TWA B-17

[lucky52]

A friend sent me a picture of a B-17 (maybe a G model) at Boeing Seattle being configured as an executive transport for TWA in 1946. It appears to be registered NL 1B, and below that 242. It says it was later sold to the Shah of Iran. Any idea if it survived? It has 5 windows on the right side and Trans World Airline painted above the windows. I don't have a picture hosting website, but if anybody is interested I could email it to him.

[JohnB]

It was given to the Shah of Iran as a VIP transport, registered as EP-HIM for "His Imperial Majesty".
It was originally a B-17G-VE...44-85728.

After conversion it became a Boeing 299AB...they had already gone through the alphabet (the 299Zs were the two five engine testbeds for Wright and Pratt & Whitney).
It was registered as NL-1B in the postwar " Limited" category for ex military types which did not qualify for a standard license.

TWA used it for liaison and route surveys. I have always guessed they gave it to the Shah to curry favor.
I have seen no record of it surviving..

[mike furline]

[lucky52]

Thanks Mike and John. Too bad it didn’t survive.

[aerovin]

From Final Cut: