TEXAS RAIDERS- First Flight in Seven Years- Oct. 14, 2009

[bomberflight]

I'd just like to publicly thank the CAF Gulf Coast Wing for the very warm welcome during my visit to see Texas Raiders in the hangar at Hobby Airport.

I took a few pictures which I think illustrate the excellent work that's been done to get the airplane to this point in the restoration process .....











And a few of "TR" over at Ellington Field during the Wings Over Houston Airshow







Thanks again everyone !

[the330thbg]

Nice shots.., thank you so much for sharing!!! Is the ball turret safe enough for someone to cram in their during flight? Always wondered what that was like especially with those 50's going off inches from my ear drums.., did those guys where any protection at all?

Thanks

[texasraiders]

I've been following the restoration of Texas Raiders since its flight into hobby airport and I want to say it was great seeing her on the ramp Saturday the 31st.
If you need donations to help go towards a paint job let me know.

Don, tell Col. Sandy Thompson Chris said hi.
I look forward to seeing you in the air circut next year

Chris

[SPANNERmkV]

The TEXAS RAIDER ball turret is currently safety wired shut.
There was some trouble with the latch and we just couldn't risk having it come open in flight, or worse still fall off the airplane and hit a busload of school-kids.
Could you imagine the lawsuits that would ensue?

I crawled in it not too long ago and it was a tight fit for a 6'2" chunky-monkey like me!

Somewhere I read that the ball turret gunners could taste the gunsmoke through the oxygen masks when they were blasting away. They still had to wear their comm. headsets so I imagine hearing protection wasn't an option.
Also MYTH BUSTERS time. The ball turret was NOT the most dangerous crew position statistically.
The gunners in their turrets had a greater degree of protection from shrapnel from Flak and as the war progressed and enemy fighters became fewer, the major threat to aircrew was from Flak.
It still had to have taken brass cojones to crawl into one of those and be looking at whomever was trying to shoot you down through a round window between your knees.

News of TEXAS RAIDERS...
We are trying to re-engineer the exhaust system. Since we aren't using the turbos we are having issues with the casings cracking as hot-spots build up.
I have heard of some other B17s using a bypass exhaust pipe that goes over the turbo housing, so it still looks "correct" but doesn't crack housings.
If anyone has a DER on a solution for this please contact me ASAP.

The B17 will be at the Hobby Airport 1940 Air Terminal Museum event honoring veterans this Sat. Nov. 21st.
We won't be flying but the CAF B25 Yellow Rose should be doing revenue rides. Yahoo!

Back to the salt mines,

SPANNER

[Second Air Force]

Spanner, email sent.

[Nathan]

.
If you need donations to help go towards a paint job let me know.



Chris

I would love to see a new paint job too. How about one of those half NMF and half olive drab schemes? 91's BG comes to mind! I would donate for that, thats for sure!

[b29flteng]

RE the ball turret:
I remember reading that statisically it was the safest position due to several factors.

1. The turret was semi-armored i.e. the thick aluminum shell and 1/2 thick plexiglass tended to absorb the low velocity flak.

2. The gunner was curled up in a ball creating a smaller target.

[bomberflight]

OK ~ here's the really daft paint idea for Friday .......

Silver with a red tail

And the reason why ? I'm guessing that there are a fair number of gallons of both kicking around
if Northwest's fleet are to be repainted in Delta colors.

[Second Air Force]

When we crawled in the Vintage Flying Museum display ball a few months ago I was very impressed with how secure one feels inside. With the door closed and all settled in, it feels like it must have felt when we were all in the womb. Here's Mike, one of our engine guys, just before closing the hatch:

And yours truly taken from the side window:


It would certainly be more cramped with flying suit, parachute (if you had room) etc. but the turret is really quite comfortable, especially for the smaller men that occupied them during WWII.

I have a survey somewhere in the piles that states what b29flteng stated earlier. Some protection, smaller target.

Scott

[Chunks]

I like the paint just the way it is, weathered!

Chunks

[texasraiders]

Paint the Horizontal Stablizer to match the rest of the plane. thats all!!!
Whos going to see TR this weekend?
I will possibly be there.

C.

[Pogo]

I first met TR in the early 70's, been hanging out near her ever since. I always thought she was easily the coolest looking bird on the circuit because of her weathered appearance. Cheap and easy. I agree, just paint the fin and call it a day, why not?

[N3Njeff]

I first met TR in the early 70's, been hanging out near her ever since. I always thought she was easily the coolest looking bird on the circuit because of her weathered appearance. Cheap and easy. I agree, just paint the fin and call it a day, why not?

Ditto on this..............................put the money in other places for a "what if " fund so her not being in the air for another long period of time does not happen again. I believe a nice 1820 spare would be a good start to put it.

Like the weathered look way too much!!!! Been wanting a ride in a 17 for a long time. So when she comes back on tour and to new england........I will be the 1st to sign up on TR.

[Glen]

I agree Totally leave her weathered one of those Back to the Future deals ! She dose have that very distinct look about her. I am a 100% B-17 Nut in all areas and when she was setting on the Ramp next to Thunder Bird ( Which I also Love) I really enjoyed seeing TR in the Paint that she was in... TB & TR both are true classics in their own ways. As are all the B-17's that are flying . My Vote is touch up the Tail and leave her as is ..............Safe the money for a Rainy day .

[SaxMan]

I was able climb into TR's ball turret when they were giving the ball turret tours at the Frederick Airshow. Somewhere, I still have a blurry Polaroid of that. Being only 5' 6", I had no problems fitting in the turret. Still, it's not a place I'd want to ride for hours upon end.

I've also read that the ball turret was statiscally the safest place. The question is, which position was statistically the least safe? .