Really Awesome HD Video of Flying Inside a B-17 Warbird -- Video Link Included

[TwinEng]

I stumbled upon a really cool video that a guy took with a HD Sony Camcorder of a flight he took in a still flying B-17.  This is really top notch quality video, and has some truly incredible views of this old Warbird, from both the inside and outside.

Highly recommended to any B-17 fans!!   What I would not give to go up in one of these babies!

Here is the link to the video:



Check it out!

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[Grayeagle]

nice vid

[TwinEng]

nice vid

Yea, it is really exceptionally good.   It was made with a professional grade Sony camcorder that sells for $6,500 

I did not truly realize that the B-17's cockpit really is not all that big.  The shot out of the upper turret was way cool.  And checkout how the pilot was able taxi the plane around.   He could turn it on a dime!

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[TwinEng]

One thing that really struck me in the video was that the B-17 cockpit appeared to have been updated with totally modern avionics.   Did anyone else notice that?

Is this true in general of these old restored warbirds??

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[cpxxx]

The Video was a bit shaky. I was almost airsick The music was corny as the guy's son said. Better without it to hear the real music of the Wright engines.

As for modern avionics. Well it's almost a neccessity if you're going to fly around the country like the EAAs B17. On the other hand, often the original instruments are often long gone and hard to replace. Some owners want it to be as authentic as possible. I would but you have to be practical about it particularly if the warbird is a flyer.

[Grayeagle]

Thing that surprised me when I went up in one long ago was how short the takeoff roll was, the steep climb out of pattern combined with a 180 turn ..without bombs and light fuel load that plane is very 'sprightly' for as big as it is

I went up on a checkride when Bill Muscala invited me (he was cheif test pilot out at Evergreen ..flew their Mustang, Corsair, the B-17.. along with all their conversion projects)
..he had flown the B-17 as a firebomber for a long time in the past, really knew his way around one and what she could do..
..we buzzed Picacho Peak and a glider field near Tucson ..was a blast

-GE aka Frank

[Fishu]

One thing that really struck me in the video was that the B-17 cockpit appeared to have been updated with totally modern avionics.   Did anyone else notice that?

Is this true in general of these old restored warbirds??

I don't see much other modern avionics than the GPS, radio, squawk, artificial horizon (modern version of it) and some switches that do not exist in the original.

Part of the equipment is mandatory required by law. However I don't know what the US laws require. In any case modern avionics makes the life easier and much safer.

[TwinEng]

Thing that surprised me when I went up in one long ago was how short the takeoff roll was, the steep climb out of pattern combined with a 180 turn ..without bombs and light fuel load that plane is very 'sprightly' for as big as it is

Yes, I would indeed imagine that the B-17 would fly much different without any bombs, all of that .50 BMG ammo, and a full fuel load.  I myself could not believe my eyes when he was taxiing back after the flight, and did that 180 degree turn while staying on the same spot.

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