A pretty special trip (B.17)

[mrloudly]

Was over @ Oshkosh last week and took the opportunity to fly in a Boeing B17 "Aluminum Overcast"

Complete lack of hassle and without a five hour briefing as one would expect here...

Enjoy ;-)

http://youtu.be/QMu_-NYSHGc

I'll upload the B.29 (Fifi) cockpit ride later ;-)

Here's the approach and landing in the B.29 "Fifi"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnNYnAeHNxk&fea...

Edited by mrloudly on Saturday 10th August 20:55

[Eric Mc]

Fantastic. Lucky you.

The amount of aileron deflection used on the takeoff run was pretty surprising.

[JBACON01]

Thanks for sharing, b17 was one of my favourite aircraft when I was a kid.

Any ideas why they "walk" the throttle levers foward like that?

[mrloudly]

The throttles are walked to keep the ship straight until proper aerodynamic rudder authority is achieved, it's also better than just whacking them open! There was a fair cross wind from the Stbd side hence the in to wind aileron, you'll notice it's backed off as airspeed is gained. Doesn't seem real we did it now, real trip of a lifetime!

[jjones]

awesome. nice video

[Mojocvh]

Yep thank you very much for those

[Eric Mc]

mrloudly said:

The throttles are walked to keep the ship straight until proper aerodynamic rudder authority is achieved, it's also better than just whacking them open! There was a fair cross wind from the Stbd side hence the in to wind aileron, you'll notice it's backed off as airspeed is gained. Doesn't seem real we did it now, real trip of a lifetime!

The B-17 has a huge fin and rudder so it is very prone to weather cocking in crosswinds.

[mrloudly]

Eric Mc said:

The B-17 has a huge fin and rudder so it is very prone to weather cocking in crosswinds.

Agreed, although the aileron holds the wing down as it will lift rapidly as speed is gained in a crosswind.

Another example can be seen here in a modern aircraft, note also the throttle "walking" early on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrwcIel3a1U

[ph1l5]

Amazing, on The B17 video whats the dial with the little twizzley things going mad as its taking off ?

[aeropilot]

Brilliant.....

I've also flown in a B-17G as well as a B-25J when over in the USA

[mrloudly]

ph1l5 said:

Amazing, on The B17 video whats the dial with the little twizzley things going mad as its taking off ?

Probably the fuel flow indicators I did wonder that myself, but was too excited to ask ;-)

[mrloudly]

Amazing thing is, it was all achieved sans five hour HSE video/briefing and there wasn't a high vis jacket in sight. How we weren't
all torn to shreds in the props or killed falling from the bomb bay, I shall never know

[aeropilot]

mrloudly said:

Amazing thing is, it was all achieved sans five hour HSE video/briefing and there wasn't a high vis jacket in sight. How we weren't
all torn to shreds in the props or killed falling from the bomb bay, I shall never know

Did they have the B-17 in 'vert mode with the radio compartment roof removed, so you could stand up with your head out in the airstream.....?

[mrloudly]

Unfortunately not, it was perspexed over. To be fair you could still see the rear of the bird though, pretty cool!

[mrloudly]

I have some more vids to upload, I'll give a shout when I've sorted them ;-)

[hman]

The twizzley things are the prop sync instruments aren't they?

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

If you mean the single instrument with the 3 prop indications to the right lower centre of the Instrument Panel then you are correct, that is the engine synchronometer.

It gives a pictorial representation of engine speeds relative to a master engine (usually number 2 engine).

As far as 'walking' the throttles goes, it's not just about directional stability but more to do with: a. Not 'slam accelerating' the engines (which could lead to a 'rich cut' (ie engine failure) and b. Having the ability to quickly catch any swing that would develop if an engine failed as the engines are accelerated.

[AER]

hman said:

The twizzley things are the prop sync instruments aren't they?

Yes. They stop rotating when the engines are running at exactly the same rpm.

[hidetheelephants]

I imagine walloping the throttle open on a big donkey like the R1820 can cause unpleasantness; no doubt it's verboten in the pilot's notes.