Geneseo B-17

That was supposed to be "it looked awful COOL in flight in pics from LDRS"

Richard "sometimes one word can make all the difference" Hickok

Can't say for sure, Big Richard, but I heard through the grapevine that it costs about $2000/hr. to operate. I also believe I heard that it took a trip to West Virginny for a couple days.

Gene "Eavesdropper" Costanza

P.S. I never saw the pics but it did a LOW flyby (~400'??) on Friday morning.

I was about to ask what you've been smoking... :-)

I think I've seen one fly at 2 of the 3 Geneseo launches I've attended. So my guess is more than a few times a year.

the hag has a website.

-Dan

this flyby?

-Dan

"Pass the bong."

- Dave Grayvis aka Brian Teeling

So, you & Brian used to party together?

I saw that. It was really nice. Did you get any pics of it with the fighter?

ROFL!

Nice shot! The only B17 I've ever seen is one up in the Portland OR area which was mounted over the pumps at a gas station, sort of a combination awning/attention-getter. It was gone two years later, supposedly someone bought it and was going to restore it.

Ray You're correct! As I understand it, Boeing bought it to restore (as it was an earlier model than all others around. It's been a while since I looked to see it's progress. Now for some history:-). The B17 that was at LDRS was the Confederate Airforces Memphis Bell. It was there for the HAG's airshow ( the next weekend). It had also been there for a while as the crew was replacing an engine that had blown. From my understanding, it had been there for over a month and was supposed to be in the hanger when we did The BRS Invitational in mid May.The Memphis Bell is NOT the original, but rather painted as the original. It IS the one, however, that was used in the movie. It is not based in Geneseo and the B17 that used to be based in Geneseo (Fuddy Duddy) is now in Elmira NY (about

70 miles South). When Fuddy Duddy was based in Geneseo, it was flown several times a week (durring summer months) and was taken to airshows all over the North East (again, durring the summer months:-). I had the privilage to fly on it, many times and even have about an hour FLYING her (her...even though Fuddy Duddy is male:-). The original Nordin Bomb Site still works and I have personally "bombed" most of the major cities in the NE:-)! Currently there are around 50, B-17 airframes that exist (including one that was found crashed in Yellowstone, when the park burned.......several years ago. There are around 9 still flying (the number varies yearly as some crash and others get rebuilt:-)! I believe that all still flying are G models. Several years ago, there was one F model still around........but I'm not sure of it's status. I BELIEVE the one you saw above the gas station was an H model. To my knowledge, none of the flying B-17's have any war history. They were built too late. The closest that any of the current flying B-17's have to war history is that Fuddy Duddy was originally General Eisenhower's personal aircraft (as I say though.......it's been quite a while since I followed the history of the "current" B-17's.......so things might have changed, some:-)! Finally, Gene is right about the $2000 per hour cost to fly. That number does also vary considerably, based on the time that is gotten on an engine:-)! As I remember it, each engine has an oil tank that holds 45 gallons (yes gallons:-)! and it takes one gallon of aviation fuel just to prime each carberator. Fuel consumption was between 25 and 50 gallons per engine, per hour.......depending on power settings, weight and altitude. I think Fuddy held around 1000 gallons when full. Fifteen or so years ago, we did a show in Geneseo that had 6 B-17's, one Lancaster and over 150 other warbirds (including something like 12 Mustangs). It's impossible to describe what 7 heavy bombers and 12 Mustangs look like, feel like, sound like AND smell like when they are all in the air, 500 feet over your head! Sufice to say that it is something I'll NEVER forget:-)! I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like to have hundreds fly overhead:-)! I just finished working a show where there were Harriers, A-10's, A-6's, F-16's and even the Angles. The feeling isn't even close (although still great to have:-)! Nothing beats the sound of a round engine (Allisons do come close, however:-)!

Lloyd Wood BRS President/Prefect Level lll

Bill Davidson also said and I'll paraphrase:

"There's only one thing better than hearing one of them... it's hearing FOUR of them"

LLoyd, thanks for the detailed story on the plane......you're one lucky guy to have flown on a B-17 many times & even gotten to have flown her!!

to West Virginny for a couple days.

Gene "Eavesdropper" Costanza

In a couple days sounds like it puts it head-to-head with the MDRA launch & since I didn't make it to LDRS (or even last weekend's METRA launch), I'm itchin' to launch (also itchin' from poison ivy at the NARHAMS field), so I'll have to pass on the WV appearance of the plane. -- Richard "& Gene still continues with his Southern, hillbilly references, however slight" Hickok

I used to buy my gas at that station in Portland. I always wondered what happened to the plane. 20 years ago or so I got to climb into Memphis Belle and sat in the various locations in the plane. Very cool indeed. When I was at Chanute AFB back in 75, I climbed into the static display B36 (strictly verboten) and crawled around in there for a hour or so. Now that was one huge airplane. the little sleds that traverse the tunnel were removed so that we had to slid on our backs to get abaft. All I remember was that it was hot, dirty, full of bugs and exceedingly cool. The bird at Chanute had about 15 feet removed from the middle so that it would fit in the display area. I can only imagine how a fully restored bird would look. I don't even know if any B36s exist in flying condition. Any one know?

Wow, I never knew they were such gas hogs.

The old steam locomotives are very expensive to operate too. Partly because of fuel costs but mostly because of the high maintenance requirements.

Dunno if it's still in flyable condition, RJ, but I've been up close, and personal with this one..

Truly a wonder to behold...

tah

Pretty impressive when they're right on the ground with you, too. Back in 2001, WWII days at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum had three B-17's. I had a friend who owned a warbird there, and got to stand on the flightline as they taxied out - the wingtips were passing over my head. Never did find my hat...

if anyone's interested, some of my pictures of this years show:

And a link to the museum site:

I think "Southern" and "hillbilly" don't have to be entirely congruous, Richard. There are plenty of hillbillies in parts other than the South.

Want proof? Come to a METRA launch. We're a chromosomal cacophony. Gives new meaning to our club when we say "We're all one big happy family!" Some METRAites hold down two or three simultaneous familial positions.

OK, OK, I know MDRA's feeling left out so I'll include them in that dubious distinction ::-)>

Sheesh... I just realized I'm in for two a$$kickin's now. S'awright, I needed a couple weeks off from work anyhow...

You mean the ones where your cousin is your father? I didn't know that was popular in NY/NJ.