Evergreen Air Museum ~ Fathers Day Event ~ 18 / 19 June

[bomberflight]

As we've been having something of a B-17 news flurry of late ~ I couldn't resist adding yet one more story !

This time ~ we're talking about B-17G / 44-83785 ~ sometimes refered to as "Shady Lady"

I found this on the Evergreen Air Museum web site .............

Fathers Day Celebration. A weekend full of very special presentations. Dads get $1 off admission all weekend and 10% off memberships purchased during the weekend. Events include: B-17 walk-thrus from 10am-3pm ($3/person & $10/family) and SR-71 “Blackbird” speaker panels at 10:30am and 1:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Special B-17 “Flying Fortress” presentation at 12pm on Saturday only.

http://www.sprucegoose.org/news_events/ ... vents.html

This B-17 was restored to airworthy condition prior to the 2001 FAA Airworthiness Directive relating to wing spar inspection ~ I don't know if the museum took up this challenging task .......

Now ~ can anyone tell me what an SR-71 Blackbird is ???? ( JUST KIDDING ! )

[Jack Cook]

This B-17 was restored to airworthy condition prior to the 2001 FAA Airworthiness Directive relating to wing spar inspection ~ I don't know if the museum took up this challenging task .......

No they haven't. I wouldn't plan on seeing in the air again anytime soon or ever for that matter. Their head mechanic was also let go which was a huge loss. Would expect little if any flying from museum aircraft again.
BTW: I never did figure out where the name "Shady Lady" came from. All it says on the nose is Evergreen Aviation. Mike Smith had planned on 490th BG "Carolina Moon" noseart but that plan died with him.

[bomberflight]

Jack,

I quick look at Scott A Thompson's definite work 'The Final Cut' reveals all, this aircraft was employed by companies that have since been linked to the CIA .......

Aerovintage ~ as always ~ you the man !

[ww2John]

For what it is worth regarding the B17-G Shady Lady, during my September 2004 visit, one of the a/c docents standing next to said B17 told me that the B17 would not be flying any longer "due to insurance reasons".

[Jack Cook]

the B17 would not be flying any longer "due to insurance reasons".

They're an airline so they have lots of insurance (no, the museum doesn't own it). The 2 main reasons are the cost of wing spar AD (and just getting it done) and non-$$ liability ( meaning earlier incidents of their warbirds being hotrodded and complaintswith FAA intervention) causing embarrassment. Sorry but I can't elaborate any more.

[ffuries]

I was TDY back in 98 to a facility in Arizona used by Evergreen. We parked right next to the B-17, in talking to the personnel that maintained the ac, it was relayed that not only was this bird used by the CIA, that it also had a Fulton recovery system installed at one time. We got a tour of the old Fort which was needless to say an awesome experience. Being in an MC-130E unit which utilized the Fulton for many years it was cool to know that we had this in common with a mighty warbird.

[APG85]

Ahhh, Combat Talon...........

[ffuries]

Yeap the one and only original Combat Talon