BOLIVIAN B17's

909

Jules – thanks – hope you are doing OK Sir

I flew into Burbank from Brackett on the transit hop for 909 – Must have been about 25 minutes but it sure was a fun ride – was sat behind the CP on engine start so it was particularly good . The Collings people are a very professional bunch

Best ..Ron

WINGS of FREEDOM ( B-17, B-24, B-25) Burbank, Ca. April 28- May 2 Friday- Tuesday
Bob Hope Airport Flight reservations 800-568-8924 (Flights are $425 for the 17s and 24s, but $325 and $400 for the 25s. (Tax Deductible Donations) $10 walk through adult

$425? Hmmm That’s about what they paid me for flying them for 2 months.

Paul Allen B17 E – ex Bolivian CP 753

I know its a long shot but does anyone know how Mr Allens B17 restoration is going in Arlington WA – i am wondering what paint scheme he will choose ,
think Yankee Doodle is a historically significant name ,Any other guesses !!!!!

909

Hey Jules – hope your tour goes well and 909 performs well during those stops ,certainly good to see you on here .I hope to see 909 at Long Beach Late April – also good to know she was built there !!!!

still hope to see your shots of ex Bolivian CP 753 which you flew in at Ft Lauderdale

Kind Regards Ron

B17, B24 and B25

Any of you plane lovers in the US or UK, the collings Foundation B17, B24 and B25 will be in Ft Lauderdale, FL for 3 days then Pompano Beach Airport for 3 days then to Boca Raton for 4 days, starting Feb17 until Feb 28. They offer 1/2 hour rides and/or walkthroughs of the aircraft.

If anyone does come to visit, look for me at the exit door of the B17, stop by and say hello.

CP891 EX FRIGORICOS REYES

Thanks Martin – the one in SAB Markings is a hard to find shot – i like this color scheme very much indeed ,might do a painting of it someday
Hope all going well in Switzerland . Hope your getting a good dose of Mustangs out there !!!!

and another

CP-891

I saw an episode of ‘Skybound’ on Disco Wings about Propliners and they showed a DC3 carting carcasses in S. America. The villagers could hitch a lift as well, paying by the pound, and they just had to stand in the Fuselage…They showed 2 middle aged ladies in their sunday best leaning against the carcasses….and the village kids hanging onto the Elevator as it taxied out!

They also showed an airline operating out of the Dominican Republic with 2 DC7s and A Connie!

Bolivian B17’s + Paul Allen’s B17E

Any news on how the restoration of Paul Allen’s B17 E is going on up in Arlington Washington State USA ? – I read he was having it re skinned to correct OR Improve on work done by the Whittington Bros

Some speculation about what color scheme he will adopt when its done ?

Yankee Doodle ?

Thanks Ron

Hi – anybody got any shots of B17’s in Bolivia at any period they were in service and any livery – will add one beauty of my own

Thanks Ron

You mean like this??

Don’t recall where I got hold of these, but it says 1970 on the back of both. Working warbirds – now those were the days..
Got a couple of B24 shots as well; somewhere.

John

B 17

Just finished the second weekend acting as docent at the Collings NINE-O-NINE B17. Am getting over a nasty sunburn. Weather was great, Rob Collings told me that they surpassed 100 flights since arriving in FL. They also flew the B25 pretty often They had an F4U on display, simply beautiful.
The B24 should be rejoining the tour next month. At present it’s in a paint shop getting a new coat.

Miss Angela

Apparently he sold B-17G-105-VE, N3509G , renamed to Miss Museum of Flying to Bob Pond ( Later renamed Miss Angela ) and then the Bolivain Fort was also there -CP753 ultimately sold to Paul Allen

So Whittington processed two Forts .Miss Angela as she is now known was previously a Fire Fighting Tanker Aircraft

see http://www.air-and-space.com/Boeing%20B-17%20Tankers.htm for info on Miss Angela as she was then

Would the B-17 Don Whittington had restored to flying condition by any chance be N3509G which is now with Bob Pond? I saw this in Don’s hangar at Ft. Lauderdale in Feb. 92. it was flyable at that time!

T J

Hi All,

Mr Allens B-17 is in storage pending its turn at the restoration shop. When the Whinington Brothers sold it to him it had only been wash out and repaired to make it airworthy. Mr.Allen has most of the items to rebuild it.

I have some photos of it when it was in florida and I can tell you even after they washed and clean the inside it still had a funk to it.

The last thing I heard was it was slated to head to the shop sometime in 05.

Cheers

Crazy mainer,
The Bolivian B17 that Don Whittington restored wasn’t anything that you described.I helped with some of the coolie work, since it was in very poor condition, when the restoration was completed, it was in pristene condition. I had a ride in it and I had about 15 minutes stick time. I have hanging in my apartment 6 11×16 pictures taken by a pro photographer

re Bolivian E

Hi Jules – If you have a friend who has a scanner may he or she could scan them and then e mail them to you

Did you go to the Collings deal at the weekend , I thought you mentioned that recently , nice that you take the time to volunteer .

Kind Regards Ron

pictures

I have 6 color 11×16 professional pictures of the interior of the bolivian B 17.I don’t know to get it on this site. I guess if I had a digital camera something could be done, but I don’t.

More Cockpit photos

Dont know why but I like this shot – something a bit different

B17 Cockpit shots – ex CP 891

Thought I would add these since my visit to the Ex Bolivian Freighter at March AFB – please note in the shot looking down at the Main Panel there is the smaller switch panel under the instruments -lower centre , now note the red safety latch which covers the Landing Gear Up Down Switch . It gaurds the switch so it cannot be accidentally touched and pushed up to raise the Gear when selecting up or down flaps (which is nearby )

The Accident to Aluminum Overcast was caused when the Gear Switch was knocked and the Gear raised whilst she was finishing her Landing roll off the runway .I believe Aluminum Overcast didn’t have this Safety Latch or it was removed . It was a standard feature of B17’s after leaving the Factory

I think the volunteers at March are doing a great job restoring Return to Glory

Would be great to hear your account and see shots particularly from LA PAZ – I am sure they must have a least one C46 still going ?? and a Convair or two plus the forementioned .

Why dont you go to one of the operators and ask to pay for a flight in a C46 or DC3 / 6 – Now that would be interesting indeed