View Full Version : Low and Slow B17 Bomber
Not sure where to put this but I took this video today when I was setting up some targets to do some USPSA pistol drills. Just imagine 20, 30, 40 or more of these bad boys going over head at the same time. Really is impressive to see American Military power, no matter the time frame its from.
Its from my iPhone, and the video isnt done processing yet last I checked, so its not the greatest quality.
B17 Bomber Low and Slow 08/06/2010 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JxHY9lzUjs)
I think I live near the Selfridge air national guard base here in MI. I see stuff like that all the time on my way to the range.
I could've sworn I've seen 2 predator drones flying low one afternoon.
Sweet.
At work about a week or so ago, I was making my way from my hanger to our corporate building when I heard the music of those four radial engines. I looked up just in time to see a B-17 pass between the buildings pulling out on take off.
As I watched her bank off to the East, I wondered how many times the ground crews during WWII watched the same view as I had just witnessed, as their birds departed from England on missions to Germany....wondering if their bird and its crew would safely return.
Sweet.
At work about a week or so ago, I was making my way from my hanger to our corporate building when I heard the music of those four radial engines.
There's just no other sound like it. Music is the perfect way to describe it. And the B-17 has to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing old warbirds, in my opinion.
Very cool.
I know that the South Africans used some in the 60's/70's as ground support.....just loaded the bastards up with .50's, no bombs.
The Liberty Belle was giving rides out of one of the local airports earlier this summer, and its flight path took it just about right over my house. I was out in the garage and heard it coming...there's just nothing that sounds like that.
Back around 1990 I saw a CAF B-17 sitting on the tarmac at the Nashua NH airport. I stopped and went over. I did not have any cash on me but they were giving tours for $ but I was able to walk around it and stick my head up into it. Majorly awesome!
Later, after I had moved back to that area, the wife and I saw one taking off (we caught it on climb out from around 100ft AGL on up) from the same airport for some show and another time I saw one in that area flying by. Again, what a majorly awesome sight.
I was awestruck by just this one, I can only imagine the massive formations there were during the 2nd World War. My grandparents live just down the road from me and I asked him if he saw it fly over. He said it brought back alot of memories. He was stationed with the 8th Army Airforce in England, manned the quad 50 anti-air guns.
My grandfather passed away two years ago. God rest his soul. When he was young he had dreams of being a fighter pilot in WW2. But because of his diminutive size was placed in the ball turret of a B24 Liberator. God never get him on the B17 getting all the glory even though the Liberator could haul a heavier payload over a longer distance. I mean the B17/B24 debate were absolute fighting words to him! To me all these men were heroes. Whether they were in a P38, Flying Fortress, Liberator,Jug, etc. God rest all their souls, living or passed away. If my memory serves me correct the 8th Air Force had the largest attrition rate of any unit in the U.S. military in WW2 and that includes any infantry unit. Great planes in use with even greater men. It is great to know a few of these beasts still fly to remind us of our past.
I think I live near the Selfridge air national guard base here in MI. I see stuff like that all the time on my way to the range.
I could've sworn I've seen 2 predator drones flying low one afternoon.
I can assure you that you don't see stuff quite like the old warbirds every day from an ANG base...modern aircraft, while still exciting to see, just don't have the soul of the old bombers, fighters, and transports.
A rare treat indeed. The B-17 is probably my favorite warbird (and you can imagine the surprise and joy I felt one day to see one behind me in the pattern while I was landing). That was very cool- I taxied off the runway and turned around to watch her land.
Also, in more good warbird news, the B-29 FiFi is back in the air!
B-17 landing (cockpit view)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwJBJhH7v4k&feature=related
Also, in more good warbird news, the B-29 FiFi is back in the air!
Good to know there is a Superfortress airworthy again. If I am not mistaken FIFI had a major restore job done. Also most of her engines were gone through thoroughly.
Good to know there is a Superfortress airworthy again. If I am not mistaken FIFI had a major restore job done. Also most of her engines were gone through thoroughly.
FiFi's got some new engines, from what I understand, apart from the restoration. They are custom builds of R-3350s. They run cooler and produce a bit more power but lack superchargers.
variablebinary
08-07-10, 02:11
Ahh, the B17
Truly of symbol of how great this country can be.
The only thing to make seeing that B17 better yesterday would have been if it had a couple of escorts.... of the P-51 Mustang kind....
There is a Air Museum in Florida not far from Orlando off of I4. I was there last October for the Paintball World Cup back when I still coached a semi-pro team. They had a P-51 and a P-40 there, and some one flew in a ME262 for the day. They put on an airshow for us. P51 and ME262 did some dog fighting and at one point they got 40ft up. I knew they were 40ft up because the nets around the paintball fields are 20ft tall and they were maybe 20ft above that.... That was probably the coolest thing I have ever seen.
For being prop planes, they are some of the most elegant, fast and smooth flying machines EVER.
The Commemorative Air Force (CAF), formerly known as the Confederate Air Force, is a Texas-based non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and showing historical aircraft at airshows primarily throughout the U.S. and Canada. The CAF also has extensive aircraft collection on static display at the American Airpower Heritage Museum[1] at Midland International Airport, located in Midland, Texas.
Commemorative Air Force Gulf Coast Wing (B-17)
http://www.gulfcoastwing.org/
The B-29/B-24 Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force
http://www.cafb29b24.org/
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