Quote:
Originally posted by Garry Shipton
As I'm reading these threads down here in the basement den,I'm staring up at a B-17 on a flying calendar.It's an all aluminum colored aircraft and it's name is "Aluminum Overcast".The rear tail fin and wings are painted red.It's a "G" model.The serial number is " 30H",and it travels all over the USA.Could this have been the plane you saw Bill or was it the Collins Foundation aircraft.I think theirs is painted green with a cloud colored underbody ?? 
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The Collings' B-17 is called "Nine O Nine" and has a black A in a white triangle on a red vertical stabilizer/rudder.
The Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth , Texas recently hosted the annual "B-17 CO-OP" where owner's, pilots, and restorers of this venerable aircraft from around the world met to discuss all matters related to operating B-17's. The biggest problem facing operators of B-17's currently is the F.A.A.'s Airworthiness Directive regarding the pins attaching the main spars to the fuselage. Over the decades these pins have been corroding and are therefore weakened, further, being of dissimilar metals there has been electrolysis and actual molecular transfer of metal between the pins and fuselage. To maintain one's C. of A. you must remove the pins and inspect each one. An immense undertaking that involves damaging the components if they are stuck fast. Our B-17 "Chuckie" was tied up for 4 years with a blown engine and this A.D. and only recently returned to flight. This A.D. is probably going to be the death knell for "Evergreen" out of Washington state.
Here are the current status of several of the world's B-17s:
Chuckie is currently flying and looking forward to a busy air show season
Thunderbird was recently repainted but having to move her out of Louisiana due to Katrina has affected her flight operations.
Liberty Bell got an exemption letter from the F.A.A. and flew over 125 hours in 2005.
Picadilly Lilly is currently not flying for corrosion control and work is slowly progressing.
Desert rat is having work done on it's fuselage and is currently not flying.
Texas Raiders was also affected by the wing A.D. and has been down for three years. Hopes to return to air worthiness sometime this year.
Aluminum Overcast suffered a gear collapse while landing at Van Nuys in Ca. and suffered extensive damage last year. Will be flying again this spring.
Fuddy Duddy managed 325 hours of flight time in 2005 and has been sold to a new owner in Ca.
Yankee Lady appeared at over 30 air shows in 2005 for a total of 125 hours.
Sentimental Journey flew 150 hours in 2005 until a thunderstorm over Colorado with golfball sized hail smashed all her perspex.
Memphis Belle (yes, the original!) was moved from Memphis to N.A.S. Millington where it was undergoing restoration by volunteers. The work was progressing so nicely that the U.S.A.F. decided to take it for display at their Air Force museum.
There are several other B-17s that we know of that didn't send representatives: Boeing might be selling their B-17, Whittington's B-17 is still undergoing restoration, Sally B, a B-17 from England is apparently fighting insurance issues, Miss Angela, a B-17 from Palm Springs is restricted to crew only flights, Tallichet's B-17 is for sale, France's Pink Lady is apparently air worthy and operational, The Smithsonian's B-17 restoration has been shelved for now, Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby is being displayed at the Air Force Museum, and as mentioned earlier, Evergreen from washington State may never fly again due to the wing spar A.D.