Can you buy a B-17 Flying Fortress?
As desirable and rare as a B-17 Flying Fortress WWII bomber is, it’s amazing that they occasionally pop up for sale. Especially in 2021. From the late Paul Allen collection comes this B-17E project which you can buy. But the asking price will knock you back on your heels.
How much did it cost to build a B-17?
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
| B-17 Flying Fortress | |
|---|---|
| Primary users | United States Army Air Forces Royal Air Force |
| Produced | 1936–1945 |
| Number built | 12,731 |
| Unit cost | US$238,329 (1945) US$2.6 million (in 2016 dollars) |
What engines are on the B-17 Flying Fortress?
The B-17’s armament consisted of five . 30 caliber (7.62 mm) machine guns, with a payload up to 4,800 lb (2,200 kg) of bombs on two racks in the bomb bay behind the cockpit. The aircraft was powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet radial engines, each producing 750 hp (600 kW) at 7,000 ft (2,100 m).
Can you buy a Flying Fortress?
A rare unit of the aircraft that was used to further the autopilot system is almost restored ready to be purchased. It is rare to get one’s hands-on war relics.
How many B-17 flying Fortresses are left?
Many surviving examples are painted to represent actual planes that flew in combat. Today, 46 planes survive in complete form, 10 of which are airworthy, and 39 of which reside in the United States.
How many engines does a B-17 have?
Four
Technical Specifications
| First flight | July 28, 1935 (prototype) |
|---|---|
| Range (max.) | 3,750 miles |
| Ceiling | 35,600 feet |
| Power | Four 1,200-horsepower Wright R-1820-97 engines |
| Accommodation | 2 pilots, bombardier, navigator, radio-operator, 5 gunners |
How many B-17 Flying Fortresses are left?
How high could a B-17 fly?
Technical Specifications
| First flight | July 28, 1935 (prototype) |
|---|---|
| Top speed | 287 mph |
| Cruising speed | 150 mph |
| Range (max.) | 3,750 miles |
| Ceiling | 35,600 feet |
What is a B-17 Flying Fortress?
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (Model 299) is a four-engine heavy bomber aircraft produced by the US-American manufacturer Boeing Company. The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was operated during World War II by the US Army Air Forces and the british Royal Air Force.
What is the history of the B 17 bomber?
Historical Snapshot. The first B-17s saw combat in 1941, when the British Royal Air Force took delivery of several B-17s for high-altitude missions. As World War II intensified, the bombers needed additional armament and armor. The B-17E, the first mass-produced model Flying Fortress, carried nine machine guns and a 4,000-pound bomb load.
How many B-17G planes were built?
The B-17G was the final version of the Flying Fortress, incorporating all changes made to its predecessor, the B-17F, and in total, 8,680 were built, the last (by Lockheed) on 28 July 1945. Many B-17Gs were converted for other missions such as cargo hauling, engine testing, and reconnaissance.