There are two flyable B-17's at in Palm Springs California. The international airport has a massive air museum. It is a functioning warbird maintenance facility and it is keeping a large group of historic airplanes in the sky. The Palm Springs Air Museum. This is a walking tour in April 2024.
The first hangar a visitor sees upon entering the Palm Springs Air Museum holds a Spitfire, P51 Mustang, B-25 Mitchell, and B-17 #44-83546. This Flying Fortress was the star of the movie Memphis Belle. It has been modified and painted to resemble the first American bomber to complete 25 missions in Europe during WW2. The real one has been on static display for decades mostly in Memphis Tennessee. That one has recently undergone a major restoration and is now displayed indoors in Dayton Ohio at the Air Force's Museum. This one here in California has had a long career and been mostly kept in flying condition. It is currently undergoing a four year maintenance program to continue flying for many more years. The maintenance to be done is a list of hundreds of tasks with a few big notable ones. The main wing bolts need to be inspected and possibly replaced. The four propellers all had to be removed and overhauled. I believe one engine was removed for rebuild but I'm not sure. Any one knowing more please add to the comments below. There are many mechanics working on this project. This airplane is privately owned. I film it from all the angles I can get to in this video. Super interesting that the entire tail appears to come off quite easily. I had to stand and stare at it for awhile. Some one has the plans to build this piece because I saw a brand new one sitting in Paul Allens museum in Seattle earlier this year. I would love to have those plans.
The next hangar to the north holds the second B-17. This B-17 is #44-85778 and it is owned by the museum. I don't know when it is flying next but it is flyable. It sits in the middle of the hangar that also has a small cafe. Visitors can walk all around it and below much of it. I was able to peer into the interior through an open door. At the moment it is available for private tours of its interior. For a small fee museum visitors can go inside this classic aircraft and sit in the pilots seat. I didn't know about this at the time and missed the opportunity. I guess I'll have to go back next year. This airplane is completely polished, no paint. She's beautiful.
26 июн 2024
