The Experimental Aircraft Association’s B-17G, Aluminum Overcast (44-85740, N5017N), has been grounded at Punta Gorda, Florida, since April 2021 after a wing-attach issue was found. An update was recently provided by the EAA Director of Communications, Dick Knapinski, on the progress of the needed repair:

“The B-17 Aluminum Overcast remains in Punta Gorda, Florida, for repairs. As you recall, our volunteer crew noticed irregularities last year during a tour stop. Further inspection revealed a crack emanating from the left sheer web, which is a secondary support structure for the wing. The only way to repair that is by removing the wing. The repair itself is not overly complicated, but getting to it is. That is why we wanted to wait until after AirVenture 2021, so we could give it the focused attention that it deserves.

As we removed the wing, our teams noticed other things that would be best served by repairing them at the same time. Such is life with vintage aircraft. Thus, we put a plan together during the last few months of 2021 to take care of all the discrepancies at once during this project.

The next step is to source the parts and material, which as you know can be a challenge with an airframe that has been out of production for many years.

There’s been a group of local volunteers that has been outstanding with assistance to our EAA full-time crew that has regularly journeyed to Florida. We hope to complete the engineering and acquiring all the materials needed so we can fly the aircraft home to Oshkosh this summer.

We don’t have a specific date in mind for that return trip or to get it back into service. Airplanes have their own schedules for such things, it seems.”

The photo suggests that the left wing inboard section has been detached from the fuselage to make the repairs. Both outer wing panels have also been removed to provide room in the hangar.

It is commendable to the diligence of the EAA flight crew that the airframe discrepancy was found during a routine pre-flight inspection while the aircraft was on tour providing rides to the general public. An external wing fairing covering the area indicated some suspicious movement and the fairing was removed and a further inspection found the problem.

As seen below is a view of the left wing attach fittings. The primary bolts holding the wings are established at four places: upper and lower fittings for the forward and aft attach points to the forward and aft wing spar assembly. There is another bolt at midpoint (identified as “D” below) between the upper and lower bolt sets, and that is where the problem was found, reportedly on the aft attach assembly. (The forward attach point is seen in detail below; the aft assembly is similar.)

A brief history of this B-17G (detailed history and photos can be found in Final Cut: The Post-War Flying Fortress and Survivors): 44-85740 was delivered to the AAF in May 1945. With the war ending in Europe, the B-17 was excess to needs and placed in storage. It was sold as surplus in 1947; initial use was used for cargo transport in the Caribbean. Shortly afterwards, it was sold to an aerial survey company that used it for that purpose for fifteen years, until 1962. It was then sold to a company at Dothan, Alabama, for use as fire-ant bomber. It was used as such until 1976. It was then purchased by William Harrison in 1978 for restoration to a standard B-17. After further exploits, it was donated to the EAA in 1981, and has been flown as Aluminum Overcast ever since. It is one of several B-17s that are toured annually around the country providing flight experiences to the interested public. Revenue from the touring helps keep the B-17s airworthy and available.

Thanks to the EAA’s Dick Knapinski and Chris Henry for the update.