B-17 Flying Fortress

Role: Bomber

National origin: United States

Manufacturer: Boeing

Designer: XXXXXX

First flight: XXXXX

Introduced: XXXXXX

Retired: XXXXX

Primary user: United States

Number built: XXXXXX

Unit cost: XXXXXX

Table of Contents [Hide/Show]

1. - Development
2. - Serial #'s
3. - Survivors
4. - Operational History
5. - Variants
      British B-17's
      Converted B-17's
6. - Technical Specifications
       General characteristics
       Performance
       Armament
7. - Operators
8. - Survivors
9. - Links
10. - Markings
11. - References
12. - Video

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1. - Development

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2. - Serial #'s

1938 - 1939
1940 - 1941
1942 - 1943
1944 - 1945
1945 +

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3. - Survivors

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4. - Operational History

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5. - Variants

B-17 Variations Examples

Model 299
- Initial proto with Hornet engines.
Y1B-17
- USAAC evaluation aircraft with Cyclone engines.
Y1B-17A
- Evaluated turbocharged engines.
B-17B
- Turbocharged initial production machines.
B-17C
- Gun blisters deleted, ventral tub added.
B-17D
- More guns, more armor, some B-17Cs updated.
B-17E
- First "big-tail" B-17, with turret armament.
B-17F
- Many minor changes, different nose glass.
B-17G
- Chin turret, other changes.

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British B-17's

Fortress I
- B-17Cs provided to Britain.
Fortress IIA
- B-17Es provided to Britain, AKA GR.IIA.
Fortress II
- B-17Fs provided to Britain, AKA GR.II.
Fortress II(SD)
- B-17Fs used as EW platforms.
Fortress III(SD)
- B-17Gs used as EW platforms.

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Converted B-17's

MacArthur's B-17E VIP transport

XC-108
- MacArthur's B-17E VIP transport, the BATAAN.
XC-108A
- B-17E cargo transport conversion.
XC-108B
- B-17F fuel transport conversion.
YC-108B
- B-17F VIP transport conversion.

XB-38
- B-17E fitted with Allison inline engines.
XB-40
- B-17F converted to prototype "gunship".
YB-40
- Evaluation "gunships".
TB-40
YB-40s
- used as gunnery trainers.

F-9/A/B
- B-17F reconnaissance conversions.
F-9C
- Reconnaissance B-17G -- AKA FB-17G, RB-17G.

BQ-7
- Aerial torpedo conversion of various old B-17s.

PB-1G
- Coast Guard ASR B-17Gs.
PB-1
- Navy B-17Gs.
PB-1W
- PB-1s with AN/APS-20 search radar.

SB-17G
- ASR B-17Gs, AKA B-17H.
QB-17G
- Postwar drone conversions.
DB-17G
- Postwar drone director conversions.
CB-17
- Postwar cargo conversions of B-17s.
VB-17
- Postwar VIP transport conversions of B-17s.
TB-17
- B-17s used as trainers.
WB-17
- B-17s used for weather reconnaissance.

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6. - Technical Specifications

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General characteristics

Crew: 10: Pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier/nose gunner, flight engineer-top turret gunner, radio operator, waist gunners (2), ball turret gunner, tail gunner121
Length: 74 ft 4 in (22.66 m)
Wingspan: 103 ft 9 in (31.62 m)
Height: 19 ft 1 in (5.82 m)
Wing area: 1,420 ft² (131.92 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 0018 / NACA 0010
Empty weight: 36,135 lb (16,391 kg)
Loaded weight: 54,000 lb (24,495 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 65,500 lb (29710 kg)
Powerplant: 4× Wright R-1820-97 "Cyclone" turbosupercharged radial engines, 1,200 hp (895 kW) each

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Performance

Maximum speed: 287 mph (249 kn, 462 km/h)
Cruise speed: 182 mph (158 kn, 293 km/h)
Range: 2,000 mi (1,738 nmi, 3,219 km) with 2,722 kg (6,000 lb) bombload
Service ceiling: 35,600 ft (10,850 m)
Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
Wing loading: 38.0 lb/ft² (185.7 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.089 hp/lb (150 W/kg)

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Armament

Guns: 13 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in 4 turrets in dorsal, ventral, nose and tail, 2 in waist positions, 2 beside cockpit and 1 in the lower dorsal position
Bombs:
Short range missions (<400 mi): 8,000 lb (3,600 kg)
Long range missions (≈800 mi): 4,500 lb (2,000 kg)
Overload : 17,600 lb (7,800 kg)

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7. - Operators

Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Colombia
Denmark
Dominican Republic
France
Germany
Iran
Israel
Japan
Mexico
Nicaragua
Peru
Portugal
South Africa
Soviet Union
Sweden
United Kingdom
United States

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8. - Survivors

Aluminum Overcast
Boeing Bee
Chuckie
Desert Rat
Fuddy Duddy
Gremlins Hideout
Heavens Above
Homesick Angel
I'll Be Around
King Bee
Lacey Lady
Liberty Belle
Mary Alice
Memphis Belle

Memphis Belle (not original)
Miss Angela
Miss Liberty Bell
My Gal Sal
Nine-O-Nine
Outhouse Mouse
Picadilly Lily II
Picadilly Princess
Pink Lady
Prestons Pride
Reluctant Dragon
Return To Glory
Sally B

Sentimental Journey
Shady Lady
Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby (USAFM)
Short Beir
Sleepy Time Gal
Suzy Q
Swamp Ghost
Texas Raiders
The Swoose
Thunderbird
Virgin's Delight
Yankee Doodle II
Yankee Lady

There are a total of 53 surviving airframes worldwide :
15 active flying
19 on static display
5 currently undergoing restoration to fly
2 currently undergoing restoration for display
5 in storage
7 partial airframes/hulks

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9. - Links

http://www.b17.org/

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10. - Markings

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11. - References

http://www.aerovintage.com/rat-4.htm

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