Models by Bear Posted September 30, 2012 Posted September 30, 2012 Wife took me to see the Memphis Bell B17 today what a awesome plane. This is the one they used in the movie. But it was still pretty awesome to see up close.
jamesG Posted September 30, 2012 Posted September 30, 2012 Cool. If you ever get to Florida check out fantasy if flight in polk they have tons of ww2 planes
Darin Bastedo Posted September 30, 2012 Posted September 30, 2012 I was able to get to know Col. Robert Morgan before he passed. he had quite a few tales to tell. according to him in the seven months he flew belle nearly every part of the plane was replaced at least once. so technically the plane he finished in was not the same plane he started with.
Ace-Garageguy Posted September 30, 2012 Posted September 30, 2012 (edited) Glad you got to see the movie Belle and very glad you liked her. She's a real beauty. EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) has a flying B-17 also....Aluminum Overcast. I was lucky enough to snag a ride in her many years ago. Here's the website and the schedule. http://www.b17.org/ Thousands of these beautiful airplanes were cut up and melted down for scrap at the Kingman, Az. Army Air Corps base just after the war. The Kingman airport is still there, with the WWII control tower and some hangars, plus a small museum. It's just off of Route 66, if anybody is out that way. Some B-17s were converted to firebombers, a few to executive airplanes, but as they were originally built as more-or-less-disposable combat aircraft they didn't offer much in potential comfort, so they mostly ended up recycled into beer cans. Edited September 30, 2012 by Ace-Garageguy
blunc Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 I think the CAF still has the B17 "Sentimental Journey" airworthy, I know the painter that repainted the nose art that had been buffed too many times.
Guest Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 What a beauty! And I'm not just talking about the nose art! Thanks for sharing!
eizzle Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 I saw a B-17 fly over a job site I was working at once, pretty low to, under 100'. Those things a LOUD and BIG! Really awesome to see something like that flying the skies.
Agent G Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 (edited) "Sentimental Journey" is still up and flying as is "Aluminum Overcast". We lost "Liberty Belle" last year outside Chicago. Thank goodness no one was injured, but the plane was a total loss. I think I heard "Nine O Nine" was grounded for structure issues. There aren't many of these magnificent birds left. G Edited October 2, 2012 by Agent G
george 53 Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 As a kid in southeast Michigan(Detroit Area) we used to see these beautiful aircraft flying overhead spraying of all things, Mosquito killer spray! They flew kinda low,low enough so at least you could make out the detail on them, This was in the early 60's.
blunc Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 Too bad about the Belle, I heard they lost the He111 a couple years ago...sad loss
The70judgeman Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 Although not an accurate representation at all...lots of theatrical license was used, it's a pretty cool movie anyway. That plane was here in the Milwaukee area a number of years ago for the first annual air and water show down at the lake front. It was kept out in Waukesha's airport...Krites Field. The bonus there was the B-17 "Fuddy Duddy" was there also selling rides to generate maintanance funds. Was great to see two B-17's parked next to one another. Got some video of both coming in for the for the final landings of the day and video inside Fuddy Duddy too.
bandit1 Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 Although not an accurate representation at all...lots of theatrical license was used, it's a pretty cool movie anyway. That plane was here in the Milwaukee area a number of years ago for the first annual air and water show down at the lake front. It was kept out in Waukesha's airport...Krites Field. The bonus there was the B-17 "Fuddy Duddy" was there also selling rides to generate maintanance funds. Was great to see two B-17's parked next to one another. Got some video of both coming in for the for the final landings of the day and video inside Fuddy Duddy too. Thats cool there andy....can ya if you dont mind post the video up here?...id love to see it!....last one i saw was at the air show here way many years ago when the airport was called Wood county ....not mid-ohio valley now....but they had one there and it was getting ready to start up and go....i stood behind it there while it fired up and boy do they create some wind!... ...and just listening to those engines fire and run makes your heart pound! :wub: ...sure would love to see one again....i have the movie here downloaded on my laptop....ill tell ya what...its one of the best movies ive seen....those b-17's would fly even when missing what i think a third of the tail or something?( correct me guys if im wrong please)... oh i want to see another one so bad!
The70judgeman Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 Thats cool there andy....can ya if you dont mind post the video up here?...id love to see it!....last one i saw was at the air show here way many years ago when the airport was called Wood county ....not mid-ohio valley now....but they had one there and it was getting ready to start up and go....i stood behind it there while it fired up and boy do they create some wind!... ...and just listening to those engines fire and run makes your heart pound! :wub: ...sure would love to see one again....i have the movie here downloaded on my laptop....ill tell ya what...its one of the best movies ive seen....those b-17's would fly even when missing what i think a third of the tail or something?( correct me guys if im wrong please)... oh i want to see another one so bad! I can try, but it's on vhs-c tape. It was taped with an older camera, and I don't think I have the cables or whatever I'd need. Suppose I could play it on the TV and rerecord it with my digital camcorder and then load it, edit, and post it. In all actuality the engine sounds aren't that impressive as both planes were coming in for landing and the throttles were back and props somewhat feathered. But, some of the inside video is pretty cool. I'll see what I can do...if it works I'll post it here on this thread. Man...talking about this makes me want to definately go to EAA next summer. Haven't been up there since '89. Oh yeah...you are correct about the tail damage. Some B-17's came back so damaged, not just tails, it was a mystery how it stayed flying in the first place and still made it back. Good old Boeing construction I guess. Amazing stuff.
bandit1 Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 I can try, but it's on vhs-c tape. It was taped with an older camera, and I don't think I have the cables or whatever I'd need. Suppose I could play it on the TV and rerecord it with my digital camcorder and then load it, edit, and post it. In all actuality the engine sounds aren't that impressive as both planes were coming in for landing and the throttles were back and props somewhat feathered. But, some of the inside video is pretty cool. I'll see what I can do...if it works I'll post it here on this thread. Man...talking about this makes me want to definately go to EAA next summer. Haven't been up there since '89. Oh yeah...you are correct about the tail damage. Some B-17's came back so damaged, not just tails, it was a mystery how it stayed flying in the first place and still made it back. Good old Boeing construction I guess. Amazing stuff. Maybe if i can get my business off the ground and actually on "Auto pilot" i may try to make it to an EAA event sometime...not knowing the requirements....a friend of mine flys all the time...he even sky dives...(dove once that i know with the "Black Knights") ....my father is an FAA Yellowcarded mechanic....been since about 76'!
Guest Johnny Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 I had the privilege of flying in one a few years ago!(got the ride for free) It was a really moving experience as my dad was a B17 Pilot in WWII same as one of my uncles plus a couple more who were flight crew on the 17's. Sad part about what happened with the WWII aircraft is how many were flown directly from the factory to the desert to be cannibalized for parts. This happened because the war was winding down and it was easier and quicker to refit damaged aircraft already on flight line than it was to shakedown and prep a new aircraft!
Models by Bear Posted October 3, 2012 Author Posted October 3, 2012 I have a video of it taking off, but I don't know how to upload it to this site. Can anyone tell me how?
Ace-Garageguy Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 Man, you made my day. Very nice video....thanks.
bandit1 Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 [media=] hope it works FREAKIN' AWSOME MAN! :wub: Now ...How about the "Liberty Belle"?... http://youtu.be/ORVibQMaTs8
Agent G Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 Now ...How about the "Liberty Belle"?... You asked. G
bandit1 Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 You asked. G What happened? Also found something neat out...If anyone sees the "Memphis Belle" out flying around...its not the real Memphis....the real plane is in Wright Patterson now being restored!...link below... http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6740
Models by Bear Posted October 4, 2012 Author Posted October 4, 2012 No it is not the original Memphis Belle, but the one the that was used in the movie "the Memphis Belle".
The70judgeman Posted October 4, 2012 Posted October 4, 2012 @Chris- I think I'll have to take the tape in to a local camera shop and have them transfer my footage onto disc and then I can dump it into my laptop and then post it. I'll edit it down a bit, so it isn't so boring as it's around 15 minutes long. So, have patience and stay tuned I guess.
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