B-17s at Madras

aerovin · **Posted:** Fri Feb 28, 2025 2:29 pm

I just posted a brief update at aerovintage on the B-17s at the Erickson Aircraft Collection at Madras, Oregon: ex-Thunderbird, ex-Yankee Lady, and Ye Olde Pub.

https://www.aerovintage.com/2025/02/28/update-from-madras-february-28-2025/

phil65 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 28, 2025 3:51 pm

There are only 2 airworthy B-17's in the U.S.

Phil

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Fri Feb 28, 2025 7:25 pm

I just ordered a copy of The Final Cut and look forward to reading it.

Lynn

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sun Mar 02, 2025 9:22 am

Thanks for the update Scott.

sandiego89 · **Joined:** Mon May 21, 2012 12:28 pm **Posts:** 1207

phil65 wrote:

There are only 2 airworthy B-17's in the U.S.

Phil

Yes, and within recent memory 3 written off, at least two of which were tragically primarily human factors related, and several withdrawn due to finances or major work needed. Fortunately, a few in the restoration pipeline.

hurricane_yank · **Joined:** Wed Apr 02, 2014 9:33 pm **Posts:** 448

Makes me feel lucky to have seen this:

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2025 5:34 pm

hurricane_yank wrote:

Makes me feel lucky to have seen this:

Same. If future me showed up that day as my father and I were walking down the flightline of bombers and told me that by 2025 only one of those eight B-17s were still flying, I would have been gob smacked. I know four of the eight will fly again, With Aluminum Overcast being questionable if ever again, and of course the total loss of the other two...

We are clearly at a major low point for flyable B-17s in the timeline, but hopefully it will get better as the years progress and so do numerous projects.

menards · **Joined:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:46 pm **Posts:** 547

Warbird Kid wrote:

hurricane_yank wrote:

Makes me feel lucky to have seen this:

Same. If future me showed up that day as my father and I were walking down the flightline of bombers and told me that by 2025 only one of those eight B-17s were still flying, I would have been gob smacked. I know four of the eight will fly again, With Aluminum Overcast being questionable if ever again, and of course the total loss of the other two...

We are clearly at a major low point for flyable B-17s in he timeline, but hopefully it will get better as the years progress and so do numerous projects.

Three of the B-17s pictured in that flight line were a total loss.

JohnB · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2025 9:24 am

Looks like we're playing semantics.
If a fighter were similarly rebuilt (with either new build or existing components), it wouldn't be called "a total loss".

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2025 9:30 am

JohnB wrote:

Looks like we're playing semantics.
If a fighter were similarly rebuilt (with either new build or existing components), it wouldn't be called "a total loss".

Exactly. Since Liberty Belle is being rebuilt I don't consider it to be a total loss, despite it being burned up pretty good.

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B-17s at Madras

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