B17 down.

[pfx]

Another piece of heritage goes for a burton http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13764898

For those outwith the UK, a B17 caught fire and crashed near Chicago. On the upside, all aboard escaped with their lives.

 

[jmeinig]

Well crap, that's one less B-17 flying. Plus, you can obviously tell that it has no chance of flying again, let alone be repaired.

 

[pfx]

Don't be too upset. It's amazing what can be done with WD-40 and a hammer!

 

[bnsf50]

It was just in Bakersfield and Fresno Ca. recently too. Here's a link to more information on what happened from the flight crew and chase plane's perspective.
http://www.libertyfoundation.org/index.html

 

[Euphod]

Certainly not the first B17 to burn and crash, but sadly, it may be the last...

 

[RRSignal]

That's one airplane I always wanted to fly.

 

[sawyer811]

When they were Filming "Memphis Bell" one of the B-17s, named "Babe Ruth" had an engine sieze on takeoff and crashed. The impact caused her to catch fire and she was lost. Everyone survived, but it is sad to lose a great plane like a B-17 Ruth was one of the few E-model (With tailguns and large vertical tail, but no chin turret) B-17s flying.

Thankfully, this plane did not die in vain. Even though she is a total loss, her parts can be used so that other B-17s may live. And they recently pulled a B-17 carcass out of a swamp in Alaska, with the intent to make it flyable again. I think it was an E-model to boot. Hopefully that comes to fruition.

 

[Thad09]

Well, another one bites the dust. Shame. I got the chance to crall around inside one before. It was spacious suprisingly. On a side note regarding old planes, my grandfather was a B-25,B-29 and a KC 130 pilot. Got some pictures of him diping the right wing 30 feet above the ground back in the late 50's-60's.