AN/APQ-13 and AN/APS-15 PFF radar installations, If anyone wants a copy ....... 😉
I've even sourced one of the major components, which will hopefully be heading off to assist in fitting out 44-8543 with an PFF set, if they ever get back to me that is.
Ahh, the things you end up doing whilst killing time. 😉
Paul Bellamy
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Paul Bellamy
7/2/2008 2:26:19 PM | Just had a quick look at the rebuild's progress via the web-cam.
The tail fin is masked up and primed ready for painting that very special yellow stripe and triangle S. : )
Good to see the volunteers busy at work too.
Top left: The tail fin.
Top right: The waist section.
Bottom left: Cockpit and top turret position.
Bottom right: Bomb bay and dinghy stowage.
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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Paul Bellamy
9/10/2008 2:39:00 PM | I've re-hosted the missing photo's from earlier in the thread so they can be viewed once more.
TTFN,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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