B-17 Thunderbird's new name

[p51buff]

Meh... I'd prefer if both planes were painted to honor original aircraft and their crews from the war instead of promoting mottos and slogans...

This! Exactly this!

Again, we have a chance to honor the crews who actually flew the aircraft, and its history, whatever it might be. Instead, we have yet another incorrect, very expensive restoration.

So much fail.

Will

I wonder how many overseas/in combat aircraft came home? Seems like a lot of the surviving warbirds were domestic training aircraft, or were ready to deploy but the war ended before they were deployed, and ended up being converted to passenger or firefighting birds. Then you've got planes that have a wing from one aircraft, a nose from another, who determines which the data plate goes on the airplane and the data plate is from, and the official history?

[k5083]

Over the past 40 years, restored flying B-17s painted with authentic names and nose art have been the exception, rather than the rule.

I think this particular type of airplane has so much sentimentality loaded onto it that the temptation to channel modern-day feelings and symbolism through it is hard for operators to resist.

August

[JohnB]

Unless they have made a public statement, no one here knows the intent behind the name change.

One can assume a particular meaning, but why not give them the benefit of the doubt before attributing political ideas to them?

After all, they are warbird fans so you probably have a lot in common.
If it helps, think they're just like you except their B-17 is 1:1 scale, not 1:144

It says something about the country when the first three words of the preamble to the Constitution, set people off.

I'll remind you that every member of the armed forces (insert service flashback here) as well as federal elected officials (of both parties) take an oath to support and defend the Constitution, so if you look at it that way, the first three words of it shouldn't be controversial at all....

Just sayin'

[Chris Brame]

How about adding two pinup girls below the name? That's "we", right?

[k5083]

JohnB, I don't know who you think you are talking to.

Nobody here has made the slightest suggestion of political motives, being "set off" by the preamble to the Constitution, or finding anything controversial about it.

Maybe you are just so thin skinned on this subject that YOU attribute political motives to anything anyone says?

Think about it.

August

[Mark Allen M]

It says something about the country when the first three words of the preamble to the Constitution, set people off.

Nope! I too won’t accept this. No one here is disappointed or offended due to political views or lack of, or too much patriotism. The objections are clear and justifiable due to a failed opportunity by a warbird owner to properly and correctly represent their aircraft historically for the type. No more, no less.

IMO it’s still fine to express a certain level of disappointment towards a warbird operator /owner’s decisions when warranted on this forum. Most here are grownups who know the difference between expressing one’s feelings of disappointment toward warbird operators and owners vs outright toxic vitriol and upheaval directed at them.

[LegendaryWings]

I agree with Warbird Kid and Blackbirdfan! There needs to be more airworthy B-17s painted in authentic liveries, in my opinion.

[quemerford]

I for one would love to see a B-17 painted as a US-based training machine, or even a fire bomber. Anything if it's accurately done.

Too many folks focus on honouring crews who were killed in Europe or the Pacific without apparently allowing that personnel who lost their lives during training or in fire-fighting operations were equally worthy of commemoration.

It just takes a bit of imagination.

[mazdaP5]

[mazdaP5]

[phil65]

What is that on the left side ?
Maybe it's just me being hungover from Halloween, but it looks like a ghost..

Phil

[mike furline]

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archi ... t/41-24614

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/41- ... he-people/

Last edited by mike furline on Sun Nov 03, 2024 5:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[quemerford]

What is that on the left side ?
Maybe it's just me being hungover from Halloween, but it looks like a ghost..

Phil

I did wonder too: overpaint/underpaint?

[JohnB]

I for one would love to see a B-17 painted as a US-based training machine, or even a fire bomber. Anything if it's accurately done.

While it might be nice, probably not going to happen since many of the owners have spent a lot of money making former fire bombers look like bombers!
Training machines are vine but often just consist of rather anonymous looking base codes.

How about a wartime or postwar ARS machine?
The FAA might have issues with the boat however.

[JohnB]

I for one would love to see a B-17 painted as a US-based training machine, or even a fire bomber. Anything if it's accurately done.

While it might be nice, probably not going to happen since many of the owners have spent a lot of money making former fire bombers look like bombers!
Training machines are fine but often just consist of rather anonymous looking base codes.

How about a wartime or postwar ARS machine?
The FAA might have issues with the boat however.