Author Topic: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration  (Read 99605 times)

Offline Gingie

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #275 on: July 06, 2023, 07:28:56 AM »
Different:  A Ford Jeep customized with a B-17‘s windshield and cockpit roof



Am I the only one surprised how tiny the Fortress cockpit is? At first I thought that was a scale-o-rama 48th B17 on to a 35th Jeep!

Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #276 on: February 14, 2024, 05:29:04 AM »


At war’s end, the need for test bed aircraft that could carry new turbojet and turboprop engines aloft spawned a pair of B-17G conversions by Boeing, given the model designation 299Z. These B-17s kept all four R-1820 radial engines, and incorporated a series of streamlined engine mounts in the nose to accommodate turboprops, advanced versions of the R-3350 piston engine, and even an underslung turbojet.

Curtiss-Wright made one unusual, yet predictable, change to its test bed B-17, replacing its regular Hamilton-Standard propellers with Curtiss Electric props and hubs. The Curtiss-Wright aircraft tested the Wright Typhoon XT35 turbine engine originally envisioned for a Boeing bomber that became the B-52 with different engines. This test bed also flew with an underslung Curtiss-Wright J65 turbojet.

The Curtiss Wright B-17G underwent further alterations with a new underslung centerline mount for a J65 turbojet. Propellers on this airplane were Curtiss-Wright instead of Hamilton-Standard.
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Offline finsrin

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #277 on: February 15, 2024, 01:26:55 AM »
Could kitbash B-58 engine in same place to become a post war racing B-17.

Offline raafif

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #278 on: February 15, 2024, 06:34:19 AM »
Could kitbash B-58 engine in same place to become a post war racing B-17.

 :smiley: :smiley:

Offline Daryl J.

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #279 on: March 15, 2024, 10:24:35 AM »
Early platform for VLF communications like the current E-6B Mercury.

Wingtip pods, antenna faring replacing the dorsal turret,  etc.
kwyxdxLg5T

Offline finsrin

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #280 on: March 15, 2024, 12:55:41 PM »
Early platform for VLF communications like the current E-6B Mercury.

Wingtip pods, antenna faring replacing the dorsal turret,  etc.

Approved  :smiley:

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #281 on: March 16, 2024, 03:18:11 AM »
If talking Navy birds, what about a developed PB-1 with MAD boom and torpedoes?
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Offline raafif

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #282 on: March 18, 2024, 05:43:35 AM »
If talking Navy birds, what about a developed PB-1 with MAD boom and torpedoes?

Like this ?

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #283 on: March 18, 2024, 06:20:01 AM »
A towed MAD device might be more practical for the PB-1/B-17 instead of that long extended boom that would seriously get in the way during landing and departures.  Some PBY Catalinas serving in the ASW role were equipped with a towed MAD device that was trailed when searching for submarines and when not needed was winched back aboard the aircraft.  If I remember correctly, it was deployed and hauled in via the lower gunners position in the hull. 





***Edit for grammar--jjf
« Last Edit: March 18, 2024, 07:30:24 AM by Jeffry Fontaine »
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Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #284 on: March 18, 2024, 08:54:28 AM »
If talking Navy birds, what about a developed PB-1 with MAD boom and torpedoes?

Like this ?

I'd go with a Tracker style retractable MAD boom & retractable radar where the ball turret used to be with torpedoes in the bomb bay, & maybe an early FLIR turret where the chin turret used to be.
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Offline finsrin

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #285 on: March 18, 2024, 09:57:43 AM »
If talking Navy birds, what about a developed PB-1 with MAD boom and torpedoes?

Like this ?

I'd go with a Tracker style retractable MAD boom & retractable radar where the ball turret used to be with torpedoes in the bomb bay, & maybe an early FLIR turret where the chin turret used to be.

Yes, you are on a roll....

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #286 on: March 19, 2024, 02:14:44 AM »
A towed MAD device might be more practical for the PB-1/B-17 instead of that long extended boom that would seriously get in the way during landing and departures.  Some PBY Catalinas serving in the ASW role were equipped with a towed MAD device that was trailed when searching for submarines and when not needed was winched back aboard the aircraft.  If I remember correctly, it was deployed and hauled in via the lower gunners position in the hull. 


Yes, this was the Catalina system:


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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #287 on: March 19, 2024, 02:20:51 AM »
I'd go with a Tracker style retractable MAD boom & retractable radar where the ball turret used to be with torpedoes in the bomb bay, & maybe an early FLIR turret where the chin turret used to be.

I was thinking of something closer to the P-3 MAD boom:



Radar as you suggested:



Possibly early IR searchlight/scanner instead of B-17G nose turret, possibly akin to this:



And possibly sonobuoys in bomb bay and torpedoes on under wing mounts.
« Last Edit: March 19, 2024, 02:22:34 AM by GTX_Admin »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #288 on: March 19, 2024, 09:50:22 PM »
I'd go with a Tracker style retractable MAD boom & retractable radar where the ball turret used to be with torpedoes in the bomb bay, & maybe an early FLIR turret where the chin turret used to be.

I was thinking of something closer to the P-3 MAD boom:



I was thinking that, as the B-17 is a tail-dragger (which closely equates to the stance of the Tracker), that a retractable boom would be less likely than any form of fixed boom to get broken.

I'd go with a Tracker style retractable MAD boom & retractable radar where the ball turret used to be with torpedoes in the bomb bay, & maybe an early FLIR turret where the chin turret used to be.

Radar as you suggested:



Exactly! 8)

I'd go with a Tracker style retractable MAD boom & retractable radar where the ball turret used to be with torpedoes in the bomb bay, & maybe an early FLIR turret where the chin turret used to be.

Possibly early IR searchlight/scanner instead of B-17G nose turret, possibly akin to this:



And possibly sonobuoys in bomb bay and torpedoes on under wing mounts.

Works for me! :smiley:
« Last Edit: March 19, 2024, 09:53:50 PM by Old Wombat »
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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #289 on: March 20, 2024, 01:43:05 AM »
I was thinking that, as the B-17 is a tail-dragger (which closely equates to the stance of the Tracker), that a retractable boom would be less likely than any form of fixed boom to get broken.


If you look how the B-17 sits when parked and then imagine the main MAD boom being aligned with the upper part of the fuselage line and then extending no more than 2 - 3m back, I think we would be fine


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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #290 on: March 20, 2024, 01:45:31 AM »
Another idea:  What if during the war the Allies decided that they needed greater range and thus a bunch of B-17s (and B-24s) were converted/produced as dedicated Aerial Refuelling tankers to accompany (partway) the bomber fleets?
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Offline finsrin

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Re: Boeing B-17 Ideas and Inspiration
« Reply #291 on: March 20, 2024, 02:30:18 AM »
Another idea:  What if during the war the Allies decided that they needed greater range and thus a bunch of B-17s (and B-24s) were converted/produced as dedicated Aerial Refuelling tankers to accompany (partway) the bomber fleets?

  :smiley: