Flying B-17 planned for Australia?

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 6:28 am

.
It is quoted in an Australian Newspaper that Australian collector Steve Searle (currently importing a flying A-20 and B-25 from the USA) plans to acquire a B-17.

The article reports the intended ferrying of the B-25 in the next two months....
"that will be followed by the biggest aircraft in the collection - a Boeing built B-17, the four engined Flying Fortress that played a major role in US war theatres"

Any likely aircraft on the market? or any recent sales that may point to the intended aircraft??

Regards

Mark Pilkington

JDK · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:06 am

Ah, he owns the fighter version of the Turkeycat. Neato.

Which paper, Mark?

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

The only flying B-17 that I'm aware of that could possibly be up for sale would be the "Movie Memphis Belle" from the Tallichet estate that is currently being operated by the 1941/Geneseo group. That would be my guess as to which one he is buying. I know that a huge amount of Tallichet's planes have gone to other homes and been transferred/sold to museums.

I guess it could also be the "Pink Lady" in France, as they have supposedly been on the verge of economic collapse due to the strict EU rules on insurance/liability.

I know we have volunteers with virtually all of the world's flying B-17's here on this forum. Since the secret is out, volunteers - it's time to "spill your guts".

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:41 am

JDK wrote:

Ah, he owns the fighter version of the Turkeycat. Neato.

Which paper, Mark?

Its the Courier Mail from Brisbane I believe James, the cutting is posted on the warbirdz forum but it was Migace who spotted the B-17 reference in the article!

Morely writes for the Courier, and Beaudesert is inland from the Gold Coast, south of Brissie.

btw, have you heard there is a new Mod on that forum??

smiles

Mark Pilkington

Iclo · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:28 am

warbird1 wrote:

I guess it could also be the "Pink Lady" in France, as they have supposedly been on the verge of economic collapse due to the strict EU rules on insurance/liability.

There isn't lot of information from the french B-17 but visibly they found a solution to paid or reduce the insurance cost. therefore, I doubt that in case of the plane would be grounded, It could be sold. The owners plans looks to put her in long term storage.

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:32 am

Undoubtedly SWAMP GHOST.

INCOMINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Sorry, it's the heat down here! :oops:

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 2:03 pm

what if it is not flying yet?

just an idea

Tim

F3V · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 2:05 pm

warbird1 wrote:

I guess it could also be the "Pink Lady" in France, as they have supposedly been on the verge of economic collapse due to the strict EU rules on insurance/liability.

No, the Pink Lady will never been sold :wink:

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 2:15 pm

Cedric,
Jamais dire jamais
:wink:

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 2:44 pm

Seems to me there is a guy in GA that has a spare B-17.............

CH2Tdriver · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 2:54 pm

I certainly hope its not the Movie Belle! Geneseo would never be the same without her. But I suppose anything is possible for the right price?

Wasn't a B-25 sold from the Evergreen museum recently? They could have made an offer, who knows? Fuddy Duddy? Does the PSAM example get out much? When and if it happens then we'll see?

Pete

F3V · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 3:56 pm

SPANNERmkV wrote:

Cedric,
Jamais dire jamais
:wink:

no no no..... we'll never sold the Pink Lady

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

TimAPNY wrote:

what if it is not flying yet?

just an idea

Tim

That could be, but from the article, it implied that the B-17 would be flown to Australia next, after the B-25, but it doesn't expressly say it, though.

So, if that's the case, there are numerous B-17's "in restoration" that it could be.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 4:10 pm

Quote:

Wasn't a B-25 sold from the Evergreen museum recently?

No, that was ours. It was in the EVG museum on a loaned basis.
It's up in Aurora having about 300K worth of work done on it before it's flown to Australia.
Mike never really cared about their B-17G so I suppose if some threw a couple suitcases full of $$ at Del he might sell it :idea:

GARY HILTON · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 4:57 pm

Don't the French have two B-17's? Pink Lady, and another off in storage somewhere around Paris??

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