A classic World War II B-17E Flying Fortress heavy bomber is up for sale for a “small price” of $9 million. However, the aircraft is dismantled in a warehouse in the state of Washington (USA).
The aircraft was built by Boeing in 1941, the year the United States officially entered World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, this bomber never saw combat. This B-17, in fact, had a long career in North and South America, including a age through Bolivia, when it was known as “El Tigre”, says the portal. Popular Mechanics.
The four-engined aircraft arrived in the South American country in July 1964, being operated by Compania Boliviana de Aviacion under registration -753. In 1974 he was transferred to Frigorificos Reyes, in La Paz, and in 1976 he had an accident when landing in San Borja. In 1990, it was taken back to the United States.
The aircraft has the civil registration N12355 and according to the seller Platinum Fighter Sales, 80% of the aircraft was restored. "This B-17E was flown to Washington state in 1998 for restoration. The finish so far is second to none. If completed to the same standards, it will be the finest B-17 restoration in the world. The project is substantially complete with the correct engines and propellers.”, points out the website.
The aircraft saw no combat in Europe or the Pacific. THE N12355 spent the period in the US, where it was used by Honeywell in the development of the C-1 Automatic Flight Control Equipment (AFCE), a type of autopilot. "It is conceivable that this B-17 played a role in the development of training material, including Walt Disney's series of live and animated short films covering the C-1. Honeywell also maintained a School of Aeronautics at Wold-Chamberlain Field and the B-17 may have been involved in demonstrations at this school.”
In all, 12,371 Flying Fortresses were manufactured by Boeing and its subcontractors Lockheed and Douglas. It is one of the most famous planes that served during the greatest conflict in history and was in military service with 20 countries, including Brazil. The Brazilian Air Force operated 13 B-17s between 1951 and 1968 in reconnaissance and search and rescue tasks.
