What was the top speed of a B-17?

311 miles per hour
The Y1B-17A had a maximum speed of 311 miles per hour (501 km/h), at its best operational altitude, compared to 239 miles per hour (385 km/h) for the Y1B-17.

How many B-17 can fly?

Today, 46 planes survive in complete form, 10 of which are airworthy, and 39 of which reside in the United States.

How much weight could a B-17 carry?

A 4,000-pound (1,800-kg) bomb load was typical for long missions, though the B-17 could carry up to 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) internally for shorter distances at lower altitudes and even more on external racks beneath the wings.

How effective were B-17 gunners?

The B-17 carried over 14 of these machine guns in twin and single gun emplacements, making them very deadly when flying in formation. Many a Luftwaffe pilot fell to the combined firepower of the hundreds of machine guns in B-17 formations. Yes,though not in as big numbers as the gunners claimed.

Do planes really drop poop?

Blue ice, in the context of aviation, is frozen sewage material that has leaked mid-flight from commercial aircraft lavatory waste systems. Airlines are not allowed to dump their waste tanks in mid-flight, and pilots have no mechanism by which to do so; however, leaks sometimes do occur from a planes septic tank.

What type of fuel does a B-17 use?

#13510059. Aviation gas used during WWII was 130/140 octaine.

What replaced the B-17?

B-24s
Beginning in the spring of 1943, the 43rd Bomb Group replaced its B-17s with B-24s, ending the combat career of the Flying Fortress in the Pacific. Not a single B-17 bomber ever appeared in the skies over Japan while hostilities were under way.

Was the b24 better than the B-17?

But, the record of the two types indicates that, of the two, the Liberator design was more versatile and considerably more advanced than that of the Flying Fortress. The combat records of both types contradict the assertions that aircrews flying B-17s were “safer” than those in B-24s.

Why do planes not fly over the Pacific?

The main reason flight don’t go over the Pacific Ocean is because curved routes are shorter than straight routes. Flat maps are confusing as the earth itself isn’t flat. As a result the straight routes don’t offer the shortest distance. You can verify this by conducting a small experiment using a globe.

What happens if you flush an airplane toilet while sitting on it?

You can get stuck on a plane toilet if you flush while sitting down. You can get stuck, but only if your body forms a perfect seal on the vacuum toilet. This is difficult to do. Adam Savage of “Mythbusters” tried it out, and despite serious suction, got up without a problem.

Which is bigger B-17 or B-29?

The B-29 is much longer than the B-17 is, by almost five times as much! On top of this, the B-29 has a much longer wingspan, by almost 50%! Boeing also designed the B-29 to have a much larger bomb bay.

Why was the B-24 called the flying coffin?

Officially designated the “Liberator,” the square shaped B-24 could easily turn into a death trap. It was hard to fly with its stiff and heavy controls, and so earned its name by its crews as the “Flying Coffin.”

When was the first flight of the B-17?

Top Facts About the B-17 Flying Fortress. SHARE:FacebookTwitter. From the day of its maiden flight 83 years ago, the B-17 Flying Fortress has become the royalty of the skies. Made by the Boeing company, this four-engine heavy bomber got airborne for the first time on July 28, 1935.

Is the B-17 Flying Fortress still flying?

Out of the massive number of B-17s produced, less than 15 are still flying. However, in its day, many pilots compared it with the B-24 and declared their preference for the B-17 owing to its stability and durability. They claimed the B-17 Flying Fortress could still fly better than the B-24 even if it had one damaged engine.

What was the weight of the B-17F?

5) The YB-40, a modified B-17F, was developed as a super-armed gunship to protect other bombers in the days before escort fighters. Its gross weight was 4,000 lbs. heavier than a fully armed B-17, increasing its time to climb to 20,000 feet from 25 minutes to 48 minutes.

What was the purpose of the B 17 bomber?

The B-17 was designed by the Boeing Aircraft Company in response to a 1934 Army Air Corps specification that called for a four-engined bomber at a time when two engines were the norm.