LIBERTY BELLE (B-17)
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:''For other 'Liberty Belle', see Liberty Belle (disambiguation).''
The Liberty Foundation’s B-17G (SN 44-85734) 'Liberty Belle' is a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber from World War II. She has been restored and now tours air shows.
Originally sold on June 25, 1947 as scrap to Esperado Mining Co. of Altus, OK, it sold again later that year to Pratt & Whitney for $2,700. Pratt & Whitney operated the B-17 from November 19, 1947 to 1967 as a heavily modified test bed for their P&W T-34 and T-64 turboprop engines. It became a “5-engine aircraftâ€, having the powerful prototype engine mounted on the nose. The aircraft was flown “single-engineâ€, with all four radial engines feathered during test flights. Following this life as a test platform, it was donated in the late 1960s to the Connecticut Aeronautical Historic Association (now the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT. During a tornado on October 3, 1979 another aircraft was thrown onto the B-17’s mid-section, breaking the Fortresses back.
The B-17 was eventually purchased by aviation enthusiast Don Brooks who formed the Liberty Foundation to restore and exhibit Liberty Belle. Restoration of 44-85734 began in 1992 with parts from another damaged B-17 (44-85813). She returned to the air December 8 2004 and has been touring the airshow circuit since then. The Liberty Foundation also has a historic overseas tour planned in July of 2008 for the Liberty Belle along the northern ferry route to England. The promotional video can be found on YouTube under 'Liberty Belle B-17 Overseas Tour'.
★ Homepage of the Liberty Belle
The B-17 ''Liberty Belle'' about to take off from the 2005 Lumberton Celebration of Flight.
The Liberty Foundation’s B-17G (SN 44-85734) 'Liberty Belle' is a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber from World War II. She has been restored and now tours air shows.
| Contents |
| Aircraft History |
| The 2005 "Lumberton Celebration of Flight" |
| External links |
Aircraft History
Originally sold on June 25, 1947 as scrap to Esperado Mining Co. of Altus, OK, it sold again later that year to Pratt & Whitney for $2,700. Pratt & Whitney operated the B-17 from November 19, 1947 to 1967 as a heavily modified test bed for their P&W T-34 and T-64 turboprop engines. It became a “5-engine aircraftâ€, having the powerful prototype engine mounted on the nose. The aircraft was flown “single-engineâ€, with all four radial engines feathered during test flights. Following this life as a test platform, it was donated in the late 1960s to the Connecticut Aeronautical Historic Association (now the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT. During a tornado on October 3, 1979 another aircraft was thrown onto the B-17’s mid-section, breaking the Fortresses back.
The B-17 was eventually purchased by aviation enthusiast Don Brooks who formed the Liberty Foundation to restore and exhibit Liberty Belle. Restoration of 44-85734 began in 1992 with parts from another damaged B-17 (44-85813). She returned to the air December 8 2004 and has been touring the airshow circuit since then. The Liberty Foundation also has a historic overseas tour planned in July of 2008 for the Liberty Belle along the northern ferry route to England. The promotional video can be found on YouTube under 'Liberty Belle B-17 Overseas Tour'.
The 2005 "Lumberton Celebration of Flight"
External links
★ Homepage of the Liberty Belle
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