Well crap.
Lets try that again.
Last Saturday (April 15), the Yankee Air Museum announced it was grounding its World War II-vintage Boeing B-17G “Yankee Lady” in anticipation of an FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD), expected within a few weeks. Online sources, including a detailed article at Aerovintage.com, anticipate the AD will likely ground all currently flying B-17s due to “wing spar issues” cited by the Yankee Air Museum.
The Michigan-based museum posted on its Facebook page: “Hello, The Yankee Air Museum decided to proactively cease flight operations of the B-17G Flying Fortress ‘Yankee Lady.’ Recent inspections of other B-17s have discovered wing spar issues. As a result, we expect a mandatory Airworthiness Directive to be issued by the FAA in the next few weeks regarding the matter. Out of an abundance of caution, we are temporarily ceasing our B-17 flight operations and awaiting direction from the FAA regarding necessary inspections and repairs that will be required. It is expected that the B-17 will not fly during the 2023 flying season. Please note that this only affects the B-17.”
The announcement added that those who had scheduled “Air Adventure” rides on “Yankee Lady” would receive refunds and assured that its B-25, C-47, and Bell UH1 “Huey” helicopter will continue to fly with passengers. A 25-minute ride on the B-17 is priced at $525 ($425 for museum members) according to the museum’s website.
“Yankee Lady” is one of the few B-17s currently operating in the U.S. Others include the Commemorative Air Force’s “Sentimental Journey” and the Erickson Aircraft Collection’s “Olde Pub.” According to Wikipedia and other sources, there are currently nine airworthy B-17s worldwide out of 12,731 manufactured by Boeing, Douglas and Lockheed between 1936 and the end of World War II in 1945.
bttt
B-17s are RACISSS
This is sad. The B-17 is classic.
My Dad flew B-17s and B-24s in ETO during WWII.
Can they be fixed and put back up?
Damn, how am I gonna get to work?
Guess I’ll have to start taking the Lightning.
An AD on an 80+ year-old airplane. That’s a new one on me.
Am happy I got my flight in 2007 out of Centennial, CO.
Next thing you know these filthy democrats will ban all airshows....to save the planet.
20 years ago, I was fortunate to be able to fly in the Collings Foundation B-17 called the “Nine-O-Nine”.
The DAUGHTER of one of my co-workers is one of the Yankee Air Museum pilots for their B-17. I hope they can solve the problem soon. They need some good luck. A while back, one of their hangars burned down, destroying everything in it.
Well we still have the newer B-52’s flying so we still have offensive capability