B17 Flying Fortress
One of the United States' two standard heavy bombers until the introduction of the B-29 Superfortress, the B-17 was flown by the United States Army Air Force throughout the American participation in the Second World War. Wing to wing with B-24 Liberators, B-17s were used by the US Eighth Air Force based in the UK, to bombard German targets in Europe during daylight hours a method which resulted initially in very heavy losses. The Flying Fortress was designed for a competition, announced in 1934, to find a modern replacement for the assorted Keystone biplane bombers then in service. The prototype first flew on July 28,1935, and went on to win the competition. Boeing then built a few preproduction YlB-17s (later redesignated B-17As), followed by 39 B-17Bs which entered service in the late thirties. Money was short, and by the autumn of 1939 only 30 Flying Fortresses were fully operational. As the US was not then fighting in Europe it did not seem to matter although, as it became clearer that involvement was inevitable, orders were increased. Furthermore, a small number of B-17Cs delivered to the RAF as Fortress Is quickly showed that defensive armament was inadequate.
Specifications: Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
Dimensions:
Wing span: 103 ft. 9 in (31.6 m)
Length: 74 ft. 9 in (22.8 m)
Height: 19 ft. 1 in (5.8 m)
Wing Area: 1,420 sq ft (132 sq m)
Weights: Empty: 32,720 lb (14,855 kg) Normal Loaded: 49,500 lb (22,475 kg) Maximum Overloaded: 60,000 lb (27,240 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 295 m.p.h. (472 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,625 m)
Service Ceiling: 35,000 ft (10,670 m) Normal Range: (normal fuel & max bombs), 1,100 miles (1,760 km) @ 220 mph (352 km/h) @ 25,000 ft (7,625 m)
Powerplant:
Four 1,200 hp Wright R-1820-97 nine cylinder air-cooled single row radial engines. General Electric Type B-22 exhaust driven turbo-superchargers, installed under engine nacelles.
Armament:
Thirteen 50-cal. machine-guns. Normal bomb load 6,000 lbs (2,724 kg). Largest bomb type carried is 2,000 lb (908 kg).
A link to a B17 flying fortress Site
