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Re: 44-83546 VB-17G N3703G at PDK on 8 June 2012

Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:54 am

:axe: :axe: :axe: :axe: deleted duplicate :axe: :axe: :axe: :axe:
Last edited by gary1954 on Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: 44-83546 VB-17G N3703G at PDK on 8 June 2012

Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:34 pm

mustangdriver wrote:What happened to the turret that was in the airplane? It may have been covered and I missed it.

Also there was some sort of an issue was it just an FAA mix up?

The turret assembly was removed in Genneseo before the plane was flown down to Cherokee Airport. One of the compromises with doing a ride program is that people are moving through the airplane during flight, which is no easy task in a B-17! Having the turret installed made transitioning between the cockpit and the bomb bay very difficult. Another factor is the need to install a pair of jumpseats in the cockpit in order to be able to carry enough people to, hopefully, make a little money on the rides to support rebuilding Liberty Belle. I would have loved to keep the full turret, but it just wasn't practical. Nothing has been changed in the plane that would prevent the full turret from being reinstalled.
As far as the FAA is concerned, I've been spending a fair chunk of time with the plane for the last month or so and I'm not aware of any problems or issues with them.
I'm just happy that the plane is out on tour and that it looks like we had a good first weekend! :)

Re: 44-83546 VB-17G N3703G at PDK on 8 June 2012

Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:44 pm

Well that is good news. Having worked on this plane, I remember the top turret area being really tough to get folks around.

Good luck to you guys.

Re: 44-83546 VB-17G N3703G at PDK on 8 June 2012

Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:11 pm

Totally understand about the top turret. Especially with what the money generated is going for.

Still a bittersweet thought. My understanding was that this top turret was not only fully operational, but also a "combat vet" in its own right; having been taken from the Black Cat Pass bird. Along with a lot of the other internal fittings! Making the Belle something of a tribute to the B-17s of the SWP.

Re: 44-83546 VB-17G N3703G at PDK on 8 June 2012

Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:36 pm

The -17 sounded A w e s o m e! I was pretty near her sitting in the shade on the tire of a Cessna as she was turned in around on the ramp to off/on-load the paying customers. She sounded wonnerfulll absolutely wonnnnnerfullll and the prop blast was throughly enjoyed; Lost my sunglasses twice due to blast :supz:
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