As most B-17 followers know, there are three B-17s, or parts of B-17s, resident at the Erickson Aircraft Collection located in central Oregon at Madras. Here is a brief update on what is going on with these three aircraft:

44-85718, Formerly “Thunderbird”

B-17G 44-85718 (N900RW) is owned by Scott Glover’s Mid-America Flight Museum at Mt. Pleasant, Texas. The B-17 has been at the Madras facility since early 2021 for a deep inspection and repair as needed. After a close inspection, it was determined that to eliminate any structural issues moving forward with the wing, the spar tubes on both inner wing panels would be replaced. This is a major job that is moving forward in a slow and steady pace. As noted in some detail in an earlier update, new spar tubes were obtained from a United Kingdom vendor. Both inner wing panels are in custom jigs and the spar structure was subsequently removed. The spar structure was disassembled to install the new tubes. There is much intricate and detailed reassembly involved with riveting the structure back together but that work is mostly completed now. When completed, both spar assemblies will be remounted into the jigged inner panels and the wing structure will then be intact once again. No time frame is announced for this work to be done…it is a slow process and obviously needs to be exactly correct for it to be signed off.

My take is that the work is progressing steadily but after the inner wing panels are complete the airplane will need to be reassembled and other items addressed as needed. Getting the airplane back in the air remains several years away, in my estimation. This is an expensive and challenging process but the airplane should be flying for many years to come once the work is completed. As per information from the Mid-America Flight Museum, it will fly as We the People, paint scheme yet to be determined (at least publicly)

44-85829, Formerly “Yankee Lady”

B-17G 44-85829 (N3193G) was purchased by Charles Somers of Sacramento from the Yankee Air Force in early 2024. It was subsequently delivered to Madras for disassembly. The entire aircraft, except the inner wing panels and engines, will be shipped to the Avspecs Ltd. facility near Auckland, New Zealand for rebuild and restoration. Indeed, the smaller parts (turrets and other components) have already been shipped out to New Zealand. The major airframe components are ready to go but remain at Madras awaiting shipment, expected this spring.

The engines will be inspected and rebuilt by a U.S. shop. As for the two inboard wing sections, they will be inspected and repaired as needed by the team at Erickson Aircraft Collection. They have become the B-17 inboard wing structure specialists. An inspection of sorts has already been accomplished on the inboard wing sections and a working plan for what needs to be done is being laid out. Once the wing sections for 44-85718 are completed then more attention and a detailed inspection will begin on 44-85829‘s wings.

Again, between the work at New Zealand and Madras, this is another long-term project but the result will be a structurally-sound, almost better-than-new airplane that could and should be flying for many years to come.

44-8543: “Ye Olde Pub“

B-17G 44-8543 (N3701G) is owned and operated by the Erickson Aircraft Collection. It remains airworthy and its annual inspection was just completed so it is ready to go for the expected activity this coming summer. So, not much to report but that is a good thing.

Ye Olde Pub remains one of three currently airworthy B-17s: Ye Olde Pub, 44-83514 (N9323Z) flying as Sentimental Journey with the Commemorative Air Force at Mesa, Arizona, and 44-85784 (G-BEDF) flying as Sally-B and based in the UK at Duxford. There is the beginning of an airshow schedule for appearances this summer for Ye Olde Pub that can be seen on this Erickson Aircraft Collection webpage.

For more information on these aircraft and the other 43 surviving B-17s, as well as a detailed history of the post-war use of the B-17, check out Final Cut available right here on this website.