Memphis Belle to fly again

[bazzar]

Well, at least virtually.

B17F-10-BO and B17F-20-series about to take to the skies.:engel016:

[stansdds]

Nice! :applause:

[PRB]

B-17F? That would be nice. Wasn't aware that there was one. Aeroplane Heaven making an -F? Is that what I'm to read into this? That would be borderline awesomeness.

[Roger]

I predict much joy from SOH for an "F" Baz:applause:

[jankees]

OW, cool, an F!

[Dutcheeseblend]

Wow! Just out of the blue: "Hey mates, I forgot to say, but we also made B17."

Fantastic work!

[bazzar]

It's been on slow simmer (sic) for a while, time to bring it to the boil. Won't be long.

[stovall]

What a great surprise. Something definitely to look forward to. Thanks Baz.

[fsxar177]

You guys are just full of surprises!

[Shylock]

Take my money now!!!!.... It would nice if they contacted the folks at VRS. From what John said, its easy to TacPack old WWII birds and would only take a week or two to pull it off. I for one will be plunking my money down either way. You guys just made my weekend. I don't the lady would feel the same, but I have been wanting a true FSX F model for a long time. Can't thank you enough.

[manfredc3]

AAWWEESSOOMME !!:redfire: :jump: :encouragement:

[Dutcheeseblend]

Yep, TacPacking the bird won't be difficult for the people of AH, and at the other hand it's VRS's chance to get into full WWII warbird simulations (I'm thinking of a rotating, shooting turret, which would be possible for them according to what I've heard there).

[huub vink]

Based on the many calls for a FSX native B-17F I have seen over the years, I think this thread will create many smiling faces. :encouragement:

Cheers,
Huub

[Bomber_12th]

What a nice surprise, Baz! The B-17F, to me, is the most classic variant. There are so many great and historic paint schemes that belong on a true F-model.

The last true B-17F to fly was the late Bob Richardson's example, N17W, now permanently loaned to the Museum of Flight as "Boeing Bee". It flew as a fire bomber, and also participated in the filming of movies such as "Tora, Tora, Tora", and "Memphis Belle", in which it was the only true F-model of all five of the B-17's in that movie (the others being disguised as F-models).

The aircraft was restored to original Boeing factory specifications, though there are errors in the external paint scheme, with demarcation lines between OD and Grey being too high-up, and where as the rear fuselage would have been left bare metal during original production, it was primered with interior green instead for preservation, and the cockpits were originally finished in dark dull green/bronze green rather than black, as seen in the restored aircraft. A ton of photos of the interior of the aircraft can be seen on these pages (this is just page 1): http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/n17w/Timeline

And a couple more shots of the cockpit: http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/145769/n17w-private-boeing-b-17f-flying-fortress/ and http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/145641/n17w-private-boeing-b-17f-flying-fortress/


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th014/Boeing-B-17F-70-BO-Flying-Fortress-42-29782-large_zpsuc6pc6p6.jpg

(http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th014/Boeing-B-17F-70-BO-Flying-Fortress-42-29782-large_zpsuc6pc6p6.jpg.html)http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th012/TMOF_B-17FlyingFortress-Flight-1_P1_zps71gkcnem.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th012/TMOF_B-17FlyingFortress-Flight-1_P1_zps71gkcnem.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th012/N17W_4_zps3rhjshld.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th012/N17W_4_zps3rhjshld.jpg.html)

Just one of the several different nose arts carried by N17W during the filming of "Memphis Belle".
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th012/SCAN0331_EGSU_JUL89_800_zps18ohrbve.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th012/SCAN0331_EGSU_JUL89_800_zps18ohrbve.jpg.html)

[Ian Warren]

Golly Superb :encouragement:

[Alan_A]

Nice one - looking forward to it!

I don't want to be one of those "but-what-about-what-I-want" types, and I'll definitely be in on this one. But... :cool:... in the future, any chance of some early postwar variants, maybe some civilianized ones? Have always wanted a B-17 fitted out for SAR or salmon-hauling or what have you. It came to mind only because the absence of a chin turret put me in mind of some of the turret-less conversions. Again, this is not an "instead of" request, more a matter of, if you ever do it, I'll be in on that one, too...

[heywooood]

Well I'm a big fan of the earlier Forts

when I was a kid watching 12:o'clock High and whatnot I thought the B17 was a big aircraft...
many years later when I finally saw one (Chino Ca) I was struck by how much smaller it was than
what I expected...9 men jammed in there with all that fuel and explosives flying for hours through flak and fighters - day in/day out weather permitting.
there are no words for what that must have been

[bazzar]

I have read that ironically, the place to be was of all places, the ball turret. This was because the enemy fighters were focused on knocking out the pilots and bombardier so concentrated their fire on the nose in head-on attacks. The courage these men displayed is quite extraordinary.

It was so sad to see how the "Belle"had suffered over the years. Thank goodness she's now in firm and safe hands. These iconic aeroplanes must be treasured. We will never see the like of them again.:engel016:

[roger-wilco-66]

Great news! A sure buy!

[Dumonceau]

An F version!!! :jump: My paypal is ready and charged!! :)

And that VC looks yummie!!

[Shylock]

Is it wierd for me to keep checking and seeing if its out yet??? lol

[PRB]

Is it wierd for me to keep checking and seeing if its out yet??? lol

Nope, I just did the same thing, lol.

Here's a couple pics I shot in 1981, near the National Guard base at the airport in Memphis. I was in Millington, TN attending navy "A School". I was wandering around the airport, as airplane geeks do, and found this. I remember thinking, "surely, this isn't THE Memphis Belle...(?)"

[bazzar]

Interesting shots. Not sure of the identity though. The original Belle being a B17f-10-BO had a much flatter profile mid upper turret and twin 30 cal machine gun ports molded into the perspex nose. It might have been modified over the years of course but the aircraft in your shots looks like an E model.

[Dumonceau]

Is it wierd for me to keep checking and seeing if its out yet??? lol

Nothing wrong with that! But, for sanity's sake we should start "FSaholics Anonymous". :D

"Hello, my name is Johan, and I can't stop flying aircraft simulations"...

Johan

[PRB]

Interesting shots. Not sure of the identity though. The original Belle being a B17f-10-BO had a much flatter profile mid upper turret and twin 30 cal machine gun ports molded into the perspex nose. It might have been modified over the years of course but the aircraft in your shots looks like an E model.

Certainly possible. But the presence of that plane there at that time matches the Wikipedia history of the real Memphis Belle. And so does the sad condition... It looks like an F to me. I didn't know the Memphis Belle had the old E style top turret. But this plane does have the pointy node glass associated with the F. Here's an "E" nose.

[Bomber_12th]

The first couple photos you posted Paul are of indeed the "Memphis Belle". In your photos, Paul, at the time, it was fitted with a later variant top turret and a G-variant plexiglas nose cone - this was just an effort to try and make the aircraft "whole" again. The airplane did not fair well in the decades immediately following WWII, and by the 80's, through looting and what not, the interior was essentially gutted. A tremendous amount of work has been involved through the USAF Museum's restoration of the aircraft, to track down, acquire, restore, build, and fit replacements for all of the long-since missing parts and have the aircraft fully complete throughout and be 100% accurate to the original factory specifications and combat configuration it had.

In your last photo, Paul, that is a highly-modified (non standard) E-type plexiglas nose cone. There were a number of different field mods done to put guns facing forward through the nose cone, as head-on attacks became a huge problem for the bomber crews, both in Europe and the South Pacific.

[Henry]

BLESS ME OLE BOOTS:redfire:
CHEERS
H

[Bomber_12th]

Here's another photo showing just how sad a state the "Memphis Belle" had reached by 1980, a year prior to the photos Paul took. In this photo, the turrets are gone, and the original F-type plexiglas nose cone is still in-place, but painted over.

http://www.airteamimages.com/boeing-b-17-flying-fortress_41-24485_usa---us-army-air-forces_147157_large.html

And photos showing how gutted the interior was by that point: http://aircraftwalkaround.hobbyvista.com/b-17_mbelle/b-17_mbelle.htm

According to records, during its combat service the "Memphis Belle" had 9 engine replacements, both wings replaced, two tail replacements (thinking horizontals), and both main landing gear replaced.

[PRB]

Good stuff John. Damn, that airplane was brought from the very brink..!

[Bomber_12th]

Here's some information about the original in-service and war bond tour/documentary "Memphis Belle" crew, not widely known about:

Jim Verinis, who is always noted as the Memphis Belle co-pilot/war bond crew member, flew the first five missions in the Belle as co-pilot, flew one mission in the Belle as command pilot, rotated into commanding his own B-17F, and then came back as co-pilot on the Morgan crew's 25th mission. Verinis was actually a qualified fighter pilot, but while on leave following an accident, found out about the need for bomber crews and transferred. He trained with the Morgan crew while in the States, but was supposed to get his own aircraft, but they didn't have enough planes, so he went with the Morgan crew as co-pilot. Once over in England, he only flew a few missions as co-pilot on the Memphis Belle, where then the majority of the 25 missions he flew were as the command pilot of his own B-17 (which is briefly mentioned in the wartime documentary as well). Verinis' B-17F was named "Connecticut Yankee".

Tony Nastal, who was noted in the documentary and war bond tour as the Memphis Belle's right waist gunner, only actually flew one mission on the "Memphis Belle", but he qualified for the documentary/war bond tour crew as he had already completed 24 previous missions. Scott Miller, who flew 15 missions on the 'Belle as right waist gunner, didn't qualify for the documentary/war bond tour crew as he didn't have enough missions flown, and thus Tony Nastal was put in that spot. Nastal returned to England following the war bond tour and completed 60 combat missions in all.

Harold Loch, the Memphis Belle's documentary and war bond tour top turret gunner/flight engineer, was the third to serve in that position amongst the Memphis Belle crew. Levi Dillon was the Belle's first top turret gunner, who did 4 missions in the aircraft, and Eugene Adkins was the Belle's second top turret gunner, who did 6 missions in the aircraft.

Of course many should already know that Robert Morgan, the pilot of the "Memphis Belle", went onto be a B-29 pilot and commander of the 869th BS in the Pacific, and led the very first B-29 raid over Tokyo with his personal B-29 "Dauntless Dottie". His bombardier was Vince Evans, his same bombardier while in England flying the "Memphis Belle". Both completed their second tours together, flying an additional 25 missions in the B-29.

[Bomber_12th]

Also not too well known about until recent years:

- The B-24 "Hot Stuff" flew its 25th mission on February 7, 1943.
- The B-17F "Hell's Angels" flew its 25th mission on May 13, 1943.
- The B-17F "Delta Rebel 2" flew its 25th mission on May 15, 1943.
- The B-17F "Memphis Belle" flew its 25th mission on May 17, 1943 (some reports claim May 19).

The "Memphis Belle" got all the recognition it did, because it was the first to complete 25 missions and return back home to the US. The B-24 "Hot Stuff" was on its journey home, following its 25th mission in early 1943, when it crashed and was destroyed while on a flight over Iceland. At the time, it was being flown by the aircraft's normal pilot as well as Lt. Gen. Frank Andrews, the then commander of all US forces in Europe, an accomplished pilot himself, sitting in as co-pilot. It is believed that Andrews was likely commanding the aircraft during the flight, due to his rank, when it got caught in terrible weather conditions. Gen. Andrews and all the crew aboard perished (many of whom were Andrews' personal staff, rather than the aircraft's original combat crew). Following the incident, which quickly got "brushed under the rug", Gen. Eisenhower took over from Andrews and then of course became the supreme allied commander in Europe. The B-17 "Hell's Angels" remained in England until completing 48 missions (various crews), before finally returning home to the US for a war bond tour in January 1944. A unique tidbit about the "Delta Rebel 2", is that Clark Gable flew a few missions on that aircraft, which was also part of the 91st BG like the "Memphis Belle", while filming was being done for the documentary "Combat America".

Furthermore, it should be added that the B-17F "Knock Out Dropper" of the 303rd BG (same as "Hell's Angels") was the first to complete both 50 missions and 100 missions in Europe.

[gray eagle]

I can add some commentary to the Memphis Belle when it was located at Memphis and then sent to then NAS Millington for restoration. I saw it when it was in pieces and repairs were being made to it
in the hopes of a complete restoration and then to be placed in a specially built building in Memphis; That was not to happen and was subsequently sent to Wright Pat AFB.

When I took a tour of the Belle, one of the tour guides showed me a old fashioned photo flash bulb in the cockpit area. I was told that when it completed it's 25th mission, the press went aboard
her back then and took photos leaving this flash bulb behind. I also saw a few bullet hole in the fuselage area.

It was a sad day to see it packed up and hauled off for WPAFB, but at least it was to have her restored to a better condition.

Article I found describes the past, present and future of the MB.


http://www.memphismagazine.com/November-2013/The-Past-Present-and-Future-of-the-Memphis-Belle/

[bazzar]

What really gets my goat is that somebody somewhere will have those missing pieces. No respect.:engel016:

[Sundog]

Yep, TacPacking the bird won't be difficult for the people of AH, and at the other hand it's VRS's chance to get into full WWII warbird simulations (I'm thinking of a rotating, shooting turret, which would be possible for them according to what I've heard there).

Ed Walters had every turret working in the FSX version of the Plane Design Lancaster right after FSX was released. We were hoping to be able to add the ability to shoot from them, but real life intervened and it's been on hold ever since. It was a real nice upgrade with systems that worked as on the actual Lanc including the H2S and the Nav system (forgot the name of it that used the two radio signals for triangulating position), etc. My point being that I haven't any doubt VRS would be able to code turrets that fire their guns.

[bazzar]

There are currently no plans to TacPack the B17F.:engel016:

[Shylock]

I'm like the kid in the back seat during a long road trip saying "Are we there yet?" I keep checking to see is she's out yet lol

[bazzar]

Still writing manuals and doing FDEs etc. 2 weeks maybe.:engel016:

[Shylock]

Awe sadden to hear no TP. 2 weeks can't come soon enough. Can't wait. From your screenshots it looks amazing. Looks like some have a different plexiglass nose. If so great job on that little detail.

in the meantime I'll be digging through some archives getting the F models that flew in the 91st to compliment the Belle.

[bazzar]

Yes, we have modelled the F-10 and F-20 series. The 10 had twin 30 cals mounted in the plexiglass nose which was recessed to take the swivel mountings. The 20 had a single 30 mounted in the plexiglass nose but centrally with a recessed flexible mount and gaiter. Also, you'll note that the 20 series had the first of the astrodomes on the top of the nose section. Many Fs were modified in the field to suit the crews own preferences. It is quite difficult to find accurate schemes for a particular model like this. Memphis Belle for example has coloured wheel discs fitted, red one side, blue the other. Other 10s had no wheel discs. I know of at least one 10 that had a single machine gun mounted in the nose, controlled by the pilot for shooting at shipping and ground targets. If you tried to replicate all the 10s and 20s you'd end up with dozens of models!:engel016:

[Shylock]

Here's some targets I have been working on in anticipation of the release of this bird. I'm working on a lot more so we can recreate all the missions and bombing runs. Here's the U-Boat bunkers at La Rochelle, St-Nazaire and Lorient. I've converted these freeware models for use in FSX after modifying them in 3DS to be FPS friendly.

[pilto von pilto]

Shylock : I dont even want to think about the amount of time and effort that has gone into all of that :encouragement:. But if I were... I'd say sensational idea and good job. Wish I had thought of it actually.

:engel016:

[Shylock]

Tacpack....lolol

[Bomber_12th]

Here are some photos of the (true) "Memphis Belle", as seen during the war and after. Note that once it was back in the States, and on the war bond tour, anyone and everyone began adding their signatures to the aircraft - most of which can still be seen scratched and etched into the bare metal today, which of course will no longer be apparent when the aircraft is painted again as it comes to completion at the USAF Museum, sometime within the next 2 years.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8852/17988504754_e091a9cef3_h.jpg

Note
Margaret Polk's graduation photo.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/499/18425195099_568d071e9a_h.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8867/17989301173_ecafc85f3b_h.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/546/17989264743_5a722fbf89_h.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/268/18609813952_c2cc59174f_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8848/18421882538_d9b184b062_o.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/514/18422506068_e2d0c09d9f_h.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8832/18423636029_8825c71187_h.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

After the war bond tour, the aircraft was assigned to State-side training command, hence the nose number "84" in this shot.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8836/18601513415_7f5aa3c739_o.jpg

[Shylock]

Great pics John. I've never seen some of those before so thanks. I really would like to see the Belle when she's full restored.

[huub vink]

John,

Thanks for all the background information and sharing these interesting pictures :encouragement:.

Its really odd to read that another first wasn't the real first one again :pop4: It seems history is full of them!

Cheers,
Huub

[Willy]

Can't find the original, but I used this for an avatar for a while. It was taken at a Millington airport airshow during the time that Memphis Belle was disassembled for restoration before the AF museum unilaterally decided to abscond with her. I've since decided that the $20 I donated for her restoration would have been better spent at Taco Bell or something.

[gray eagle]

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060517-F-1234S-022.jpg


Robert Morgan and the "Memphis Belle" Margaret Polk of Memphis, Tenn. Morgan's famous B-17 Bomber was named in her honor.

http://www.veterans-of-america.org/Morgan/Untitled-11%20copy.jpg

Robert Morgan and the Crew of 'MEMPHIS BELLE' on completion of historic Mission #25

http://sharkhunters.com/Morgan1.JPG

[gray eagle]

http://i61.tinypic.com/wleus1.jpg

[Shylock]

I could have used these years ago when I was building my 1/48 scale Memphis Belle lol

[Bomber_12th]

The B-17F "Hell's Angels", which was the actual first B-17 to complete 25 missions, also got the graffiti treatment when it eventually returned State-side and flew across the country on its war bond tour, like the 'Belle. It seems everyone that came into contact with these aircraft wanted to leave their mark.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8858/18424375090_6d5851fa32_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8890/18424379640_b3afff7c09_b.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/511/18607513252_d90f2cf93d_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8833/18614239291_b286848c4e_b.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

The crowds having at it on the "Memphis Belle" - most of these signatures can still be seen etched in the metal today, all part of the history: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/071010-F-1234S-012.jpg

I've always felt this is a fantastic shot, with the composition of the guns.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/387/18425607959_fbba68a90e_b.jpg

[bazzar]

Where on earth do you dig up these shots John... they're just great. The Gyro Directional Compass on the glareshield of the Belle is not standard F-10 fare, Must have been fitted for or during the trip home. We have a bog standard F-10 cockpit so that it will fit with other F-10s.:engel016:

[gray eagle]

Where on earth do you dig up these shots John... they're just great. The Gyro Directional Compass on the glareshield of the Belle is not standard F-10 fare, Must have been fitted for or during the trip home. We have a bog standard F-10 cockpit so that it will fit with other F-10s.:engel016:

I'd venture to say that Mr Terrill's source(s) are identical to the ones I used for the pics I previously posted ^. :adoration:

http://i61.tinypic.com/1112w6b.jpg

Here is a link to some additional info for your perusal:

http://spotlights.fold3.com/2013/03/25/the-memphis-belle/

watch documentary Here (https://archive.org/details/MemphisBelle)

[Bomber_12th]

Baz, I suspect your absolutely right regarding the directional compass atop the instrument panel shroud, being a post-factory/in-service modification. In a 1970's era photo of the Belle's cockpit, that gauge and bracket are long gone, but then in a collection of photos of the interior restoration of the aircraft as of 2009/2010, the bracket for the gauge is fitted again.

Right now, at the USAF Museum, they are waiting for the interior restoration of the Memphis Belle to be completed before they paint the exterior. Last I heard they expect it to take up to two more years to complete the restoration.


Another cockpit detail I've picked up on over the years is the communications radios used in the B-17's in England. Usually the B-17 cockpits are always modeled with the standard/factory-type installation of the SCR-274 radio set, as would have been used State-side and in some Theatres like the CBI. However, in England, the SCR-274 set wasn't fully supported, and the VHF SCR-522 radio set (British TR-1133) was the only standard/norm. Rather than the BC-450 control box (SCR-274) fitted to the ceiling of the cockpit (you can see it removed in the photo of the cockpit of the Memphis Belle, with just the mount/plugs remaining), a BC-602 control box for the SCR-522 was attached to the left of the center console, in easy reach of the pilot. All bombers, fighters, and troop carriers flying in and out of England required this particular radio set, and it also became the standard VHF set in the Pacific as well.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/550/18616698855_8e77a5e313_b.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/491/18585050856_2efab17d37_b.jpg

[Shylock]

Now that's a great find. Never knew about that radio being located there. I know they were on the fighters. Where did you find these pics? Please share if you have more.

[Bomber_12th]

Here are some more photos showing the SCR-522 radio set BC-602 control box located in the cockpit. Again, this was the standard setup for B-17's and all other bombers, fighters, and troop carriers operating out of England, as the English had established all communications to be on VHF bands, which the British TR-1133 and the American copy/production version SCR-522 were designed for. The US adopted it in the Pacific Theatre as well. The only drawback to the SCR-522 was that it couldn't be used State-side during the war, since all of the State-side control towers and beacons broadcast on lower frequencies, so the SCR-522 was useless in the United States (that's why aircraft that were fitted with the SCR-522, flying across the US from places of manufacture to places of deployment, also would have a temporary Detrola receiver fitted, which picked up the low frequencies - once in Theatre, the Detrola receivers were removed).

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th017/Welty_2007_zps6ksufz5g.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th017/Welty_2007_zps6ksufz5g.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th017/FRE_007703_zps4nv0rw9o.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th017/FRE_007703_zps4nv0rw9o.jpg.html)


And these photos provide a better look at the installation of the BC-602 control. This is a very accurate/authentic B-17G cockpit/fuselage recreation, using a lot of original parts and built using the original Boeing blueprints. More photos can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/B-17-Cockpit-Project/268908496739?sk=photos_stream

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th017/littleton-1_zpsi6sljz0e.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th017/littleton-1_zpsi6sljz0e.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th017/littleton-2_zpsabfq1kog.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th017/littleton-2_zpsabfq1kog.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

Here are some more not often seen photos of the "Memphis Belle".

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/499/17989166893_f7375a9611_h.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/364/18611802131_1985315254_h.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/324/18423630480_aa0885a60a_b.jpg


Here's another cockpit photo that goes along with one of those I posted above. Note the interesting setup of the turbo tachometers in the location of where you'd typically see the intercooler controls.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/508/18611402685_365407066f_b.jpg

[huub vink]

Great pictures John :encouragement:, thanks for sharing.

Huub

[Shylock]

Interesting to see the tach on the copilot side like that. I guess when in combat the engineer is to busy up in the turret to monitor gauges.

[bazzar]

I don't believe turbo tachometers were standard either.:engel016:

[Shylock]

Perhaps it could be used to see if there was a runaway turbo when they're up at 20k feet or even since they were individual turbo controls it would allow them to be synced up. I know on the G's where they had the turbo control knob you could calibrate them individually.

[bazzar]

We have the original factory flight and service manuals and the surprisingly frank and quite "novello" like guide with the forward by "Hap"Arnold. In these publications, the equipment levels are quite basic. A lot of field service work was carried out with the resulting head-spinning number of variants. It appears to have settled down a bit with the introduction of the "G"series.:engel016:

[YoYo]

@bazzar,
Which will be the first? B-17F or Electra Model 10?

[bazzar]

It's going to be a tight race! My money's on the Belle at the moment:engel016:

[YoYo]

It's going to be a tight race! My money's on the Belle at the moment:engel016:

Good to know.
I'm near of the finish of "A Higher Call" with main role B-17F and 109th (or better to say pilots of this machines). Interesting book!
Maybe not very famous like "M.Belle" but nice story too.... Good idea for the repaint also.

http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780425252864_p0_v3_s260x420.JPG

https://horaahora.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/140718-04.jpg

[Ian Warren]

That is one painting I think is .. I wish I was the one who or did it , really makes you want to put your boots on, simply love that story and real superb piece off history course we all know the result .. Movie material , even make the girls cry .

[jandmbear]

Credit card is locked and loaded. I can't wait!

[Shylock]

Something to listen to while we wait for her to be released:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujr5ld4I_Xo

[bazzar]

Oh...............my...............God.........:eng el016:

[Ian Warren]

Only thing missing with that sound track half way through was the firing off the guns and the bursts of flak:biggrin-new:

[jandmbear]

any news on this release? trying to be patient, but I'm too excited about this release!:a1310:

[bazzar]

On the back straight now. Finishing manuals, effects and testing. :engel016:

[txnetcop]

Will definitely acquire this one in the next couple months. LOOKING AWESOME!!!!
Ted

[Ferry_vO]

Good to know.
I'm near of the finish of "A Higher Call" with main role B-17F and 109th (or better to say pilots of this machines). Interesting book!


Started 'Masters of the air' a few days ago, about the Eighth Air Force. Good read too.

[bazzar]

Fresh from the "printers"... download now :engel016:

http://www.aeroplaneheaven.com/free/b17/B17-Manual.pdf

[jandmbear]

Thanks for the Manual!!!

[YoYo]

Looks like ... Very soon!

[jandmbear]

okay, I've fully digested the manual. Highly anticipating the release!

[heywooood]

okay, I've fully digested the manual. Highly anticipating the release!

did it taste just like chicken?
did you wash it down with some fava beans and a nice chianti?

[bazzar]

mmm....edible manuals...now there's a thought...:engel016:

[Ian Warren]

mmm....edible manuals...now there's a thought...:engel016:

Only if your shot down and captured tho :untroubled:

[Shylock]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay its out!!!! Bought it right away when I got in from work and currently downloading now.

[jandmbear]

wooo hooooo!!!!!:a1310:

[Ian Warren]

SLAP ME IN THE NOSE ... without the turret Aeroplane Heavens B-17F has the thumbs from me and that a extra :encouragement: ..