The legendary B-17 bomber was not just a means of dropping bombs on Nazi Germany during World War II.
Anyone who is interested in World War II is undoubtedly familiar B-17. It suffered ruthless attacks from German fighters and FLAK batteries, and countless stories highlight its resilience. The striking image shows the severely damaged B-17, safely returning to the base in England. The aircraft is also used for testing engine configuration, firefighting and attack missions.
Early development of B-17 bombers with different engines
The development of the B-17 bomber began with the United States Army Air Force (USAAC) in the 1930s. Its first version, Model 299there are four Pratt and Whitney R-1690 Bumblebee nine-cylinder radial engines, each with 750 horsepower. Later on the fight model of the plane Wright R-1820 Radial Engine. The improvements to these engines have increased them from 900 horsepower to 1200 horsepower.
Fighter engine not suitable for B-17
In 1942, while the war was in progress, Lockheed tested an early B-17E model with different engines. They installed four liquid-cooled Allison V-1710-89 engines for the bomber. These are fighter engines, usually powered aircraft such as P-38, P-39 and P-40. Lockheed predicts that the V-1710 will provide more than 200 horsepower per engine. The B-17 bomber with a new engine was named the XB-38.
The initial test of the XB-38 put the aircraft over 25 miles an hour, but its service ceiling limited it to 29,600 feet. This trade-off is not great for bombers that need to fly high enough to avoid German baffles. Flight testing brings more problems with the model.
On June 16, 1943, during a test in California, the third engine caught fire. Two Lockheed testers had to rescue as the flame approached the wing fuel tank. Pilot George MacDonald died when the parachute failed to open, and another pilot, Bud Martin, survived the injury.
Air Force Tests Turboprops and Turbojets
After the war, the Air Force needed to test turboprop and turbo drilling designs. They passed Install the engine mount in the nose to accommodate the R-3550 piston engine, the premium version of the turboprop engine. A safety benefit of this configuration is the ability to turn off the main engine while testing the nose in the test nose and then restart if necessary.
For a series of tests, Curtis-Wright tested the Wright Typhoon XT35 turbine engine on the nose-mounted table. The company initially planned to provide a Boeing bomber for the engine, which eventually became a B-52, although it ended up using a different engine.
Long after World War II, the B-17 underwent further testing. In 1970, the aviation tanker company Aero Flight was equipped with a B-17F and was equipped with four Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops. Their purpose is to deploy the aircraft as air tankers for firefighting. They secure the turboscrew light at the standard propeller position in this upgrade aspect.
exist In 1946, Wright modified the A B-17G For some of these tests, it is by moving the cockpit backward and adding propellers to the nose of the aircraft.
After World War II, B-17 performed fire fighting missions
On August 18, 1970, the plane put out a fire near Dubois, Wyoming, and pulled up after falling as it stagnated. The converted bomber hit some trees, knocked them down, killing the crew. The project ended in tragedy, but it is still not the end use of the B-17.
In 1969, the Black Mountain Air Tanker Company, located in Spearfish, South Dakota, purchased the B-17G, which was Mid-60s TV show “Twelve o’clock high. ” At that time, the plane was essentially nothing more than waste. It has been stored for several years and various groups have cleaned up parts, including wings.
The bomber that was still in use in 1980
Montenegro restored the aircraft and configured it as an air tanker for firefighting. They flew to 1980 and crashed in North Carolina, where the wreckage eventually entered some woods. In the late 1980s, aircraft restorators purchased the remains and transported them to Florida. He then sold part of the plane for other B-17 restorations.
Aphrodite project uses B-17 bombers as drones
These tests and modifications to the B-17 are not the only alternative missions for the aircraft. In 1944, USAAC tested the most interesting mission with bombers Aphrodite Project. The mission involves using them as drones to attack the reinforced German U-boat and V-1 launch sites.
The project includes removing most internal components, except for pilot and radio operator spaces. The crew then packed the fuselage with 20,000 pounds of Torpex high explosives and enough fuel for a 350-mile one-way flight. The unusual payload is much more than the usual 4,000-pound bomb load for regular tasks.
For the Aphrodite project, the pilot lifted the aircraft to 2,000 feet and then moved the control to the following B-17. Their work was done and the crew continued to rescue while still in England. Then, using a radio control system, the following aircraft will guide the target of explosively filled B-17.
Multiple failures of Aphrodite project
Several B-17s flew Aphrodite’s project without anyone hitting their target. In addition, several crew members died while trying to rescue. Ironically, the most powerful weapon ever made in Britain is probably Aphrodite’s project B-17 explodes in the air near Orford. It destroyed two acres of trees and left behind 100 feet wide crater. Today, the crater is full of water, Known as Lake Fisher.
