Aero Vintage Books

Looks to be in outside storage right now. What a shame that we still have Fortress's around the world, disassembled, collecting dust, and with no clear future for display.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L9RgD2bAuI

Very nice footage. Although it is dissasembled it looks like most of it is there. Hopefully they will get it restored.

Before anyone complains about the condition consider this,The bird is saved and not sawed up in a thousand pieces.Wow, what a restoration that would be.Very little civilianizing going on in that bird.

I agree with Hang, she's still with us and stored in a decent climate.

Did anyone else notice that she has the two-piece windshields with the openable panel? I used to know where there were a couple of sets of those back when I was still working on Forts.

Everybody changes them to single piece because of the view obstruction.What a neat airframe.I guess the wings are under the tarp next to the fuselage?

Wow!!!

She looks totally doable.

.

TM.

Somebody ought to try and buy that bird.Dont they already have one on display?

Does anyone know anyone down there that can get a look at her and get some good/great photos of her to post here, is it still there?

There are a couple of folks looking into trying to get this bird and thats all I will say.I hope thay have good fortune.

hang the expense wrote:There are a couple of folks looking into trying to get this bird and thats all I will say.I hope thay have good fortune.

So do I. That is quite a find, here's hoping this bird can fly again!!!

I for one like that windscreen. What example (besides this one) sported such a windscreen as this is the first one I have ever seen on any airframe in any photo, peace time or combat

The split windscreen was actually standard on many production B-17s; it was an openable panel that was used so the pilot could see forward if the windshield were iced over. Kind of a last ditch effort to retain the open cockpit configuration of the 1920s. I'm sure others here will be able to chime in with photos and more details. Most of the production DC-3/C-47s had the same type windscreen.

In all my research into training in the CONUS I've found a fair number of stateside Forts that had the multi-pane windshields. They don't seem to have been as popular in the combat zones for some reason.

This airplane would certainly be a fun project if the funding were available.

Well, "if" she winds up back in the States, I think it would be interesting to repaint it back in the original "Last Operational" paint scheme. Ain't another one like it on the circus....er..uh...Circuit