The excellent AeroVintage (http://www.aerovintage.com/b17news.htm) site has this to say:
Interesting news came to light in mid-October that B-17G 44-83563 (N9563Z), otherwise known as Fuddy Duddy, may be available for purchase, though the current owner, the Wings of Eagles (ex-National Warplane Museum), is looking for a special deal. Courtesy Aircraft, the premier dealer of all things warbird, is handling the arrangement, and the information they have posted on their website is located here. An inquiry to Mark Clark of Courtesy about the sale provided the following information directly from the source:
Mark notes that “The museum has entered into a contract with Courtesy Aircraft to explore options on the aircraft.This would include finding a national sponsor for the aircraft to enter a long term agreement to keep it going, a buyer to buy it and donate back to them or a possible sale.The focus and the effforts of the Museum are changing and the B-17 does not really fit the new model. They are very interested in someone who will continue the educational and historic operation of the aircraft.”
44-83563 has a long an diverse history that includes: use as a USAF VB-17G that carried Eisenhower at least once; appearance in two movies, The War Lover and Tora Tora Tora; used to film Dr. Strangelove; use as an air tanker for twenty-five years; and flying with the museum collection since 1986. The airplane was leased by the EAA in 2004 and 2005 to fill in for their B-17G 44-85740 (N5017N), Aluminum Overcast, after it was damaged in an May 2004 gear-up at Van Nuys.
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