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Re: one of Kermit's B-17's

Posted by Mike Henniger on Tue Oct 08, 2002 07:12:36 AM

In reply top Re: one of Kermit's B-17's posted by Ryan Keough on Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:49:47 AM

: Isn't it the same B-17 project thats in the latest FlyPast
: ? (I believe). If thats the case, that is the B-17 that wa
: s at the New England Air Museum in the late 70s when it wa
: s hit by a tornado. It was traded to Reilly for the static
: rebuild of their B-25 (now on display). It was the engine
: testbed for the larger Pratt & Whitney turboprops that wa
: s installed in the nose. It would make sense that it would
: need the sheetmetal work as the cockpit was moved some 5
: feet aft when the engine mods were done.

I was under the impression that the work on the former turbo-prop test bed B-17 was fairly well advanced. I.e. well beyond the stage of rebuilding a cockpit. BTW, here on the details I have on that airframe...

Model: Boeing-Lockheed Vega B-17G-105-VE Fortress
S/N: 44-85734 (USAAF)
C/N: 8643
C/R: NX817BR
Owner: Randsburg Corp
Codes: "Outhouse Mouse"
B-17G-105-VE 44-85734 USAAF, converted JB-17G, NX5111N (1947/11/19), converted Model 299Z with a Pratt & Whitney T-34 turboprop in the nose (1947), to Bradley Air Museum (now New England Air Museum) (1973), damaged by a Tornado (1979/10/3), to Flying Tigers Warbird Restoration Museum for restoration (1987), NX817BR

When I was at the museum in 1998, there was a second B-17 waiting in the wings for it's turn in the restoration shop. I would suspect this is the one for sale?...

Model: Boeing-Douglas B-17G-85-DL Fortress
S/N: 44-83525 (USAAF)
C/N: 32166
C/R: NL83525
Owner: Kermit Weeks
Codes: "Suzy Q"
History: B-17G-85-DL (1944) 44-83525 USAAF, converted DB-17G (1950), retired to Davis-Monthan AFB (1959 to 1967), N83525 (1968), N4520 reserved but not used, N83525 (1967), to Weeks Air Museum Tamiami Florida (1983), damaged by Hurricane Andrew
Notes: 44-83525 has the distinction of being the last B-17 held at MASDC, now know as AMARC. In addition 44-83525 was also used in the filming of the movies "1000 Plane Raid" and "MacArthur".

Regards,

Mike

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