And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Beat me to it, but it is NOT a sad event. Better to inspect and likely ground some of them, than to have another tragic crash. Those fucking things were not meant to be flying 80 years after manufacturing, so there is all sorts of trouble lurking. As nostalgic and patriotic as the sound and sight might be, they should not be in the business of FAR part 91; Luis Gutierrez is misinformed.
A couple years ago there was one giving aerial tours of the local country side during an annual vintage airplane fly in and ground show. I forget how much it cost for the trip. It was expensive, however every hour or so from 10AM to around 6PM it would take off and land about 20 minutes later. The takeoff roar was impressive even from 3/4 of mile away.
Three days later it was in the dirt, killing all aboard, at a similar venue. NTSB reported "lack of adequate maintenance" as cause of the crash.
I rode in one of these back in 2007. Awesome fun, but they are quite cramped inside. Amazing they could get not only the bombs in the plane, but 13 crew members and all attendant gear, as well. Must have been REAL tight.
Ten men. Nose to tail: Bombardier Navigator Pilot Copilot Top turret gunner Radio operator/dorsal gunner Belly turret gunner Right waist gunner Left waist gunner Tail gunner
And the airframes were not expected to last beyond a year, two at the most, even though they built them to surpass that.
A thing of beauty; don't forget what made it. Happy Fourth everybody.
ReplyDeleteSadly, not flying anymore. The FAA has grounded all B-17s due to issues with the wing spars.
ReplyDeleteBeat me to it, but it is NOT a sad event. Better to inspect and likely ground some of them, than to have another tragic crash. Those fucking things were not meant to be flying 80 years after manufacturing, so there is all sorts of trouble lurking. As nostalgic and patriotic as the sound and sight might be, they should not be in the business of FAR part 91; Luis Gutierrez is misinformed.
DeleteSeveral are either back in the air this week or will be next after retire and inspections.
ReplyDeleteErickson Air Museum is currently booking flights on their B-17G for their show in Madras, Oregon on August 25th. They have seven spots available.
Deletehttps://www.aerovintage.com/2023/06/22/b-17-ad-update-june-22-2023/?fbclid=IwAR1REL_ULebvR4-XT1BEXVj3GCQLiq7Dfy3mJO7wl1QfE6vfYXaLMm40KtE
ReplyDeleteWeisbrot
A couple years ago there was one giving aerial tours of the local country side during an annual vintage airplane fly in and ground show. I forget how much it cost for the trip. It was expensive, however every hour or so from 10AM to around 6PM it would take off and land about 20 minutes later. The takeoff roar was impressive even from 3/4 of mile away.
ReplyDeleteThree days later it was in the dirt, killing all aboard, at a similar venue. NTSB reported "lack of adequate maintenance" as cause of the crash.
Nemo
Erickson gets $525 for a 20 minute flight. Cheap, compared to the $2300 they get for the 20 minute trip on the P-51 Mustang.
DeleteI rode in one of these back in 2007. Awesome fun, but they are quite cramped inside. Amazing they could get not only the bombs in the plane, but 13 crew members and all attendant gear, as well. Must have been REAL tight.
ReplyDeleteTen men.
DeleteNose to tail:
Bombardier
Navigator
Pilot
Copilot
Top turret gunner
Radio operator/dorsal gunner
Belly turret gunner
Right waist gunner
Left waist gunner
Tail gunner
And the airframes were not expected to last beyond a year, two at the most, even though they built them to surpass that.