CAF grounds it's B-17's for inspections.

[Ztex]

Pertinent B-17 Information.

Just saw this note on Face Book...
Any others doing this as well?

Just to squash the rumors- TEXAS RAIDERS is grounded by CAF-HQ pending a safety inspection of the entire fuel system. This is not expected to be a lengthy process, but in light of Liberty Belle's demise, it is a wise precaution.

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY - Az. Wing included in the inspection program.

Don Price Wing Leader CAF-GCW

[Nathan]

This is a bit chilling. Glad people are thinking smartly and making sure all Forts are sound and safe to fly.

[Warbird Kid]

I don't blame them. When one of these expensive pieces of history are lost, you'd have to imagine all the other groups that operate the same aircraft have to stop, look at each other and say: "That could have been us." regardless of the individual practices each crew and group has on there own plane. Also, after the Kee Bird's demise, didn't the CAF ground FiFi to look at the APU in the tail since this was cause of the fire?

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Tue Jun 14, 2011 3:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mustangdriver]

Most if not all of the folks in the B-17 Co-Op have opted for a voluntary temporary grounding of the B-17 pending inspections of certain systems.

[JohnB]

Makes sense...(and good PR).
Probably not a fleet-wide problem, but you sure don't want a fuel leak or fire.
Probably wouldn't hurt to check the lines more frequently and keep a good eye/nose for fuel leaks in the walk around.

[Pogmusic]

Better to be proactive than reactive.

[Obergrafeter]

And as we all know the people in Midland are B-17 experts.........much more than the Wings that operate the aircraft, especially Texas Raiders having just come out of a 7 year rebuild.

[SPANNERmkV]

You know- I don't mind Midland calling this one bit.

If Gary Austin were with us- he would be ALL over this like Letterman on an intern!

Just looking at the in-flight pictures of LB on fire makes me queazy!

KUDOS to John Hess- PIC for getting LB intact into a muddy cornfield!

SPANNER

[cco23i]

I don't blame them. When one of these expensive pieces of history are lost, you'd have to imagine all the other groups that operate the same aircraft have to stop, look at each other and say: "That could have been us." regardless of the individual practices each crew and group has on there own plane. Also, after the Kee Bird's demise, didn't the CAF ground FiFi to look at the APU in the tail since this was cause of the fire?

The APU fire on the plane they tried to recover in Greenland was due to an improper fuel container falling over. not the APU itself.


Scott

[Jigs Bumper]

Hello Forum....

The following is not to take away in any way from the tragedies which took place in Illinios this week. But when some mention of Kee Bird was made, I thought about the follow....

I recall watching on British TV many years ago a fabulous documentary all about the recovery attempt of the B-29 Kee Bird. The monumental task they undertook in trying to fly this stranded bomber out of its frozen time capsule. The chief mechanic who worked miracles in sub zero weather (who actually fell seriously ill and actually died soon after). I very much recall the difficulties flying in replacement engines, even a caterpillar dozer no less to clear the snow for a makeshift runway. I remember the (unexpected) fire as they taxied the ship around, and the initial moments as the flames start slowly and gradually built up. However from memory one abiding thing sticks in my mind which saddened and dismayed me personally, and those involved made the very comment on this programme as they watched it burn down... they didnt have enough adequate fire extinguishers in place. Then I remembered as the programme aired earlier, the arrival of equipment for the project, included at least one 48 x 48 pallet of.... quite unbelievably, cases of beer!!! Now, forgive me, but I would have thought extinguishers would be a bit more important, and enough of them, than a pallet load of beer. As I say, I remember the narration saying the crew watched in despair as a small fire got out of control, and all for the sake of enough extinguishers on board??? Having watched the tragedy of Kee Bird unfold before the camera, and knowing that piece of the story, I suggest someone who planned the logistics of it all should have carried a large slice of the blame in its loss.

Ian W

[Obergrafeter]

Spanner: Question.........that is not our (CAF) John Hess is it? If so more kudos.

[Robbie Roberts]

Hello Forum....

The following is not to take away in any way from the tragedies which took place in Illinios this week. But when some mention of Kee Bird was made, I thought about the follow....

I recall watching on British TV many years ago a fabulous documentary all about the recovery attempt of the B-29 Kee Bird. The monumental task they undertook in trying to fly this stranded bomber out of its frozen time capsule. The chief mechanic who worked miracles in sub zero weather (who actually fell seriously ill and actually died soon after). I very much recall the difficulties flying in replacement engines, even a caterpillar dozer no less to clear the snow for a makeshift runway. I remember the (unexpected) fire as they taxied the ship around, and the initial moments as the flames start slowly and gradually built up. However from memory one abiding thing sticks in my mind which saddened and dismayed me personally, and those involved made the very comment on this programme as they watched it burn down... they didnt have enough adequate fire extinguishers in place. Then I remembered as the programme aired earlier, the arrival of equipment for the project, included at least one 48 x 48 pallet of.... quite unbelievably, cases of beer!!! Now, forgive me, but I would have thought extinguishers would be a bit more important, and enough of them, than a pallet load of beer. As I say, I remember the narration saying the crew watched in despair as a small fire got out of control, and all for the sake of enough extinguishers on board??? Having watched the tragedy of Kee Bird unfold before the camera, and knowing that piece of the story, I suggest someone who planned the logistics of it all should have carried a large slice of the blame in its loss.

Ian W

INTERESTING you should mention the beer- Had they had it properly stowed, they may well have saved the Kee Bird!

When Tommy Blackburn had his VF-17(Jolly Rogers) in the South Pacific during the war, they sent a new guy to one of the other islands in a turkey to pick up their beer ration. Once there, they loaded it all in the torpedo/bomb bay, and he headed back to VF-17. As a new guy, he had not been told yet which islands to avoid flying over, and he flew over one, at low altitude which was chock full of friendly Japanese tourists, bent on getting a bit of skeet shootin' in with their AA guns. Well, that turkey got hit, but made it home. As he taxiied into his spot, the crew chief(plane captain?) looked over his now perforated aircraft, dripping, of all things, beer suds! A look inside, and he was surprised the a/c had made it home at all. Apparently, one of the rounds had started a fire in the aft section of the aircraft! Another had exploded in the bay with the beer, and burst open many of the cans- now shaken by evasive maneuvers, and in the thinner air... The foaming beer had extinguished the fire! The plane was a write off, the beer was gone, and the pilot took a while to live that one down.

Just sayin- Had they had the pallet of beer in the tail section, you never know!!!

Scott

[phil65]

Is there nothing beer can’t do?

Phil

[N3Njeff]

Hats off to the 17 guys!!! Us n3n owners have the same commitment. Stick together and fly safe as a group for a long time.

[lmritger]

Very smart on multiple levels, and the CAF has my appreciation and support for going the extra mile just to double check their own aircraft. Good show, folks.

Lynn