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United States' Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress

Photos

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress bomber:
United States' Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress bomber 		Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress bomber:
United States' Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress bomber		 Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress bomber:
United States' Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress bomber		 Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress bomber:
United States' Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress bomber

Design

The Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress had better defensive armament.4 Had electrically operated turbocharger controls installed.3 Some models had radar.3

Defenses

Below the navigator was a forward turret that was remote controlled.4 New chin turret installed.2,5 Ball turret was replaced by Bendix turret.3 New tail turret ("Cheyenne").3

Prototype

First flown in May 1943.3

Production

  • Manufacturer: Boeing Aircraft Company4

Variants

  • B-17G / Fortress III:

Usage

Specifications

  Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
Type Bomber4, Heavy bomber1,2, Medium / heavy bomber3,5
Crew 94, 9 - 101, 102,3
Engine (Type) 4: Wright R-1820-97 Cyclone turbo charged piston1,4
4: Wright R-1820-973,5
Cylinders Radial1,2,5, Radial 93,4
Cooling Air4
HP 1,200 each1,2,4,5
1,200 each takeoff3
1,380 each war emergency3
Propeller blades 3 each3
Dimensions  
Span 103' 9"1,2,3,4,5
31.62 m1,2,3,5
Length 74' 4"1,4, 74' 9"2,3,5
22.66 m1, 22.78 m2,3,5
Height 19' 1"1,2,3,4,5
5.82 m1,2,3,5
Wing area 1,420 ft2 1,2,5
131.92 m2 1,2,5
Weight  
Empty 36,135 lb2,5, 36,136 lb1, 38,000 lb3
16,391 kg1,2,5, 17,237 kg3
Loaded 65,499 lb1, 65,500 lb3,4, 72,000 lb2
29,710 kg1, 29,711 kg3, 32,660 kg2
Maximum load 72,000 lb3,5
32,659 kg3, 32,660 kg5
Performance  
Speed @ 25,000' /
7,620 m 		Normal: 286 mph3 287 mph2,4,5
462 kph2,3,5
War emergency: 302 mph3
486 kph3
Speed @ 25,230' /
7,690 m 		287 mph1
462 kph1
Cruising speed 160 - 182 mph3
257 - 293 kph3
Climb to 20,000 ' /
6,095 m 		37 minutes2,3,5
Service ceiling 35,600'2,3,4,5
10,850 m2,3,5
Range with 4,000 lb /
1,815 kg bomb load 		1,800 miles3
2,900 km3
Range with 6,000 lb /
2,722 kg bomb load 		2,000 miles2,5
3,219 km2, 3,220 km5
Range with 6,007 lb /
2,725 kg bomb load 		2,000 miles1
3,220 km1
Maximum range 2,000 miles4, 3,400 miles3
5,471 km3
Armament 13: MG4
13: 12.7 mm MG1
10 - 13: 0.5" MG3
Chin turret 2: 12.7 mm MG2,5
Rear cockpit turret 2: 12.7 mm MG2,5
Ventral turret 2: 12.7 mm MG2,5
Tail 2: 12.7 mm MG2,5
Nose sides 2: 12.7 mm MG2,5
Radio operator hatch 1: 12.7 mm MG2,5
Waist positions 2: 12.7 mm MG2,5
Bombs 4,000 lb3, 17,600 lb2,4, 17,640 lb1
1,815 kg3, 7,983 kg2, 8000 kg1
Bombs - maximum 9,600 lb3, 17,600 lb5
4,354 kg3, 7,983 kg5

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
  3. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
  4. World War II Airplanes Volume 2, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
  5. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998