Get the Firepower B17 Trailer off Worthplaying (15mb)
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.
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Distinctive characteristics:
Cockpit Panel:
1. Radio Compass 11. Turn-and-bank 21. Turn-and-bank 31. Propeller pitch
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
Center Console: Center Panel:
Left 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:
o Type: Bomber.
o Power Plants: Four Wright R-1820-97 9-cyl. Air-cooled radials with 1,200 hp each.
o Armament: Thirteen 0.5-in. machine guns, plus 4,000lb. Of bombs.
o Weights: 38,000/65,000 lb. (17,240/29,756 kg).
o Dimensions: Span, 103ft 9in (31.6 m); length 74ft 9in (22.80m); height, 19ft 1in (5.82 m)
B17F Flying Fortress Firepower Certified Specifications:
TAKEOFF (up to 57,000 lbs.)
o Flaps: Up
o Elevator trim: -9%
o Rudder trim: Neutral
o Tail wheel locked for best directional control
o Liftoff speed: 115 mph IAS
o Safety speed: 120 mph IAS
TAKEOFF (over 57,000 lbs. or short field)
o Hard surface runway required
o Flaps: Up to 1/2 (50%) down
o Elevator trim: -5%
o Rudder trim: Neutral
o Tail wheel locked for best directional control
o Liftoff speed: 115 mph IAS
o Safety speed: 120 mph IAS
CLIMBING (57,000 lbs.)
o Initial Climb: 900 fpm @ 135 mph IAS
o Normal Climb: 150 mph IAS @ 38" Hg/2300 RPM
o Rate of climb: 600 fpm
LANDING (54,000 lbs.)
o Gear and flaps down: 150 mph IAS
o Full flaps below 150 mph IAS (will require retrimming)
o Approach speed: 115-120 mph
o Over airfield boundary: 110 mph IAS
o Touchdown at 95-100 mph IAS
LANDING (47,000 lbs.)
o Gear and flaps down: 150 mph IAS
o Full flaps below 150 mph IAS (will require retrimming)
o Approach speed: 105-110 mph
o Over airfield boundary: 105 mph IAS
o Touchdown at 90-95 mph IAS
Firepower Certified Specifications:
o Top Speed @ SL: 230 mph TAS
o Top Speed @ Alt: 295 mph TAS @ 25,000 feet
o Cruise @ SL: 175 mph TAS @ 30" Hg/2000 rpm
o Cruise @ 25,000 ft: 145 mph IAS/213 mph TAS @ 30" Hg/2000 rpm
o Climb: 41.0 minutes to 25,000 ft @ 150 mph IAS/38" Hg/2300 rpm
o Initial climb: 900 fpm
o 1 g stall speed, clean: 102 mph IAS (50,000 pounds)
o 1 g stall speed, landing: 90 mph IAS (50,000 pounds)
o Slow flight: Very stable with good rudder control up to the point of stall.
o Stall: Very mild wing drop. Recovery is routine.
o Takeoff: Liftoff speed 115 mph IAS (57,000 pounds)
o Ramp weight: 34,982 pounds
o Test weight: 57,000 lbs.
o Max takeoff wt: 62,000 pounds
o Roll rate: Approx. 18 deg/sec at 180 mph IAS.
o Turning rate, in Gs: Approx. 2.2 Gs with full elevator deflection at 180 mph in a level turn.
o High speed dives: Controls will freeze at approx. 320 mph IAS
o Vmax: 270 mph IAS
o Dive brakes: None
o To Gear Down: mild pitch down
o To Flaps Down: moderate down
o Engine: Four Wright R-1820-97 9-cyl. air-cooled radials with 1,200 hp each
o Idle speed: 850 RPM
o Takeoff power: 1200 HP @ 47.5" Hg/2500 RPM
o Climb (rated) power: 1000 HP @ 41.5" Hg/2300 RPM
o Normal climb power: 870 HP @ 38" Hg/2300 RPM
o Cruise power: 30" Hg/2000 RPM
o Fuel capacity: 1,700 gallons
o Fuel consumption: 185 gph at cruise setting