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West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:44 pm

Ok - besides "Sentimental Journey" (unavailable) and "Fuddy Duddy" (not really flying as I understand) are there any other B-17s west of Texas that are up and available on the air show circuit?

Thanks in advance!

Tom P.

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:47 pm

NOPE!

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:17 pm

I know - what the heck is up with that?! I am glad for all our East coast WIXers but seriously, we need one or two more out West!!

Tom P.

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:47 pm

Agreed, but B-17's are a finite resource kind of like the obtainable number of Duesenbergs available for sale, FHC does NOT give or sell rides and P. Allen's B-17E is years away from being put back together. Don't think HFF/John Sessions would buy one. After those worthys, the list of folk with enough bread and space and interest to operate one gets thinner than the mayo @ a Weight Watchers convention.

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:55 pm

Lots of perfectly good flyable B-17s parked up:

MoF's 'Boeing Bee'
Evergreen
Fuddy Duddy (flies very occasionally)
Pond family's 'Miss Angela' at Palm Springs (last flown 2006?)

Not exactly a rare sight out here though, as several come through on extended tours each year.

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:56 pm

Mike wrote:Lots of perfectly good flyable B-17s parked up:

MoF's 'Boeing Bee'
Evergreen
Fuddy Duddy (flies very occasionally)
Pond family's 'Miss Angela' at Palm Springs (last flown 2006?)

Not exactly a rare sight out here though, as several come through on extended tours each year.

The Collings Foundation always seems to make a yearly swing along the west coast and every other year or so Aluminum Overcast makes appearances out that way.

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:18 pm

As long as the MoF has title to Boeing Bee, it will never fly again, that subject has been beaten flat in past postings. I believe Evergreens is also now ground bound, I understand they had a fairly minor 'hanger rash' type incident a while ago. No ideas or info on the Pond airplane-

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:44 pm

wendovertom wrote:Ok - besides "Sentimental Journey" (unavailable)

Did I miss something? Why is it unavailable?

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:18 pm

Sentimental Journey is already booked for when I need a "heavy" thus I put "unavailable". I already thought about Collings, but they float through Utah in about June/July and I need a bomber near the end of September.

Tom P.

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:44 pm

If you are willing to pay the freight bill, Yankee Lady would be a great participant. In my opinion, she is the nicest B-17 in the sky. I'm sure they might be interested in a road trip to the West so she could get out and strech her legs. Maybe she has been suffering from cramped cavs by doing laps around Detroit. :D

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:40 pm

I have heard she is a beautiful plane but 1374nm from Wayne to Wendover @ lets say 185mph you get a 7 hour flight. Which of course means about 1400 gallons of 100LL @ 5.08 (Wendover's "warbird" price) means about $7K is gas. Plus appearance fee, oil, crew rooms, and transportation. All of which we would have to pay to anyone coming but you begin to see why an airplane that is a little closer is better for the event.

Tom P.

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:27 pm

wendovertom wrote: .. "Fuddy Duddy" (not really flying as I understand) ..

I thought you'd be interested to know that it seems that "Fuddy Duddy" will be (really) flying next week (Feb 11, 2012)! A buddy of mine just sent me this link ...

http://lyonairmuseum.org/2012/lyon-air-museum-b-17-flying-fortress-fuddy-duddy-in-history-takes-flight-event-feb-11/

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:39 pm

I'm sure if you contacted Lyon with info on your event that would probably be more than happy to help you out? I'm sure it would come down to $$$ though.

Still I get a sinking feeling when I remember FD in the skies over Geneseo and the NE. :(

Re: West Coast flying B-17s - where are they?

Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:27 pm

CH2Tdriver wrote:Still I get a sinking feeling when I remember FD in the skies over Geneseo and the NE. :(

Thats where she really belongs to me. Not to steal another 17 from the West Coast but she belongs in Geneseo. I believe one day somehow she'll return there to stay.
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