B-17 to buy ?

sabredriver · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 4:56 am

I am seeking interest from any US based collections in which want to sell B-17 flying fortress.. airworthy. I am wantign to gather what is a price range for a current B-17...

Does anyone know of any B-17 owners interested in selling their birds?

B-29 Super Fort · **Joined:** Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:12 am **Posts:** 871

I think "Fuddy Duddy" was the last airworthy B-17 to be sold last year at what I would guess was in the multi-million range.

Steve S · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 6:44 am

I would have to imagine that the money would be secondary, first you have to convince someone that has one to sell it. Of course when I first got into this obsession I was told by an oldtimer at the museum I used to work with that everything is always for sale, just a matter of the right price. Maybe you would have a chance with one in restoration, but other than that I think those that have them in flying condition are not looking to sell. Maybe I am wrong but that is what I have heard.

Steve

Nathan · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 7:33 am

Good luck trying to buy a flyable B-17. Remember theres only like 14 in flyable condition. Plus, if you did be prepaired to pay at est 4 million dollars.

HTH.

Taylor Stevenson · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 10:35 am

Geez... at that price I'll take 2!!

K5DH · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 11:00 am

B-29 Super Fort wrote:

I think "Fuddy Duddy" was the last airworthy B-17 to be sold last year at what I would guess was in the multi-million range.

I heard a figure of $2.5M, which would have been a real bargain. I'm highly skeptical of that number.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 11:07 am

I would be thrilled just to have the nose section of one.

warbirdguy · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 11:15 am

I heard "Fuddy Duddy" went for $3.5 million. That number was close to the asking price according to a source at Martin Avitaion.

B-29 Super Fort · **Joined:** Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:12 am **Posts:** 871

warbirdguy wrote:

I heard "Fuddy Duddy" went for $3.5 million. That number was close to the asking price according to a source at Martin Avitaion.

That seems like a real bargin given the rarity and availability of airworthy B-17s, and with P-51s selling for the $1-1.5 million prices now.

chico · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 12:13 pm

B-29 Super Fort wrote:

That seems like a real bargin given the rarity and availability of airworthy B-17s, and with P-51s selling for the $1-1.5 million prices now.

There's a big disparity in the amount of money it takes to keep a mustang flying vs. a B-17. Just for starters, take all of your consumables (oil, fuel, etc.) and multiply them by 4. That doesn't include maintenance, etc.

wendovertom · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 4:38 pm

I have talked to a dealer or two in the past year or so aboutthis very question. One who I think is very well respected in the warbird community said that for a airworthy example, IF you could find someone willing to talk turkey, would be at least in the 5M+ range.

Now if you wanted an airframe that has possibilities, that would be less $$ but then that is because you are looking at a multimillion dollar investment to get it to airworthy condition.

Tom P.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 4:42 pm

I would love to see Kermit get his other B-17 flying. Suz-Q. Where is that one now? Is it being worked on?

Beachy · **Joined:** Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:20 am **Posts:** 1104

Is Heavens Above still at Lackland? USAF owned? Potential to be flyable ever?

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 4:50 pm

Kermit's Suzy Q is currently at his Fantasy of Flight facility in Florida. The last I knew about it, no work was being done on it.

Beachy · **Joined:** Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:20 am **Posts:** 1104

OK, as of 2002, the registry says that Heavens Above is still in the possession of the USAF and is still on static at Lackland.

Does anyone know what kind of shape it's in?

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