Movie Memphis Belle on the move

[bomberfan]

Posted on NWMs Facebook page, apparently the Movie Belle is headed to Palm Springs Air Museum in California. A number of people were speculating as to the future of this bird, with many saying she's going to be a static display there. Personally, I don't think that makes any sense since they already have a static B-17 in Miss Angela. I've heard rumors that there were plans underway by the museum to buy that aircraft from Bob Ponds estate and get her airworthy again. If that really was the plan, why acquire a second Fort? I'm curious what the future holds for both of these aircraft

[Warbird Kid]

Sad day for us East Coasters since this will be the second (or actually third) B-17 that has left Geneseo. If anything history has taught us, is that hopefully this or another B-17 will return to Geneseo to stay. But hopefully NWM can at least focus on the fleet they still have there ESPECIALLY that B-23. Man would I love to see them restore that bird to fly.

[bdk]

If this is still owned by the Tallichet family, it makes sense to winter in Palm Springs' mild weather.

[Randy Haskin]

Is that airframe on an LHFE program anywhere?

It would be nice to see it out touring as a working warbird giving rides.

The "I rode on the Memphis Belle" posts on facebook would be epic enough.

[Hamilton H-37500]

Several years ago the Liberty Foundation leased Movie Memphis Belle to replace their Liberty Belle. I flew in MMB twice over San Francisco Bay when they were touring it. It was fun since it's fitted in F configuration, with no plexiglass over the waist gunner windows -- it's wide open. It made for stunning views.

[kalamazookid]

Per comment on the NWM Facebook page, it sounds like she's going to be static.

Edit: I should add that the comment is from NWM, not another poster.

[bomberfan]

Per comment on the NWM Facebook page, it sounds like she's going to be static.

Edit: I should add that the comment is from NWM, not another poster.

I saw that too. I asked PSAM, and they gave a response saying that some groups tour their aircraft, but it doesn't mage sense for them, and that they were going to do local airshows. They were a little vague and didn't specifically mention this aircraft. Other folks asked for clarification, and they didn't respond. I'm not sure what the future hooks.

[Fearless Tower]

Did the family not want the airplane to keep flying? I've heard it was 'donated' to be static display.

If true, I'm curious why it wasn't offered for sale. I've heard Jerry Yagen has been looking for another B-17.

[Warbirdnerd]

Is MMB the last of David’s aircraft owned by the estate?

[Mark Sampson]

I lived in Rochester and was a NWM member for decades. I've been gone for ten years but always enjoyed knowing that Geneseo had a B-17. I'm sorry to hear that the MMB is going; like Fuddy-Duddy before it, or any B-17, the MMB is at home on a grass strip. And about their B-23... it will just take a great deal of money, skill, and time to put that one back in the air. The NWM is a small, mostly home-grown museum, so they'll have to find someone with quite deep pockets. At least its pieces are inside, and there's always hope.

[tom roberts]

Left Geneseo on Friday

[bomberfan]

She arrived Saturday and did a flyover with P-51's Man o War and Bunny along with a T-28. So, now what? I've heard several stories about how it's going to a permanent static display there, I've also heard it's just there for some deep maintenance and then resume flying. I really hope thus isn't the end of the story for this aircraft. I was looking at my photos from Thunder over Michigan 2010, and it's a little painful to know how many are no longer flown.

[Larry Kraus]

I flew this airplane for the 1980 Fire Season with home bases in Alamogordo, New Mexico and West Yellowstone, Montana. I had a fuel problem while working a fire near Roosevelt Lake in Arizona leading to landing with just #4 engine running at Williams AFB.

Flying a B-17 Tanker out of Arizona and New Mexico as well as out of West Yellowstone and Montana and Wyoming in general occasionally had a high pucker factor mainly due to hot, high and windy conditions and challenging terrain, but lots of B-17 Tanker time plus some luck kept me from damaging the airplane. Crosswind landings on Alamogordo’s single runway could get to be a handful and a half.

B084B37A-2C7F-4FAE-841A-7367E38B3500 by tanker622001, on Flickr

AADD3C4F-FAEE-4656-9EF8-7D88FF6702D4 by tanker622001, on Flickr

5E3E5C8C-03A3-4931-94A2-ECD14E8B4461 by tanker622001, on Flickr

4DD14001-7DE3-4822-89E2-488829BF3B79 by tanker622001, on Flickr

640E8535-842E-4707-95D6-80FA18793777 by tanker622001, on Flickr

23794E5D-C428-4B97-8CB7-5EE8C90F4BE7 by tanker622001, on Flickr

48060944-6BBD-40A1-B47B-7876A3665513 by tanker622001, on Flickr

75D7DF34-E75F-46B4-9482-7C1C2E552EB1 by tanker622001, on Flickr

[Zac Yates]

Thanks for the memories and all those photos, Larry! Wow! It certainly makes an interesting contrast with how she looks and is operated today.

[bomberfan]

Larry, I remember when you posted these photos quite a while back. That is an amazing story, I'm glad you got her down in one piece!!