B-17G 44-85813 rebuild underway

[aerovin]

Very interesting link here:
http://www.b17project.com/
This is located at Urbana, Ohio, and is the B-17 project that went from Kermit Weeks to Tom Reilly to these gentlemen. It is mainly the airframe of SB-17G 44-83722 with enough parts from 44-85813 (N6694C) to gain its serial number. A long way to go, to be sure, but it looks like they are very serious about it. Another B-17 maybe from the last major pile of B-17 junk that was available without recovery of a wreck.

Let's hope some details start to be filled in.

[Dennis7423]

Aerovin-

Is this bird going to fly, or is she a static restoration? Can't ever have too many B-17's in the air now can we...

-Dennis S.
Greeley, CO

[Chuck Gardner]

It will be restored to flying condition

[Pat Carry]

Interesting and exciting news! Thanks for bringing it to our attention Scott.

[RMAllnutt]

Looks like they are completely stripping her down to the last rivet! That's going to be at least 10 or 15 years of work, surely! More power to them if they can do it though. Thanks for passing along the news.

Cheers,
Richard

[lmritger]

That is less than ten miles from my mom's house in Cable... I'm going to be up there the first week of March, I'll have to go by and pay a visit!

Thanks much for the heads up!

Lynn

[eric_stevens]

This post got me to Thinking Ohio now has four B-17's!

My Gal Sal (Cincinnati)
Shoo Shoo Baby (NMUSAF)
Memphis Belle (NMUSAF)
SB-17G 44-83722 (Grimes)

and they are all within two Hours of each other

[AirJimL2]

Actually, four and a half as Mr. Ready also has the tail section of 42-30861.

Aerovin...thanks for the vector. I'll have to see if I can visit the project! Very cool.

Jim

[Chuck Gardner]

That's going to be at least 10 or 15 years of work, surely!

They are hoping for less than 10 years! They also welcome all the help they can get in the way of sponsors and volunteers.

[Shay]

Thanks for the heads up. Talk about a bomber your backyard.

I didn't see anything listed on their website about weekend visiting hours. Also it would be nice to volunteer my skills and time but it looks they do work during the work week. But it never hurts ask right?

Probalbly to far off at this point to think about but I'm wondering if there has been any thought about what scheme she'll wear upon completion. I have a model on my desk of SB-17G 44-83575 wearing Air Rescue Service colors. Very attractive and it would be nice to seen another warbird wearing their actual active duty uniform. Although I'm sure she'll be painted to represent some wartime Fortress. Never the less it's still amazing to have 2 Fortress's being restored in close proxity to each other.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[TimAPNY]

That is great news!

[bomberflight]

Scott ~ Thanks for sharing this info ~ great news !

Does anyone know if the B-17 detailed on the Warbird Relics web site was / or is ~ the same pile of parts ?

http://www.warbirdrelics.com/aircraft_for_sale.htm

[Abbott]

This B-17 was at Kissimmee in 1993, might this be the one they are restoring now...dont know the serial number...didnt have a tail. If not, might anyone know the fate of this B-17. Only other B-17 I saw at this location was Suzy Q...Note Bored wife at right #$%~!!*

[aerovin]

I think the photo above is of 44-85734, currently flying as Liberty Belle. In 1993 most of the current B-17 project was in the desert in storage with Aero Trader's stuff and was owned by Kermit Weeks.

[Jerry O'Neill]

The last photo is indeed "Liberty Belle" after her arrival from CT.
Jerry