B-17G "Chuckie" Update

K5DH · **Posted:** Sun Nov 28, 2010 9:51 pm

CrewDawg wrote:

I'll try to make sure that someone gets some stills and hopefully some descent video of tomorrow's activities.

Ask and ye shall receive. . . :wink:

She ran well today, except for a minor carburetor issue on #1 which caused the engine to run very rich at idle. It should be a simple thing to fix. It sure was great to have her out on the ramp once again with all four fans turning!

Now we really have our sights set on having our silver lady on display at the D/FW Aviation Career Expo on Friday, December 10. Assuming we make it, I'll be sure to shoot a bunch of pictures (with a decent camera!). Wish us luck!

tex-fan · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:01 am

looking NICE, thanks for the updates!

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Sun Dec 05, 2010 9:46 pm

Chuckie took to the air where she belongs today for the first time in over 2 1/2 years!!!! We took her up twice today each time for about 45 minutes. The amazing thing, is that we did not have ANY squawks when it was all said and done! I want to say thank you first and formost to Doc and Chuckie for letting us, the most amazing and talented bunch of misfits that I have ever had the pleasure and honor of working with, work on YOUR airplane. Secondly I want to thank the misfits, John Frazier, Mike Tolfa, Pat Mahaffey, Steve Swift, Rick Reynolds, Scott and Ellen Hochstein, Miguel, Perry Williams, Dean Hemphill and especially James Kelly. James always kept us straight and on the right the right track. I have been a crew chief on several airplanes in my life and this one by far is the most meaningful, not only because of the history of the aircraft, but also because of the people who worked so hard to make today possible. There literally has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears shed to make today happen.

The new owner Jerry Yagen, was onboard for the first flight which was flown by Ray Fowler, the Chief Pilot of the B-17 Liberty Belle, our own Pat Mahaffey, and myself acting as engineer. I also have no doubt that Doc was right there with us in the cockpit. I think he'd be pretty happy right now. Ray has flown not only Liberty Belle, but also the EAA's Aluminum Overcast and Collings Nine O' Nine and he said that this was the most problem free B-17 that he has flown.

We will be taking the B-17 to the DFW Expo on December 10th, after which it will remain at the VFM until sometime in January when it will depart to it's new home in Virginia at the Military Aviation Museum http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/. Please come out and see her at the VFM while she's still here.

The VFM Staff is working on our business plan and deciding which projects to tackle next. The B-17's departure completes one long, incredible chapter of the museum's history, now we turn the page and see where the next chapter takes us in the future.

From a personal standpoint, I can't tell everyone how amazing it was to be onboard when she took to the air for the first time after literally putting my blood, sweat and tears into making today happen. Today was my first flight ever in any B-17, let alone Chuckie. She showed us her appreciation for all of our hard work by flying absolutely beautifully. She really loves being in the sky where she belongs. I want to especially thank Scott and Ellen Hochstein for the terrific job they did rigging the flight controls, everything was perfect. I asked Ray during the flight how the flight controls felt, and he took both hands off the yoke and she was perfectly trimmed, Ray said that everything was great.

Here's some pictures, check out Zanes' pic's in the WIX Hangar thread.

tex-fan · **Posted:** Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:31 am

now that's what i'm talking about. GREAT job to all who made it happen.

Django · **Posted:** Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:19 pm

Congrats!!

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:34 pm

We took Chuckie over to DFW on Thursday afternoon for the DFW Expo on Friday. The short flight over was great, Steve greased on one of those "are we on the ground yet?" kind of landings.

Here's a shot of her this morning at sun up when I was getting her ready to taxi from the GA ramp to the Expo

On the flight home to Meacham, Carl Best once again did us the honors of being a photo ship. Dean (KD5H) was in the back seat snapping away, while we snapped pictures of him. Here's some of mine:

At the Expo with Prowler

Say "Cheese" Dean!

After a while I think the waist gunners finally got him! :shock:

Next flight is likely to be to Virgina Beach, but we'll see. It has been a real pleasure flying with Ray Fowler of Liberty Foundation, he is a true professional, great guy and we all learned a lot from him. We are glad to see that she'll be in VERY capable hands at her new home.

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:26 pm

Thank you Gun Tuner. It's for people like you that I keep updating and not leaving out the gory details. I'm glad you enjoyed our little story. I'm thrilled, relieved and at the same time somewhat sad that this chapter of Chuckie's life has had a happy ending. She's going to a new home where her new caretakers are able to take even better care of her that we have for the last 30 years. Here's to the next 30 years! :drinkers:

K5DH · **Posted:** Sun Dec 12, 2010 11:21 am

Air to air photos from Dec. 10, 2010, posted here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=39032

Old SAR pilot · **Posted:** Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:15 pm

Dawg, you guys did a heck of a job with "Chuckie". Remember taking a tour of her while "Tinker Bell" was there for a while (that was when they were puttting the engine room display together at y'alls place).

Sad to see her leave, but methinks it couldn't be going to a better home. From what I've seen and heard, if Jerry Yagen can't do it first class, he won't do it.

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

So when does she fly to her new home?

K5DH · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:28 pm

the330thbg wrote:

So when does she fly to her new home?

Expected to be "some time in January 2011", but that's not guaranteed. Exact date has not yet been determined.

Ztex · **Posted:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 12:40 am

The latest news....

From the VFM:
FORT WORTH, TX – The Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth will be saying goodbye Saturday, January 22, 2011 to “Chuckie” its B-17 Flying Fortress. The World War II airplane will take off from Meacham Field for its new home, Jerry Yagen’s Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

“The new owner plans to keep the name, maintain its colors and fly it back once a year for the annual Big Band Hangar Dance,” said Charlyn ‘Chuckie’ Hospers, who owned the aircraft along with her late husband Doc Hospers. “He also plans to fully restore the aircraft and to continue to fly it to airshows throughout the Middle Atlantic States.”

From the Military Aviation Museum:
"Saturday January 22nd 2011: Join us for the arrival of “Chuckie” the B-17 bomber

The museum’s newly acquired B-17G Flying Fortress (www....VintageFlyingMuseum.org) is scheduled to fly from Meacham Field (KNFW) in Fort Worth, Texas, to the museum airport (42VA) at Virginia Beach (1,079 nautical miles) on Saturday, January 22nd 2011. Ray Fowler, Chief Pilot of the Liberty Foundation’s B-17 and also pilot for some of the other Fighter Factory aircraft, will be in command of the aircraft on this delivery flight. He will arrive in Texas the day before and intend to depart Ft. Worth early on Saturday morning. There is a likelihood that the aircraft will make a fuel stop along the way at Little Rock (KLIT), Arkansas, and then arrive in Virginia Beach later that same afternoon. Assuming no adverse weather or mechanical problems, it should be overhead the aerodrome sometime before 4-5:00 pm. However, tailwinds might accelerate that arrival time. You can track its progress on Flight Aware (www.FlightAware.com) and place its registration number into Live Flight Tracker/Private Flight Tracker as N3701G into the Flight/Tail# block. Then click on TRACK FLIGHT and you will see exactly where it is along its route of flight, so you will know when to head for the museum airport and cheer its arrival The bomber will stay here for several weeks and be on display for the annual Valentine’s Day dance on Saturday, February 12th. Chuckie will then depart shortly thereafter and undergo additional restoration work by American Aero in New Smyrma Beach, Florida, before returning permanently to the museum at the beginning of May and fly for the annual Warbirds Over the Beach airshow (www.VBairshow.com). Thereafter, we will hope to bring it to several airshows throughout the middle Atlantic states and display it to others that share our enthusiasm for this type airplane. The museum gift shop is now selling embroidered Chuckie B-17 Flying Fortress golf shirts and ball caps, so come dressed for its arrival."

RV8er · **Posted:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:33 am

Well cr@p... I was hoping to be around this Saturday to watch Chuckie depart, but I gotta work instead. Will there be any activity around the hangar on Wed. or Thurs. to get her ready to go? I'd like to fly up from Houston to have another look and take a few photos... I got a brief ride in Chuckie back in '82 or '83 on a reposition flight from the Denton airshow back to the hangar in Gainesville but didn't have a camera! Oh, the shame...

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:01 pm

Yes the hangar will be open this week for anyone who wants to come by.

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B-17G "Chuckie" Update

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