B-17 Swoose - Any News?

[Chris Brame]

Only 18 seconds in:

The B-17 received its official nickname The Swoose when Australian repairmen changed its tail to a smaller, shark-shaped fin.

[Mike]

T...the Hurricane of course is very important, but aside from a few being flown by American volunteers in the Battle of Britain, doesn't have a great deal of relevance to the U.S.

Apart from being used by all 3 Eagle Squadrons, so from that point of view, as much relevance to the US as, say, the Chinese Hawk 81As used by the AVG.

[sandiego89]

While some deride the importance of the "oddities" such as the Axis planes at Udvar-Hazy Dulles, I can tell you they are some of my favorites. I will go out of my way to see a sole survivor or ultra rare type. Seeing something for the for the first time that I had only seen in my books as a kid has been a real treat.

Yes the Smithsonian needs a B-17, but the type is not rare. I get everyone has their favorites. I for one am very glad they made the effort for the sole surviving/ultra rare Arado-234, Serian, Dornier 335, He -219, Horton wing, Kikka, Natter, Nakajima J1, etc.

[StangStung]

While some deride the importance of the "oddities" such as the Axis planes at Udvar-Hazy Dulles, I can tell you they are some of my favorites. I will go out of my way to see a sole survivor or ultra rare type. Seeing something for the for the first time that I had only seen in my books as a kid has been a real treat.

Yes the Smithsonian needs a B-17, but the type is not rare. I get everyone has their favorites. I for one am very glad they made the effort for the sole surviving/ultra rare Arado-234, Serian, Dornier 335, He -219, Horton wing, Kikka, Natter, Nakajima J1, etc.

Agreed. All of this. Every bit of it

[StangStung]

To add on to the above, I'll visit NASM every chance I get because there is something new to see every time. Very few museums (Pima and NMUSAF come to mind) can do this. I understand the limitations on smaller/regional museums in this regard and this isn't a dig at them. It's just a recognition that I won't go out of my way to see something more common. For example, there are several museums in the DFW area where I live that are all very interesting. A couple I visit every year for events, because I know I've seen their entire collection multiple times. There is no need to visit if there is no event, because I've taken all the pics I could ever care to take of these airplanes. I love seeing them, but would I go out of my way on an unscheduled Saturday to do so? No. Then on the other hand, you have the VFM in Ft. Worth or the CAF down at Dallas Executive, and you really can't ever tell what's going to be at those places, so it's always worth a drive by if you have some time on your hands. NASM, NMUSAF and Pima are like this mostly because they have things that you can't see anywhere else and there's always something new to see.

Anyhow, I for one can't wait until Swoose is done, but I recognize that I may be a lot older and grayer before that happens. Such is life.

[JOMiller]

I'll be 70 soon and have wondered about Swooze since grade school. What are my odds of seeing her with my own two eyes??

[Pat Carry]

I'll be 70 soon and have wondered about Swooze since grade school. What are my odds of seeing her with my own two eyes??

I'm in the same boat. I dont think I will be around to see it on display. I hope I will be around long enuf to see Flak Bait on display.