B-something

[Terry]

You would certainly have to know the sheet metal business to pull off this grafting. An oval mated to a round shape.

[SSI01]

A result of a dalliance between members of the two types late one night at an airfield in England?:icon_eek:


Actually, I've seen this photo, or one similar to it in the past. The lash-up was an attempt to get the B-17's forward firepower mated to the B-24's speed, range and load-carrying ability (but not the B-17's operational ceiling - the B-24 just couldn't fly that high). I've also been told by those who were there the B-17's nose was a good deal roomier than that of the -24.

This will get someone's fingers itching to start rearranging those little "0"s and "1"s in the near future, if nothing else does.

I wonder what you'd call it - the "FlyErator?" How about the "FortErator?"

[mikezola]

Somewhere I have seen a close-up photo of the other side of the nose of this plane... they did appear to do a pretty smooth job of grafting that nose on...

[pfflyers]

As a retired tinbender, I'd be facinated to see some inside views of the splice area. It must have been quite a challenge to join those, not just because of the cross section shapes but also because stringers probably didn't line up. I'd like to see how they built the custom frames they would need in the transition area.

[patful]

Don't know how they managed to make something so ugly out of two beautiful aircraft.

[srgalahad]

A short clip and a source with several photos...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0BlJ4me-BTk

http://www.unrealaircraft.com/hybrid/B17G.php

[Tom Clayton]

:icon_lol: I love the end of the vid clip with the guy just standing there scratcing his head trying to wrap his brain around what his eyes seem to be telling him!