  Luv313 Member Username: Luv313 Post Number: 9 Registered: 12-2006 |
Anybody see the restored B-17 fly over yesterday? It was about 2 pm Sunday afternoon in the northern suburbs. I was wondering what the occasion was because I understand that there are only a few of those in existence with only one or two being in Michigan. The shiny aluminum aircraft body gleaming in the bountiful sunlight was a beautiful sight to see. The sounds of the engines roaring at a cool pace reminded me how proud I am to be an American knowing what that airplane contributed to this country during WWII. I think alot of them, if not all of them, were built here in Detroit too. Truly a genuine piece of Detroit "muscle" that deserves mention in this thread. Does anybody know why it was flying yesterday and where it was going? | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 6252 Registered: 10-2003 |
It belongs to the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run. It flies fairly often, you can ever hire it for a flight. http://yankeeairmuseum.org/b17/b17flex.php Here it is last summer.  | ||
Yaktown Member Username: Yaktown Post Number: 156 Registered: 02-2006 |
Sonny Eliot out for a joyride? | ||
Formerspringgardener Member Username: Formerspringgardener Post Number: 38 Registered: 07-2006 |
We live about 10 miles from Selfridge and are used to jets and helicopters flying around our area. But the sight of that beautiful aircraft flying in the skies yesterday was something to see. | ||
Alexei289 Member Username: Alexei289 Post Number: 1271 Registered: 11-2004 |
I saw it yesterday as well.. kool shit to see a 70 year old aircraft.. | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 368 Registered: 01-2007 |
Luv313, if you clicked the link provided, you will learn that the B-17 is the 'Flying Fortress'. The Willow Run built B-24 was the 'Liberator’. I have seen the B-17 pictured fly due west over 9-Mile Road many times. Both aircraft flew missions over Europe in the Second World War. | ||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 517 Registered: 03-2005 |
Both also flew in the Pacific, but the B-17 only early in the War. Bob Cosgrove | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 1063 Registered: 10-2003 |
July 7th and 8th you will be able to see the following at Willow Run: 17!!!! B25's 2 B17's 5 P51's 5 P47's That will be a hell of a sight to see them come in. I had a chance to see the planes land during the bomboer symposium | ||
Goblue Member Username: Goblue Post Number: 32 Registered: 03-2007 |
One of the finest men (Robert S. Tower) I ever knew was a pilot of one of those birds during WWII...he was shot down over Holland and spent 3 years in a POW camp...I was privileged to work for him in the '60's...Warren Woods Tower High School is named for him. | ||
Thursdaynext Member Username: Thursdaynext Post Number: 369 Registered: 04-2006 |
Love these old planes, I think they're amazing and I am a huge fan of old military nose art. My mother, on the other hand, not a fan. She was a little kid in the Netherlands during WWII; she had difficulties watching Band of Brothers as the sounds (tons of planes rumbling over head) bring back those frightening memories for her. | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 295 Registered: 07-2006 |
I would absolutely love to see that event! Alas, I live hundreds of miles away. Some day, I plan on saving the money and going on a ride in a B-17. It would be a truly awesome experience. For this non-Detroiter, where exactly is Willow Run? | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 6254 Registered: 10-2003 |
Cman - http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q &hl=en&q=yip&ie=UTF8&z=13&om=1 | ||
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 223 Registered: 10-2003 |
Plenty of B25s in the lineup for the July 7-8 event--http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org /airshow/aircraft.htm, but no B24 Liberators. Is the B24 that difficult to restore, or were they all scrapped after the war? | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 296 Registered: 07-2006 |
Thanks for the map, Aiw. Sounds like it will be a great show! | ||
Ltdave Member Username: Ltdave Post Number: 50 Registered: 09-2006 |
of the 18,000+ B-24s, many many were scrapped. there were many hundreds of B-17s flown from the Wichita Boeing plant to Altus AFB in Oklahoma to be taken back apart and sold for scrap. im sure there were many '24s done this way as well... the Yankee Lady (829) was at one time the only B-17 with functional superturbochargers. they are about $200,000 each to rebuild (in 1992 dollars). since these planes are no longer flown in the flight levels requiring the performance enhancement the 'chargers provide, most owners forego the expense... the museum, when they started to restore the Lady, decided "hey, we live and play in the greatest industrial area in the world. why dont we get some corporate sponsorship to help get these 'chargers rebuilt." the museum ended up with 6 or 7 completely rebuilt (zero-timed) superturbo chargers for FREE. or so ive been told... david | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2079 Registered: 06-2004 |
The Blue Angels were supposed to be at the Willow Run show this year - have they cancelled their season or are they still a go? | ||
Bongman Member Username: Bongman Post Number: 1475 Registered: 12-2003 |
http://www.michigan.gov/homela nd/0,1607,7-173-23616-164605-- ,00.html | ||
Krawlspace Member Username: Krawlspace Post Number: 312 Registered: 04-2004 |
Here are some pics I shot at Willow Run in 2005. Four B-17's flying the "Missing Man" formation. It was billed as the largest gathering of B-17's since the end of the war. The most amazing part was standing behind the row of planes before they taxied. Nearly blew us over. I couldn't imagine sorties consisting of literally 1000 of these planes in the air at once.          | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 2615 Registered: 11-2003 |
It was probably part of this. The exhibit is very well done and is still going on if anyone is interested in attending. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1733 Registered: 11-2003 |
I, too, love these old warbirds and have gone from Maine to Oregon just to see them both on the ground and in the sky. And there are still representative B-17's, 24's, 25's and even a B-29 that still take to the air at various airshows. Unfortunately,my favorite, the much maligned twin engine medium bomber, the Martin B-26 Marauder, is no longer flying as Kermit Weeks, warbird owner down in Polk City,Florida has elected to keep this rare old warrior on the ground though it was the last of several thousand built for the war effort that was still certified to fly. It probably has lost its certification by now, but still remains a very attractive static display at his museum there. There are only about 7 or so of the Martins left in various museums. I've been aboard Week's Marauder in Oshkosh, WI at the huge EAA Airshow where she then flew, and have been to Polk City on three different occasions since just to say hello. My uncle's B-26 was named Malarkey during the war. He was a Captain-pilot, but when he came home following VE Day, his beloved old Malarkey was left behind to be scrapped to help rebuild Germany as were so many of those old bombers. First they took the engines off, then they just blew 'em up with charges of dynamite, row after row after row. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2071 Registered: 12-2005 |
Luv313, I'm not sure whether or not I saw that particular plane fly over. The one I saw had the same silhouette, definitely with four engines, flying due east at low altitude over northern Utica. It looked dark gray to me, not shiny, but that may have been because of my viewing angle. It was definitely not a commercial paint job. | ||
Luv313 Member Username: Luv313 Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2006 |
Yes, Jimaz, that was the one. It was the same one in the picture that AIW posted up, because I remember the red tail with the "L" on it. Thanks for posting up all the information, guys; I'm definitely going to that air show in July. It'll probably bring back memories of me and my grandpa going to air shows and him telling me all kinds of stories about the planes; you know how grandparents are. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2075 Registered: 12-2005 |
Luv313, thanks. Well, what do you know. I wish I could have known ahead of time. I'd have had a camera ready! | ||
Luv313 Member Username: Luv313 Post Number: 11 Registered: 12-2006 |
I was just driving down the road and happened to look up. I swerved off to the side of the road into somebody's front yard and took in the moment. | ||
Buffalobob0709 Member Username: Buffalobob0709 Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2007 |
May 7 I happened to see a B-17 flying quite low over San Rafael CA. I looked up a tour schedule and found out it was on its way to visit the Napa County Airport. What a sight! The roar of its engines was unforgettable. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1740 Registered: 11-2003 |
The Yankee Lady will be taking to the air again on Monday May 28 at the Yankee Air Museum Open House and again on July 6 and 7 at the Thunderfest Air Show. | ||
Ewo Member Username: Ewo Post Number: 25 Registered: 05-2006 |
Where is the Thunderfest Air Show? | ||
One_shot Member Username: One_shot Post Number: 319 Registered: 11-2003 |
I recall seeing that plane flying over in the past few years. The sound is awesome. That is some real american iron or should I say aluminum! I love hearing the stories about them being shot to s#!t and still flying home. Hats off to our parents and grandparents built and flew these things that helped win the war! | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1741 Registered: 11-2003 |
The Thunderfest(Thunder over Michigan) Air Show is the name of the air show conducted annually by the Yankee Air Museum. The website is yankeeairmuseum.com and you should be able to get the details there. It is a two day event, and is one of the best airshows in the country. |
