B-17 "Thunderbird"

[Aerophile]

A couple of photos I took at a local Veterans Day airshow a year or two ago.

Taxiing for takeoff


Holding short 17R

[beaky]

Hmmm... did they forget the bomb bay doors, or was it just for ventilation?

Love them Forts!

[Aerophile]

Hmmm... did they forget the bomb bay doors, or was it just for ventilation?

Love them Forts!

I'm not quite sure actually.  He was taking off after the show had come to a close so it wasn't for demonstration, that I know of anyway.  It could have been for ventilation considering the Texas heat and humidity.  If I remember correctly, they closed them just before takeoff.  I don't remember why I didn't take any photos of the takeoff.

[Jakemaster]

THUNDERBIRD!  I've been inside that B-17.  It's down now, needs a new engine

I'm sure the doors are open for ventilation, it gets REALLY hot inside the cramped interior

[Isak922]

Very nice...

I was expecting to see either the Thunderbird's flying with it, or it painted like a Thunderbird jet sadly  ;D

[Aerophile]

Very nice...

I was expecting to see either the Thunderbird's flying with it, or it painted like a Thunderbird jet sadly  ;D

No unfortunately not.  Thunderbird is the name of the airplane.  Although that would be pretty cool.  I do have a pic of an F-15 flying with a P-51 that I'll get around to posting eventually.

Well, I gotta go save the world from yet another student pilot.

Later

[Jared]

ncie shots!

[61_OTU]

Love those '17's  8-)

[beaky]

Very nice...

I was expecting to see either the Thunderbird's flying with it, or it painted like a Thunderbird jet sadly  ;D

The name predates the USAF demo team and even the USAF itself:

http://www.303rdbg.com/thunderbird/index.shtml