B-17 Flying Fortress The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was the first mass-produced, four-engine heavy bomber. It is still one of the most recognised aeroplanes ever built. It was most widely used for daylight strategic bombings of German industrial targets during World War II as part of the United States Eighth Air Force. Development Operational History Variants/Design Stages Units Using the B-17 Noted B-17 Pilots Specifications

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE Big Yank, served in 1945.

B-17 Flying Fortress

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was the first mass-produced, four-engine heavy bomber. It is still one of the most recognised aeroplanes ever built. It was most widely used for daylight strategic bombings of German industrial targets during World War II as part of the United States Eighth Air Force.

Specifications (B-17G)

General characteristics

Crew: 10

Length: 74 ft 4 in (22.7 m)

Wingspan: 103 ft 10 in (31.6 m)

Height: 19 ft 1 in (5.8 m)

Wing area: 1527 ft² (141.9 m²)

Empty: 54,900 lb (24,900 kg)

Loaded: 72,134 lb (32,720 kg)

Maximum takeoff: 74,000 lb (34,000 kg)

Powerplant: 4× Wright R-1820-97 turbo-supercharged radials, 1,200 hp (895 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 300 mph (480 km/h)

Range: 3,400 miles (5,500 km)

Service ceiling: 35,600 ft (10,900 m)

Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)

Wing loading: 47.2 lb/ft² (231 kg/m²)

Power/mass: 0.0655 hp/lb (110 W/kg)

Armament

13× Browning M-2 0.50 calibre (12.7 mm) machine guns

8,000 lb (3,600 kg) of bombs

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