I read with interest in March Flypast( and some concern!) that an AD -Airworthiness Directive has been issued on all Flying B-17’s (E,F and G’s) worldwide , this is 13 including Sally B and Pink Lady in Europe.
This is to establish whether cracking or corrosion is evident in the four aluminium wing spar chords or the securing bolts (64 bolts).
The CAA have set an inspection criteria of 5 bolts per spar chord for Sally B, and this work is well under way at Duxford, assuming all 20 bolts pass the inspection all will be OK.
Fingers crossed eh.
By: P9306 - 30th January 2002 at 23:22
I agree David
It’s like the people who complain about a “Police State” and then complain that there isn’t enough coppers on the streets to prevent them being mugged.
Safety First always, No Ifs No Buts.
We can all just imagine the ##### that would hit the fan all over if a B17 was to lose a wing in flight………
TaTa
Mick
By: philo - 30th January 2002 at 19:48
RE: AD Grounds all B-17’s
David,
I’m with you all of the way.
Safety first, no compromises.
Phil.
By: David J Burke - 30th January 2002 at 18:24
RE: AD Grounds all B-17’s
Why shouldn’t a ex RAF pilot with 30 years experience be allowed to fly a ex-military aircraft he has bought?? When he is in the service the machine belongs on that service and he has to abide by their rules and indeed the CAA in terms of how the aircraft is flown.
The operation of the machine outside of the airforce comes under the
control of the CAA and as long as the pilot has a valid PPL and the aircraft is airworthy the is no problem.
Regards your comments on the Chipmunk – the engine data plate is just a small part of the process to civilianise the Chipmunk (ex RAF T.10’s) for civil use .
Having been involved with various people in the CAA I tend to find that most are reasonable and their aims are the promotion of flight safety. Look at the safety record of jet warbirds in the U.S and compare that to the U.K – how many Hunter’s have run out of fuel in the U.K on approach?? it’s a different story in the U.S !!
Although it seems like the CAA are hell bent on upsetting people’s aims you often find that the is a ‘hidden’ reson why a aircraft isn’t allowed to fly by the CAA and sometimes this comes down to the honesty of an aircraft’s owner or lack of it .
By: SADSACK - 30th January 2002 at 16:42
RE: AD Grounds all B-17’s
Whose side are you on? Common sense doesnt even get a look in with the CAA. For example a low houred pilot can strap into a military aircraft and fly it, where as an ex RAF pilot with say 30 years experiance isnt allowed to fly the same plane despite having bought it.
Look at the Chipmunks – the engines had to be redesignated and all it involved was changing a number plate! yet the operators could not fly them until!
The CAAs only defence is that ist not as stupid as the Dutch
By: Arabella-Cox - 30th January 2002 at 13:37
RE: AD Grounds all B-17’s
All,
Not a rant, just a bit of food for thought for those on this forum who have been knocking the CAA and / or it’s overseas couterparts recently.
Yes, over the years we have all found some of their directives frustrating and sometimes baffling (recent conversations on here about Vulcans, Lightnings, and Dutch DC4’s all spring to mind), but let’s not forget that they are there to ensure aviation is SAFE for all involved.
The key thing here is that prevention is better than the cure, and that’s clearly what the CAA are aiming for with this. The idea of a directive such as this coming AFTER a wing spar fails on a B17 is just too horrific to contemplate…
Good luck to the operators of Sally B, Pink Lady, and all other B17’s – hope it’s all a false alarm.
By: David J Burke - 29th January 2002 at 22:32
RE: AD Grounds all B-17’s
Yes – I believe the has been grounding’s of this type. The U.S Forestry Service I recall grounded the fleet of B-25 fire bomber’s during the 1960’s after a wing folded up on one and I should think the has been numerous other instances of former military aircraft having grounding orders because of defects and the need to inspect.
By: Bluebird Mike - 29th January 2002 at 22:12
RE: AD Grounds all B-17’s
Interesting-has there ever been any other warbird type grounded as a whole like this before?
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January 29, 2002 at 9:37 pm