B-17s at Low Level

In article ,
Stephen Harding wrote:


Does a B-17 impress the chicks now days?

Usually just the transport catergoy chicks. G

But it's still a fun airplane to fly.

--
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

. As I vaguely remember it that
hydraulic
sytem in a B-17 worked off one engine.

That was the Lancaster, Art.

One of the virtues of the Fortress so far as battle damage went was that it
relied so little on hydraulics for the flight controls.

Walt

Does a B-17 impress the chicks now days?

Did it in 1943???

From what gather, the B-17 was -the- WWII chick magnet, especially early in
the war with pilots like Colin Kelly and movies like "Air Force" (1943).

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.... if I were flying a four engined aircraft with two fans out, the flaps
wouldn't drop out until short final. He's already in serious trouble; any
added
drag might be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Okay, that's one less thing to think about.

The way I see it now, the base of the diorama will be the coast line of
Belgium, with the Fort just "leaving" Festung Europa with all deliberate speed.

Walt

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

Subject: B-17s at Low Level
From: (WalterM140)
Date: 3/12/04 4:35 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

. As I vaguely remember it that
hydraulic
sytem in a B-17 worked off one engine.

That was the Lancaster, Art.

One of the virtues of the Fortress so far as battle damage went was that it
relied so little on hydraulics for the flight controls.

Walt


Yeah I knew it was one of the heavies. I ferget which one.


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

"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

Dale wrote:

In article ,
(ArtKramr) wrote:


Unless of course the hydraulic system has been shot out in which case both
flaps and landing gear would be down. As I vaguely remember it that
hydraulic
sytem in a B-17 worked off one engine.I don't remember which one. But I
might
be wrong about that, Check with a guy who flew B--17's to be sure. But you
could justify showing it with wheels and flaps down if an engine is shut
down.
You might add a trail of smoke for reality. How about a red flare or two
fired
from the B-17 to show wounded aboard?


The hydraulic system on the B-17 operated the cowl flaps and the
brakes...nothing else. The gear and flaps were electrically operated.
The hydraulic pump was electric, there is no engine driven pump on the
B-17 so having an engine out wouldn't affect the hydraulics.

I've got a little over 300 hours in a B-17.

Dale, with some time on them I'm sure that you'd agree that when
limping home on two engines having your flaps or gear down would
very likely ruin your chances of ever getting home, right?.
--

-Gord.

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

In article ,
"Gord Beaman" ) wrote:


Dale, with some time on them I'm sure that you'd agree that when
limping home on two engines having your flaps or gear down would
very likely ruin your chances of ever getting home, right?.

At the weights I flew the airplane it performed fairly well on two
engines, even so why stack the deck against yourself by adding drag. G
On a hot day, or high field elevation having the gear/flaps out could
certainly make a difference in the outcome.

There was a bunch of discarded ammo and .50s from the continent to
England for a reason. 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