On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:20:12 -0700, Steve Hix
wrote:

In article ,
Jim Logajan wrote:

"Stuart & Kathryn Fields" wrote:
Here is an interesting link
http://rareaircraf1.greyfalcon.us/UNITED%20STATES.htm

Impressive set of photos! The B-17 with the single engine turboprop seems
IMHO to really accentuate the B-17's wings. More so than usual, that is.

There is some question as to whether the photo was airbrushed, or not.

According to one online forum, "That photo is definitely a fake - it's been
photoshopped. The original can be found on p.204 of Bowers' 'Fortress In The
Sky' and shows the aircraft ( Pratt and Whitney's flying test-bed 299Z ) flying
just on the nose-mounted XT-34 turbo-prop with the four standard Wright
Cyclone's feathered. The photo is absolutely identical, right down to the marks
on the ground."

The other question one would have to ask is, "Why make a single-engine B-17?"
Adding the turboprop to the nose of an otherwise-ordinary B-17 is great for
testing that experimental turboprop, but why spend the thousands of
manufacturing and engineering hours required to remove the other four engines?
With thousands of surplus B-17s available for scrap-metal prices, why spend the
time to remove the existing engines, re-skin the wing, re-work the CG, rework
the hydraulics, etc.? It's much more involved that adding that fifth engine to
the nose.

Remember, we're not talking about a Bamboo Bomber, here....we're talking about a
large aircraft that only the government or corporation can afford to modify.
There's certainly no potential profit for the private company, and (with planes
like the B-45 and B-47 entering service) no motive for the government, either.

Ron Wanttaja