The First Civil B-17 (Fall 1945): NX60475

[aerovin2]

I just added a post at aerovintage.com about a bit of a little-known B-17F that turns out to have been the first U.S. civil B-17 when it flew for Sperry Gyroscopic Co. to test an autopilot installation in the fall of 1945. That B-17, s/n 41-24434, had an interesting history even before it went to Sperry. Check it out here: https://www.aerovintage.com/2023/04/18/ ... s-nx60475/

[terveurn]

Wouldn't NX13372 be the first civil B-17 ?

[terveurn]

Couple of note: Tinker often farmed out war surplus aircraft to various manufactures with the expectation that they might or might not get the aircraft back in one piece. Tinker was considered the issueing agency but not financially or materially responsible for the property.

You have on the history page that it was assigned to station 3182.

Could that be 3182 Ordnance Ammunition Co at Alberdeen Proving Ground ?

[aerovin2]

Wouldn't NX13372 be the first civil B-17 ?

You would think, but it wasn’t a B-17. Model 299 prototype.

[terveurn]

Wouldn't NX13372 be the first civil B-17 ?

You would think, but it wasn’t a B-17. Model 299 prototype.

??????

According to Boeing, technically no such aircraft as the B-17, all the the Flying Fortress came under the designation of Boeing 299-0 (Even the Lockheed and Douglas ships).

[aerovin2]

Well, the AAC did not call it a B-17. It’s a fine point.