FirePower
Series Aircraft
Boeing B-17
Flying Fortress
History:
The B-17 Flying Fortress has become one of the most revered
of all WWII allied warplanes. The long-range medium bomber, which went
through many
modifications leading to the B-17G model, had a maximum speed of 287 mph, a range of 2000
miles, a service ceiling of 35,800ft, 13 machine guns, and 4 turbo charged 1200
hp engines. Between first test flights
in July 1935 and final missions in April 1945 almost 13,000 were built.
The Flying Fortress took part in almost all US operations
during WWII, including North Africa and the Middle East, but was most effective
in the Allied
bombing campaign over Europe, where she served a key role
in crippling Germany's industrial capacity, particularly aviation, oil
production and ball bearing
manufacturing. The
B-17 was used primarily on daytime missions where she was vulnerable to head-on
attack and susceptible to explosion from fires. She
withstood staggering losses at the hands of the German
Luftwaffe until effective fighter support finally came in late 1943 from the
Thunderbolt, Lightning and
eventually the Mustang.
It was through the bravery of their crews and effectiveness of their
bombing campaigns, despite major losses at the hands of the
Luftwaffe, that the B-17s earned their reputation as the
stalwart workhorse of the Allied bombing campaign over Europe.
Distinctive
Characteristics:
Cockpit panels:
1. Radio Compass 11. Turn-and-bank 21.
Turn-and-bank
2. Flux Gate Compass 12. Rate-of-climb 22.
Starter / Mess
3. Pilot’s Directional Indicator 13. Manifold
Pressure 23. Fire Extinguishers
4. Hydraulic Pressure 14. Tachometer 24. Magnetic compass
5. Suction gauge 15. Fuel Pressure 25.
Ignition / Master switch
6. Pilot’s Localizer Indicator 16. Oil Pressure 26. Fuel shut-off valves
7. Directional Gyro 17. Oil Temperature 27. Cowl
Flaps
8. Flight Indicator 18. Engine Temperature 28. Flap Switch
9. Altimeter 19. Carburetor Temperature 29.
Mixture
10. Airspeed 20. Fuel Contents 30.
Throttles
31.
Propeller pitch
Center Console:
Left panel:
Center panel:
Right panel:
Gun Turret:
(Ball Turret shown Below)
Flying characteristics:
The
B-17 Flying Fortress is a very stable and forgiving aircraft which can absorb enormous
amounts of battle damage and still make it home. It is truly a "pilot's
aircraft" and is a pleasure to fly. It can be trimmed to fly hands-off for
any normal flight regime and, while slow to maneuver, is quite responsive to
the controls for such a large craft. While aerobatics are prohibited
officially, there are many documented cases of B-17s being put into spins,
rolls, stalls, and other aerobatics by instructors and pilots who flew the
type. Pilots who flew all of the major American bombers of WWII -- the B-17,
B-24, and B29 -- state almost universally that the B-17 was a joy to fly as
compared to the other types.
Pilot Comments
"The B-24 is a truck. The B-17 is an airplane."
"The B-17 was designed for 200-hour pilots who came straight from the farm
into flight training. It was meant to be as easy to fly as a four-engine bomber
could possibly be. It's rugged, simple, and has a good temperament. It takes a
lot to piss it off."
Combat tactics:
Engaging fighters:
A B-17’s best defense is staying
in close formation. Each aircraft in
formation gives supporting defensive fire to the entire group. Shoot in short bursts to conserve
ammunition. Your most vulnerable
position is the front, even with the added chin turret in the G model. The Luftwaffe aces prefer to attack from the
front, and are capable of taking down a heavy bomber with just a ½ second burst
of cannon fire. Be careful not to hit
friendly B-17’s during the heat of battle.
B-17G
Specifications:
Type: Bomber. Power Plants: Four Wright R-1820-97 9-cyl. air-cooled radials with 1,200 hp
each. Armament: Thirteen 0.5-in. machine guns, plus 4,000lb.
of bombs. Weights: 38,000/65,000 lb. (17,240/29,756 kg). Dimensions:
Span, 103ft 9in (31.6 m); length 74ft 9in (22.80m); height, 19ft 1in
(5.82 m)
Firepower
Certified Specifications:
B17F Flying Fortress
TAKEOFF
(up to 57,000 lbs.)
Flaps:
Up
Elevator
trim: -9%
Rudder
trim: Neutral
Tailwheel
locked for best directional control
Liftoff
speed: 115 mph IAS
Safety
speed: 120 mph IAS
TAKEOFF
(over 57,000 lbs. or short field)
Hard
surface runway required
Flaps:
Up to 1/2 (50%) down
Elevator
trim: -5%
Rudder
trim: Neutral
Tailwheel
locked for best directional control
Liftoff
speed: 115 mph IAS
Safety
speed: 120 mph IAS
CLIMBING
(57,000 lbs.)
Initial
Climb: 900 fpm @ 135 mph IAS
Normal
Climb: 150 mph IAS @ 38" Hg/2300 RPM
Rate of
climb: 600 fpm
LANDING
(54,000 lbs.)
Gear and
flaps down: 150 mph IAS
Full
flaps below 150 mph IAS (will require retrimming)
Approach
speed: 115-120 mph
Over
airfield boundary: 110 mph IAS
Touchdown
at 95-100 mph IAS
LANDING
(47,000 lbs.)
Gear and
flaps down: 150 mph IAS
Full
flaps below 150 mph IAS (will require retrimming)
Approach
speed: 105-110 mph
Over
airfield boundary: 105 mph IAS
Touchdown
at 90-95 mph IAS
Specifications:
Top
Speed @ SL: 230 mph TAS
Top
Speed @ Alt: 295 mph TAS @ 25,000 feet
Cruise @
SL: 175 mph TAS @ 30" Hg/2000 rpm
Cruise @
25,000 ft: 145 mph IAS/213 mph TAS @ 30" Hg/2000 rpm
Climb:
41.0 minutes to 25,000 ft @ 150 mph IAS/38" Hg/2300 rpm
Initial
climb: 900 fpm
1 g
stall speed, clean: 102 mph IAS (50,000 pounds)
1 g
stall speed, landing: 90 mph IAS (50,000 pounds)
Slow
flight: Very stable with good rudder control up to the point of stall.
Stall:
Very mild wing drop. Recovery is routine.
Takeoff:
Liftoff speed 115 mph IAS (57,000 pounds)
Ramp
weight: 34,982 pounds
Test
weight: 57,000 lbs.
Max
takeoff wt: 62,000 pounds
Roll
rate: Approx. 18 deg/sec at 180 mph IAS.
Turning
rate, in Gs: Approx. 2.2 Gs with full elevator deflection at 180 mph in a level
turn.
High
speed dives: Controls will freeze at approx. 320 mph IAS
Vmax:
270 mph IAS
Dive
brakes: None
To Gear
Down: mild pitch down
To Flaps
Down: moderate down
Engine:
Four Wright R-1820-97 9-cyl. air-cooled radials with 1,200 hp each
Idle
speed: 850 RPM
Takeoff
power: 1200 HP @ 47.5" Hg/2500 RPM
Climb
(rated) power: 1000 HP @ 41.5" Hg/2300 RPM
Normal
climb power: 870 HP @ 38" Hg/2300 RPM
Cruise
power: 30" Hg/2000 RPM
Fuel
capacity: 1,700 gallons
Fuel
consumption: 185 gph at cruise setting
B17G Flying Fortress
TAKEOFF
(up to 57,000 lbs.)
Flaps:
Up
Elevator
trim: -9%
Rudder
trim: Neutral
Tailwheel
locked for best directional control
Liftoff
speed: 115 mph IAS
Safety
speed: 120 mph IAS
TAKEOFF
(over 57,000 lbs. or short field)
Hard
surface runway required
Flaps:
Up to 1/2 (50%) down
Elevator
trim: -5%
Rudder
trim: Neutral
Tailwheel
locked for best directional control
Liftoff
speed: 115 mph IAS
Safety
speed: 120 mph IAS
CLIMBING
(57,000 lbs.)
Initial
Climb: 900 fpm @ 135 mph IAS
Normal
Climb: 150 mph IAS @ 38" Hg/2300 RPM
Rate of
climb: 600 fpm
LANDING
(54,000 lbs.)
Gear and
flaps down: 150 mph IAS
Full
flaps below 150 mph IAS (will require retrimming)
Approach
speed: 115-120 mph
Over
airfield boundary: 110 mph IAS
Touchdown
at 95-100 mph IAS
LANDING
(47,000 lbs.)
Gear and
flaps down: 150 mph IAS
Full
flaps below 150 mph IAS (will require retrimming)
Approach
speed: 105-110 mph
Over
airfield boundary: 105 mph IAS
Touchdown
at 90-95 mph IAS
Specifications:
Top
Speed @ SL: 230 mph TAS
Top
Speed @ Alt: 287 mph TAS @ 30,000 feet
Cruise @
SL: 175 mph TAS @ 30" Hg/2000 rpm
Cruise @
25,000 ft: 145 mph IAS/213 mph TAS @ 30" Hg/2000 rpm
Climb:
41.0 minutes to 25,000 ft @ 150 mph IAS/38" Hg/2300 rpm
Initial
climb: 900 fpm
1 g
stall speed, clean: 102 mph IAS (50,000 pounds)
1 g
stall speed, landing: 90 mph IAS (50,000 pounds)
Slow
flight: Very stable with good rudder control up to the point of stall.
Stall:
Very mild wing drop. Recovery is routine.
Takeoff:
Liftoff speed 115 mph IAS (57,000 pounds)
Ramp
weight: 36796 pounds
Test
weight: 57,000 lbs.
Max
takeoff wt: 62,000 pounds
Roll
rate: Approx. 18 deg/sec at 180 mph IAS.
Turning
rate, in Gs: Approx. 2.2 Gs with full elevator deflection at 180 mph in a level
turn.
High
speed dives: Controls will freeze at approx. 320 mph IAS
Vmax:
270 mph IAS
Dive
brakes: None
To Gear
Down: mild pitch down
To Flaps
Down: moderate down
Engine:
Four Wright R-1820-97 9-cyl. air-cooled radials with 1,200 hp each
Idle
speed: 850 RPM
Takeoff
power: 1200 HP @ 47.5" Hg/2500 RPM
Climb
(rated) power: 1000 HP @ 41.5" Hg/2300 RPM
Normal
climb power: 870 HP @ 38" Hg/2300 RPM
Cruise
power: 30" Hg/2000 RPM
Fuel capacity: 1,700 gallons; 2,780 with Tokio tanks
Fuel
consumption: 185 gph at cruise setting