One Man Crew B-17

[old iron]

When Paul Mantz bellied in that B-17 for the "12 O'clock High" movie scene, he did that solo, right? He didn't seem to have any issues getting it off the ground, around the pattern and into the most famous belly landing of all time...

OK, so I had to look it up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ07ieBOZpk

[raconnel]

IIRC, the B-17 "roadster" conversions for operation Aphrodite were single pilot (and open cockpit).

Richard

[Chris Brame]

When Paul Mantz bellied in that B-17 for the "12 O'clock High" movie scene, he did that solo, right? He didn't seem to have any issues getting it off the ground, around the pattern and into the most famous belly landing of all time...

OK, so I had to look it up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ07ieBOZpk

For those of us obsessed with serials, the real "23613" (42-3613) was actually a C-46A that was w/o in India in a takeoff accident on 7-27-44.

[marine air]

That's good stuff. Thanks for posting.

[menards]

I heard stories that Howard Hughes would single-pilot a Connie. Any truth to that?