B17

[yakbut]

A couple more shots of the B17 flying at Walney airshow. This aircraft may not be flying in the UK for much longer. The European Union in their infinite wisdom have decided it's in the same insurance category as a fully loaded 737. That works out about a £1000 an hour, plus fuel and maintenance. The only reason that it is able to fly this summer is thanks to Virgin and Richard Branson paying the insurance.

[myth337]

sad... everybody wants to see how they can get money from everybody else.

nice pics...

[Jon Foster]

Awesome machine... The insurance companies should be the ones paying to keep them in the air. Those warbirds and the kids that flew them are what have allowed all these companies to stay in business for decades...

Jon.

[kbreit]

It's a shame, damn you EU! My grandpa flew on those during the war, manning the top turret. While I never met him (he died before I was born), I have a picture of him in it (The Mad Mullet) right next to my computer. They're one of my favorite planes, I hope they always fly.

[Ballen Photo]

Awesome machine... The insurance companies should be the ones paying to keep them in the air. Those warbirds and the kids that flew them are what have allowed all these companies to stay in business for decades...

Jon, You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! What's with those people anyway? :evil:
-Bruce

[malla1962]

superb shot.

[Medic1]

Nice work....great images

[John Ellis]

Superb shots ..... for me the star of the Air Show. Due to the insurance companies pictures like this could be near its end. Something must be done.

[bealie]

and im still waiting to see one fly.......better hurry up then

[holty]

love the second shot!!!

[RadAL]

nice shots :)... but you made a typo on the 2nd picture ;)

[greg20d]

Awesome machine... The insurance companies should be the ones paying to keep them in the air. Those warbirds and the kids that flew them are what have allowed all these companies to stay in business for decades...

Jon.
What Jon said ...great shots
better than the b17 shots I got ...lol

[Greg P.]

It's a shame, damn you EU! My grandpa flew on those during the war, manning the top turret. While I never met him (he died before I was born), I have a picture of him in it (The Mad Mullet) right next to my computer. They're one of my favorite planes, I hope they always fly.

Oh they will. the B-17, along with the B-24, will fly for many many years to come, they were built well from the start, and im sure theres thousands of GI aviators who would agree with me.

[superdiver]

I think the first picture is by far the best, just because of composition. I can really see what the plane looks like...

[Greg P.]

Out of curiosity, why are the bomb bay doors open on the second shot of Sally B?

[holty]

simulated bomb drop (nothing was actually dropped) on one of the passes....if i recall correctly walney airfield during the second world war played a large part in the protection of convoys in the atlantic passage and the planes displaying at the show were predominantly of that era. although we did get some fabulous fast jet displays as well!!!

[Greg P.]

very sweet. im a total WWII buff, id love to see any other shots.

I remember when iw as about 9 or 10 my parents took me to a WWII air show at Floyd Bennet Field in Brooklyn, and it was heaven for me. I got to walk through the B-17, wow. its awesome in there.

[sjd70]

Fantastic work. Great images. I was also wondering what was being dropped from the open bomb bay doors!!

[photobitz]

Superb shots ..... for me the star of the Air Show. Due to the insurance companies pictures like this could be near its end. Something must be done.

Why not load them up with a full payload and bomb the insurance companies?

[Jon Foster]

great shots better than the b17 shots I got ...lol

Pretty much any shot of a rare bird like this is a keeper. How many people can see one of these fly let alone take a shot from up close? And how about the belly shot? I'd bet even less people can come up with a shot like that!

Jon.

[Mr. Pickles]

They are charging way too high rates for insurance???

Load this baby up. Take off. Fly. Bomb bay doors open. Check. Target (insurance headquarters) in sight. Check. Target in range. Check. BOMBS AWAY. Bombs away.

See if the insurance companies headquarters is covered for that.

[greg20d]

when I waled in to the airfield they saw my L lens and asked what paper I was with and ..I said im independent and had the run of the place ...hahahaha

[WBK]

In the sixties in Southern Oregon, they were still flying B-17s as fire retardent bombers. I will never forget the sight and sound of them flying low and loaded over the our house as they started their climb out of the valley.

Great shots, I love to see this airplane flying, parked, in pictures, . . .

Bill:)