The First Civil B-17 in September 1945: NX60475

[aerovin]

I just added a post at aerovintage.com about a bit of a little-known B-17F that turns out to have been the first U.S, civil B-17 when it flew for Sperry Gyroscopic Co. to test an autopilot installation in the fall of 1945. That B-17, s/n 41-24434, had an interesting history even before it went to Sperry. Check it out here: https://www.aerovintage.com/2023/04/18/the-first-civil-b-17-sperrys-nx60475/

Last edited by aerovin on Thu Apr 20, 2023 12:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Xrayist]

Interesting story. Any clue as to the B-24 in the picture? It looks like it has been "demilitarized", as it does not appear to have the nose turret or the top turret.

[JohnB]

It looks a like the last B-24 in USAF service, the EZB-24M-21-FO 44-51228.
As the designation and "FO" indicates, it was built by Ford. It is now at the IWM Duxford.

[Pat Carry]

Thanks for the info Scott.