B-17s at Low Level

In article ,
(WalterM140) wrote:

I am building a diorama with a 1/48th scale B-17 at low altitude. It will
have
two engines turning and two shut down.

My question is, would a B-17 have its landing flaps deployed at all at this
lower speed and altitude if it was not landing, just hedge-hopping home? And
if so, how much?

No, you would leave the flaps up until needed/desired for landing. The
B-17 used a plain flap that was mostly drag (use of 10-20 degrees does
shorten the ground roll somewhat but hurts the climb). And if it was me
flying I wouldn't be any lower than I had to be.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

And if it was me
flying I wouldn't be any lower than I had to be.

Right.


I have read about a B-17 that had to raise a wing tip to miss a church steeple
as it beat feet across Belgium egressing the continent. But since I have to
mount the model on a base, it can't be more than about 20 scale feet above the
ground.

Walt

"WalterM140" wrote in message
...
| And if it was me
| flying I wouldn't be any lower than I had to be.
|
| Right.
|
|
| I have read about a B-17 that had to raise a wing tip to miss a church
steeple
| as it beat feet across Belgium egressing the continent. But since I have
to
| mount the model on a base, it can't be more than about 20 scale feet
above the
| ground.
|
| Walt




Sounds interesting - would love to see it when it's done.




Cheers


Dave Kearton

Subject: B-17s at Low Level
From: "Dave Kearton"
Date: 3/12/04 6:12 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:


"WalterM140" wrote in message
...
| And if it was me
| flying I wouldn't be any lower than I had to be.
|
| Right.
|
|
| I have read about a B-17 that had to raise a wing tip to miss a church
steeple
| as it beat feet across Belgium egressing the continent. But since I have
to
| mount the model on a base, it can't be more than about 20 scale feet
above the
| ground.
|
| Walt




Sounds interesting - would love to see it when it's done.




Cheers


Dave Kearton




For a true life description of a similiar situation go to my website and click
on, the story " Little Friend Brings Big Brother home".



Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

When you've finished it, why not take a pic of it and send it over the web!!
I dont know wether the guys on here allow pics on this N.G. but take my
e-mail addy and let me see it, i'd love a look at it!!
"WalterM140" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I am building a diorama with a 1/48th scale B-17 at low altitude. It will
have
two engines turning and two shut down.

My question is, would a B-17 have its landing flaps deployed at all at
this
lower speed and altitude if it was not landing, just hedge-hopping home?
And
if so, how much?

Thanks,

Walt

My question is, would a B-17 have its landing flaps deployed at all at this
lower speed and altitude if it was not landing, just hedge-hopping home? And
if so, how much?

no, the flaps on the -17 were mostly drag devices, and did not help generate
lift.
Matt Gunsch,
A&P,IA,Private Pilot
Riding member of the
2003 world champion drill team
Arizona Precision Motorcycle Drill Team
GWRRA,NRA,GOA

In article ,
(N329DF) wrote:

no, the flaps on the -17 were mostly drag devices, and did not help generate
lift.

Well, they help a little. Book shortfield procedure calls for 10-20
degrees of flap. Flaps do allow you to liftoff a little sooner/slower.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

Dale wrote:

In article ,
(N329DF) wrote:

no, the flaps on the -17 were mostly drag devices, and did not help generate
lift.

Well, they help a little. Book shortfield procedure calls for 10-20
degrees of flap. Flaps do allow you to liftoff a little sooner/slower.

Of course, most a/c use some flaps for takeoff but it would have
only a detrimental effect (I'm pretty sure) at cruise...I know
two pilots who will swear on their mothers' grave to this....

Cruising along on a 'boring holes' exercise (quite boring indeed)
a couple pilots and I were discussing the possibilities of
this...my position was that even a couple degrees of flap would
be detrimental, one of the pilots was 'certain' that it would
help, the other was undecided. We had quite a discussion going
and ended up with a substantial bet between I and the sure guy,
to be paid in beer at the next squadron bash. (all that one can
drink - woohoo)

We were at 'range power', an airspeed that produces maximum range
at the particular weight. we had been there for long enough that
our airspeed was stable, co-jo inched down a couple degrees of
flap (very slowly and carefully) I waited a few seconds then
carefully inched the cowl flaps open quite a few degrees.

Airspeed slowly decreased...co-jo inched the flaps back up and I
followed by inching the cowl flaps closed. We did this several
times till he was convinced. (the pilots cannot see the cowl flap
position gauges nor the switches which are behind them on the
F/E's panel on the Argus. I never did tell them different. Fun.
--

-Gord.

In article ,
"Gord Beaman" ) wrote:



Airspeed slowly decreased...co-jo inched the flaps back up and I
followed by inching the cowl flaps closed. We did this several
times till he was convinced. (the pilots cannot see the cowl flap
position gauges nor the switches which are behind them on the
F/E's panel on the Argus. I never did tell them different. Fun.


You're a baaaad boy!! G

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

Subject: B-17s at Low Level
From: Dale
Date: 3/14/04 12:59 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

In article ,
"Gord Beaman" ) wrote:



Airspeed slowly decreased...co-jo inched the flaps back up and I
followed by inching the cowl flaps closed. We did this several
times till he was convinced. (the pilots cannot see the cowl flap
position gauges nor the switches which are behind them on the
F/E's panel on the Argus. I never did tell them different. Fun.


You're a baaaad boy!! G

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html


I assume that this was not on a combat mission.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer