Anyone ever been inside a B17 Flying Fortress? I have, pic heavy...

[JulesMaximus]

My wife and I were in Palm Springs this weekend for Memorial Day so we went to the Palm Springs Air Museum. I was here last year with my son and his friend but this year I took a camera along because it was just amazing to actually walk through a B17 Flying Fortress. This one actually is certified to fly and does so every year and it's one of the few the public can actually go into.

Anyway, on to the pics!

As you can see, this is a B-17G model

Best view in the house.

Cockpit view

Cockput turret

Copilot's view of the starboard engines and wing

Bomb Bay, tiny narrow walkway over 35,000' of empty freezing sky

Port side wing and engines

Communications center & largest working area in the airplane

 

[JulesMaximus]

Looking back at the bomb bay from the communications room

Ball Turrent

Looking back at the communications room, bomb bay and cockpit are beyond

Waist gunner, .50 cal, starboard side looking aft, ammo feed boxes were made of wood

German view of that gun...if they got close enough

An amazing aircraft...wish I could have gotten a wider shot of her.

Obligatory pic of wife...sorry she's squinting but it was bright out.

 

[preslove]

I was amazed by how small the bomb bay was when I was in one. That big ass plane flew to drop a couple bombs.

 

[SKORPI0]

Sweets, look like the family enjoyed the outing. Will you be able to find out when it is scheduled to fly and see if you can take a ride?

 

[TheVrolok]

Obligatory pic of wife...sorry she's squinting but it was bright out.

Would smash. :thumbsup: Grats.


As for the OP, yep, been in a few different B-17s. By far one of my favorite aircraft ever to have been assembled. I can't help but look at them in awe. Great pics, too.

 

[TheVrolok]

I was amazed by how small the bomb bay was when I was in one. That big ass plane flew to drop a couple bombs.

But it flew a very long way; and did it armed very heavily.

 

[preslove]

But it flew a very long way; and did it armed very heavily.

Yeah, and with many, many, many more bombers. I just had never thought very hard about the size & number of bombs in a single bomber. Seeing it in person brought home how little ordnance each plane dropped.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

awesome!

 

[Chaotic42]

Awesome thread. Looks like you had a good time; I'm jealous. Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[mshan]

B-17 is supposed to be a classic plane.

The new and "improved" B-24 had longer range, but was apparently much more difficult to fly.

 

[BoomerD]

I've been inside several, but never been up in one.

There is one that comes here every couple of years that offers rides. IIRC, it's about $400 for a 30 minute flight. I've considered it a few times...but never have.

 

[drquest]

I've been inside several, but never been up in one.

There is one that comes here every couple of years that offers rides. IIRC, it's about $400 for a 30 minute flight. I've considered it a few times...but never have.

Same here, I['ve crawled all over the one that flies in here, but I'd love to go up in it.... The one that usually comes here is Sentimental Journey, and it's a beaut...

http://www.azcaf.org/pages/sentjourn.html

 

[NetWareHead]

Reminds me of Memphis Belle the movie. Great pics.

 

[Fayd]

i've been inside an F-18.

 

[JPS35]

Doesn't appear as big as I thought it would when compared to the people standing next to it. I thought it would be a lot larger. Very impressive!

 

[BUTCH1]

Nice pics OP, here's a link to a thread I started a few days ago, B-17 story:http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2167811&highlight=666

 

[mmntech]

I've never been inside a B-17 but I have been inside a Lancaster, years ago. One of two airworthy Lancs is on display at a museum in Hamilton, Ontario. It's parked inside most of the time to protect it from corrosion, and due to the high cost to fly it. To get the privilege to fly in it, you have to donate a considerable sum to the museum. A whopping $2500 for one hour!

 

[BUTCH1]

I was amazed by how small the bomb bay was when I was in one. That big ass plane flew to drop a couple bombs.

Max payload was 8000 lbs of bombs..

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Great pictures. I am an avid WW2 aircraft fan, especially fighters.

 

[preslove]

Max payload was 8000 lbs of bombs..

Long range missions (≈800 mi): 4,500 lb (2,000 kg)

 

[lxskllr]

My uncle was a gunner in one of those during WWII till they found out he faked his eye test(!), and he got grounded :^D I've never seen one up close though. Very cool :^)

 

[preslove]

My uncle was a gunner in one of those during WWII till they found out he faked his eye test(!), and he got grounded :^D I've never seen one up close though. Very cool :^)

Considering the attrition rates for crews of those things for much of the war, he was better off on the ground

 

[halik]

awesome,
around here you can ride one for $425

http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org/

 

[Fritzo]

I was inside a B17 once, but I was bombed.


BAAAAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAA!!!!!!!!

 

[BUTCH1]

Long range missions (≈800 mi): 4,500 lb (2,000 kg)

turns out we were both wrong the B-17 variant the OP visited (G) had a 6000lb max payload for long range missions..http://www.aviation-history.com/boeing/b17.html