Warbird Information Exchange

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Rod Schneider
Ball Ground, Ga

Cool! Nice to see Liberty Foundation will continue touring and great that its with a B-17 that hasn't toured before. I hope I get a chance to see her.

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Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

"...never been available to the public for flight experiences..."

Hmm.

We did flight experiences often when we had her as Chuckie. In fact, that's how I got involved with VFM.

Glad to see that she'll be touring! Hopefully they'll bring her "home" to VFM, if only for a weekend visit.

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

This is strange... so the Liberty Foundation had their exemption letter denied back in late 2014 and according to the search results at http://aes.faa.gov - there are no new filed exemptions on record for Liberty Foundation.

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Ryan Keough
Stow, MA

I wonder if they mean she wasn't toured as Madras Maiden, and using that as a promotional tool. Obviously not 100% the truth, more of a case of stretching the truth.

When I first came across this thread, I was hoping to read that they were stripping off that godawful paint scheme.

Oh well.

What's the objection to it?

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

Good news, I 'd like to see it fly.

I don't mind the new paint scheme or name.
My only very minor point is the girl in the nose art looks a bit too modern (and well done) compared with genuine WWII nose art. But I suspect that's to be expected since it has to look good to "modern eyes".

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

The nose art in the third picture. We had a long debate about this very subject here awhile back (As I recall it got a bit on the overheated side and was shut down, with either all or part of it being deleted).

The main objections to it are its anachronistic modern style (an objection raised against other warbirds such as Russian To Get Ya and the new nose art of Diamond Lil). That, along with the fact that is isn't really all that aesthetically pleasing or interesting (IMHO) .

With all the famous combat aircraft out there to choose from that deserve to be commemorated, there really is no need for all these ersatz paint jobs in this day and age (once again, IMHO). But then again, it's not my plane and it's not my money, so take it for what it's worth.

So it is the *nose art*, and not the overall paint scheme. Got it.

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Well... I for one don't like the scheme. We already have two other flyable B-17s in 381st BG markings. We really need a third? Especially with all the other different squadron schemes out there to choose from? I really liked Chuckie's scheme. (I'm a sucker for yellow tails). Not to mention she was an actual pathfinder aircraft during the war. Something very unique in today's surviving forts. And Erickson apparently decided to ignore this bit of interesting history with their fort.

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

Let's not forget that the aircraft has been turned into a giant, shiny ego trip for Jack Erickson by plastering his initials on it in lieu of an actual 381st BG squadron code (VE, VP, or MS), and they left the 3rd AD wing chevrons on it while putting it in a sort-of 1st AD scheme, and then there's the hot-rod nose art... I'm only halfway surprised Erickson didn't ask the artist to paint a wicked flame job on it too.

There are only ten airworthy B-17s right now. Few aircraft hold such an iconic place in the history of the United States, particularly due to how many of the over 88,000 men lost from the 8th AF served in and were lost aboard B-17s while fighting to restore freedom to occupied Europe. Having one of these ten changed from a very good representation of a 487th BG aircraft into... this... is just aggravating as heck.

But, as has been said over and over, "his money, his plane, his choice". I can disagree all I want, but it doesn't make a flippin' bit of difference what I or anyone else thinks.

Lynn

I think we're being a bit too harsh on the artwork. I've met the model used to create the nose art. She's a very nice girl. ..... especially the more dollars you feed her lol

Regarding the scheme. An offer was made, it was turned down (most likely not taken seriously) too bad. Until this thread popped up, it was long forgotten. Regarding my interest ... long forgotten.

The best of luck on their tour.

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Zero Surprise!!...

Let's not be too harsh on Mr. Erickson about this. Chuckie was indeed a radar-equipped Pathfinder ship, but she did not see combat. She spent her entire military career stateside, first as a trainer and later as a flying test bed. We (VFM) have her complete military service history card.

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida