B-17 to buy ?

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?

Mon May 21, 2007 5:34 am

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.

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

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.

Mon May 21, 2007 10:35 am

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

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.

Mon May 21, 2007 11:07 am

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

Website · 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.

Mon May 21, 2007 11:32 am

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.

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.

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.

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?

Mon May 21, 2007 4:45 pm

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

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.

Tue May 22, 2007 8:09 am

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?