The B-17 at Tulare, Calif

[Pat Carry]

Scott Thompson has a little bit of news about this B-17. If there is a B-17 out there that needs to find a new home, it is this one. http://www.aerovintage.com/b17news.htm (scroll down past the Swamp Ghost news) If this Flying Fortress doesn't find a new home in lets say 10 years, it will be taken by the scrapman.

Last edited by Pat Carry on Mon Feb 03, 2014 5:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[rtwpsom2]

I'll take it. Bring it on over.

[bomberfan]

[quote="Pat If this Flying Fortress doesn't find a new home in lets say 10 years, it will be taken by the scrapman.[/quote]


Or mother nature!!

[daviemax]

The key is, who has control of this aircraft? If NMUSAF then transferring it to a responsible collector/restorer would be far better than letting it deteriorate further.

[Pat Carry]

The key is, who has control of this aircraft? If NMUSAF then transferring it to a responsible collector/restorer would be far better than letting it deteriorate further.

My sentiments exactly.

[hang the expense]

I wish I could say that the airforce really cares about these airplanes such as the Tulare bird and others that have been outside forever.

[wendovertom]

I swear this B-17 comes up every so often and in my recollection it always ends with frustration with the current caretakers and thier attitude of "go away and leave it alone" or whether they or the NMUSAF really owns/controls the plane. I doubt the NMUSAF has any say in this one as it has been trashed over the years (the plane that is) and yet it sits there. I have a WWII hangar and museum that I am quite certain could get the funding together to move her but not the cash to retain council to dig through a mountain legal hassle.

Tom P.

[Mike]

AFAIK it is owned by the local AMVETS Group and has no connection whatever with the NMUSAF. If it wasn't for those guys saving it for display back in the day, it would have been melted down for pots and pans along with all the others, so I think they should be cut some some slack. It is in a dry environment, and whilst not in great condition it didn't look in imminent danger of falling apart when I passed by there a couple of years back.

[Chris Brame]

Want to find out real quick if the Air Force still owns it?
Have the AMVETS chapter announce they're going to make it flyable.

I'll just go stand in the corner...
In the meantime, look what I just found:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Orig-AIRCRAFT ... 5afb4d1f83

[bdk]

In the meantime, look what I just found:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Orig-AIRCRAFT ... 5afb4d1f83

I see some photos of Chino there!

[hang the expense]

3RD pic is of richardsons N17W in 1000 plane raid movie.One of those is of Tallichets first B-17(IIRC) which I think was a former Brazil bird.She wound up at the armament museum in florida.I hear she had a lot of rot which is what parked her in the first place.

[hang the expense]

In the meantime, look what I just found:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Orig-AIRCRAFT ... 5afb4d1f83

I see some photos of Chino there!

Good find Hawkeye.

[Pat Carry]

Want to find out real quick if the Air Force still owns it?
Have the AMVETS chapter announce they're going to make it flyable.

I'll just go stand in the corner...
In the meantime, look what I just found:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Orig-AIRCRAFT ... 5afb4d1f83

A good one Chris!!!

[davidwomacks]

They aren't interested in selling it?

[Spook498]

I didnt read the article, but I presume you are talking about the B-17, Prestons Pride?

I live nearby, and go by it every other week. I dont exactly know when, but the nose cone is missing. (I dont know if it broke off, was damaged, stolen, loaned, etc...) Anyways, they had a cheap blue tarp over the opening for a bit until it shredded in the weather. Well, they finally bolted on a flat piece of what looks to be lexan over the opening, making it more or less weather tight, at least moreso than it was with the tarp.

But, the aircraft is still sitting there, next to the F-4, next to highway 99.