B-17 crash near Hartford

M_Six · 10-02-2019, 05:02 PM

I just flew out of this airport on Saturday. This was a nasty crash with paying passengers involved. Such a tragic loss of life, not to mention the loss of a classic airplane.

https://www.courant.com/breaking-new...diu-story.html

I was lucky enough to have access to a different B-17 when it visited a local airfield a few years ago. Several folks paid $400 to fly around for a few minutes in this one the day I was there.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjYfPc9u

kscarrol · 10-02-2019, 05:25 PM

Saw this, very sad. Have similar offering at an airshow here in NOLA where a number of WWII vintage planes come but have never taken the ride...

NickyC · 10-02-2019, 05:27 PM

Just terrible. RIP

DETRoadster · 10-02-2019, 05:29 PM

That's terrible! It's always been my dream to take a flight in a B17. Amazing machines.

upstatedoc · 10-03-2019, 08:29 AM

saw this on the news last night. maybe they shouldn't be flying these?

MPOWER5266 · 10-03-2019, 08:59 AM

I've met a few of those guys through work and airshows. This is a huge loss for the aviation community.

DocL · 10-03-2019, 10:00 AM

I took a flight on this plane a few years ago when the show was at the Boca airport. I can tell you that these planes are in top shape. The way it felt when it took off was incredible. It just floated off the runway. It's a shame that this happened and there was a loss of life.

GeeRam · 10-03-2019, 10:13 AM

Awful news......and if they hadn't hit that ILS mast just ahead of the runway threshold, they would have likely landed OK.
As ever, these tragic disasters are often about the finest of margins.

I too took a flight in this particular B-17 (as well as their B-25) back in 2007 when over in the USA visiting friends in California.

M5Rick · 10-03-2019, 03:34 PM

Tragic crash,the same B-17 was involved in a crash landing at Beaver County airport when it overshot the runway and went down a hillside over 30 years ago though no fatalities then.

bimmer456 · 10-03-2019, 06:31 PM

The loss of life is the bigger loss. Planes can be restored though from the looks of it this is a total loss, but still just a plane and more B17s can be built. Probably not wise to fly such an old plane though this one didn't see combat in WWII as it was made in the 60s. Looks like it was used to put out some brush or forest fires back in the day.

M_Six · 10-03-2019, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

The loss of life is the bigger loss. Planes can be restored though from the looks of it this is a total loss, but still just a plane and more B17s can be built. Probably not wise to fly such an old plane though this one didn't see combat in WWII as it was made in the 60s. Looks like it was used to put out some brush or forest fires back in the day.

From the article: "The Collings B-17G bomber was built in 1944."

But you're right, the loss of life is the true tragedy here.

bimmer456 · 10-03-2019, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M_Six

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

The loss of life is the bigger loss. Planes can be restored though from the looks of it this is a total loss, but still just a plane and more B17s can be built. Probably not wise to fly such an old plane though this one didn't see combat in WWII as it was made in the 60s. Looks like it was used to put out some brush or forest fires back in the day.

From the article: "The Collings B-17G bomber was built in 1944."

But you're right, the loss of life is the true tragedy here.

So it looks like it went into service in 1945 so it wasn't used in the war but was used for other purposes.

M_Six · 10-03-2019, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

So it looks like it went into service in 1945 so it wasn't used in the war but was used for other purposes.

Probably so. In fact, I bet most of the surviving B-17s never saw combat.

bimmer456 · 10-04-2019, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M_Six

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

So it looks like it went into service in 1945 so it wasn't used in the war but was used for other purposes.

Probably so. In fact, I bet most of the surviving B-17s never saw combat.

I looked at pictures of the wreckage, it may be possible to restore it but I wouldn't recommend flying it just keep it as a museum piece if anyone is willing to spend the money. The entity that owned the plane might get sued by the families as the plane should have been thoroughly checked and maintained to insure it was safe to fly with civilian passengers with no special training. It is an old plane so anything can happen, even if it was the Flying Fortress back in the day and had a reputation for being a tank and continuing to fly even after suffering direct hits from flak and anti aircraft artillary.

GeeRam · 10-04-2019, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I looked at pictures of the wreckage, it may be possible to restore it but I wouldn't recommend flying it just keep it as a museum piece if anyone is willing to spend the money. The entity that owned the plane might get sued by the families as the plane should have been thoroughly checked and maintained to insure it was safe to fly with civilian passengers with no special training. It is an old plane so anything can happen, even if it was the Flying Fortress back in the day and had a reputation for being a tank and continuing to fly even after suffering direct hits from flak and anti aircraft artillary.

You should get a job working for the media spouting ill-informed rubbish like that

10-02-2019, 05:02 PM	#1
M_Six Free Thinker 19183 Rep 7,540 Posts Drives: 2016 MB GLC300 4matic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Foothills of Mt Level iTrader: (0)	B-17 crash near Hartford I just flew out of this airport on Saturday. This was a nasty crash with paying passengers involved. Such a tragic loss of life, not to mention the loss of a classic airplane. https://www.courant.com/breaking-new...diu-story.html I was lucky enough to have access to a different B-17 when it visited a local airfield a few years ago. Several folks paid $400 to fly around for a few minutes in this one the day I was there. https://flic.kr/s/aHsjYfPc9u __________________ Mark markj.pics "Life is uncertain, eat bacon now." -UncleWede
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10-02-2019, 05:25 PM	#2
kscarrol Brigadier General 9556 Rep 4,130 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i, 1974 2002 Tii Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (0)	Saw this, very sad. Have similar offering at an airshow here in NOLA where a number of WWII vintage planes come but have never taken the ride... __________________ 2021 X3 M40i 1974 2002tii, Inka, 5 sp manual BMWCCA # 327475
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10-02-2019, 05:27 PM	#3
NickyC Lieutenant General 19207 Rep 11,183 Posts Drives: M4 CS. Former G82, x2 F82, F80 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Jacked out of my mind iTrader: (23)	Just terrible. RIP
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10-02-2019, 05:29 PM	#4
DETRoadster Space Force - 4 Star General 11496 Rep 3,265 Posts Drives: M2 MG 6MT / Moto Guzzi V7 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	That's terrible! It's always been my dream to take a flight in a B17. Amazing machines.
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10-03-2019, 08:29 AM	#5
upstatedoc I'll get back to you 7533 Rep 2,132 Posts Drives: blue streak Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: not downstate iTrader: (2)	saw this on the news last night. maybe they shouldn't be flying these? __________________ 2018 Stinger GT 2009 E90 N51 /Active Autowerke Stage 2 tune/BMW Performance Exhaust/ Countermeasure enthusiast.
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10-03-2019, 08:59 AM	#6
MPOWER5266 Major 4778 Rep 1,189 Posts Drives: 1997 Dinan m3 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Ga iTrader: (0)	I've met a few of those guys through work and airshows. This is a huge loss for the aviation community.
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10-03-2019, 10:00 AM	#7
DocL Captain 2091 Rep 943 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Comp 6spd Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Delray Beach iTrader: (2)	I took a flight on this plane a few years ago when the show was at the Boca airport. I can tell you that these planes are in top shape. The way it felt when it took off was incredible. It just floated off the runway. It's a shame that this happened and there was a loss of life. __________________ 2018 F80 M3. YMB/BLK. ZCP. Three Pedals. "Education will never be as expensive as ignorance."
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10-03-2019, 10:13 AM	#8
GeeRam Major 197 Rep 1,317 Posts Drives: X5 40d SE Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Berkshire,UK iTrader: (0)	Awful news......and if they hadn't hit that ILS mast just ahead of the runway threshold, they would have likely landed OK. As ever, these tragic disasters are often about the finest of margins. I too took a flight in this particular B-17 (as well as their B-25) back in 2007 when over in the USA visiting friends in California. __________________ 2017 X5 4.0dSE ~ Atlas Cedar:Ind.Amaro Brown Merino&Piano Blk, Sport Auto, DHP, Comfort seats, Cold weather pack, HK audio, Electric towbar, Sun protection glass.
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10-03-2019, 03:34 PM	#9
M5Rick General 68569 Rep 22,081 Posts Drives: M5 F10 DCT Gunmetal Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: GB iTrader: (0)	Tragic crash,the same B-17 was involved in a crash landing at Beaver County airport when it overshot the runway and went down a hillside over 30 years ago though no fatalities then.
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10-03-2019, 06:31 PM	#10
bimmer456 Major General 3066 Rep 6,089 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	The loss of life is the bigger loss. Planes can be restored though from the looks of it this is a total loss, but still just a plane and more B17s can be built. Probably not wise to fly such an old plane though this one didn't see combat in WWII as it was made in the 60s. Looks like it was used to put out some brush or forest fires back in the day.
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