WIX Archives
Re: B-17, Chuckie
Posted by Larry Kraus on Fri Sep 05, 2003 12:54:59 PM
In reply top B-17, Chuckie posted by Pat Carry on Fri Sep 05, 2003 11:05:42 AM
: Anyone know when the last time "Chuckie" took to the air?
: Is it even still airworthy? How about Evergreen's B-17.
: Has it flown recently?
I don't know about reently,but I flew Evergreen's B-17 from April through early June of 1983 when it was Air Tanker 22 (N207EV).I was loaned to Evergreen until they could find a replacement for the regular pilot who had failed a flight physical at the last minute.
This airplane had been operated by InterMountain Airways which had C.I.A. connections in the 60's.It had been fitted with gear to retrieve a person from the ground via a helium balloon and I believe that it appeared in John Wayne's "The Green Berets" and one of the James Bond films.The pitot tube had been repositioned from under the nose to a position forward of the windshield and always made me think of a refueling probe on an A-6.The airplane also had an excellent A.C. powered full dual I.F.R. instrument panel.The interior aft of the retardant tank/bomb bay had a raised wire mesh floor and it had a cover over the tail turret made from bamboo and fabric.There was still a ramp-like structure in place of the tail turret where the agent or whatever was winched into the tail.The pitot tube had been repositioned to clear the "Antlers" that were attatched to either side of the nose to capture the balloon cable.
.Also because of a severe shortage of B-17 tailwheel tires,we had to use an F11F mainmount via an S.T.C. from Aero-Union Corp.All of our B-17's at TBM Inc./Butler Aircraft eventually had to do the same.The normal B-17 tail tire is low pressure and has a lot of "give" under side loading.The narrow 185 p.s.i. F11F tire had no side play and did nothing to improve the '17s already interesting crosswind chacteristics.I ran our tire at 85 p.s.i. in an effort to improve things,but it wasn't much help.On a gusty crosswind landing which was normal at our base at Alamagordo N.M. The tailwheel lock would unlock itself on about the third big side load after the tail was on the ground.The tailwheel then turned 90 degrees to centerline and the only solution was to raise the tail.Not my first choice.
I understand that Evergreen restored this ex-PB-1W to orignal B-17G configuration.I'll have to go to Minville some day and check it out.I have a number of 35mm photos of T22 if anyone is interested,but as I'm obviously a novice when it comes to computers,Ihave no idea how to scan and post pictures on this or any other site.