Boeing B17 Flying Fortress

Plane: Boeing B17 Flying Fortress

Weight (Empty/Loaded/Max): 32,720lb/ 49,500lb / 60,000lb

Wing Area: 1,420sq ft

Wing Loading: 23.0lb/sq ft / 34.9lb/sq ft / 42.3lb/sq ft

Length: 74' 9"

Span: 103' 9"

Wing Aspect Ratio: 7.6

Engine: 4x1,200hp R-1820-97 Radial

Flaps: 3 settings

Visibility:

• Front: Poor
• Sides: Poor
• Rear: None

Control Feel:

• Slow: Sluggush
• Near Sustained: Bad
• Fast: Nonexistant

Stall Speed 1k (No Flaps/Full Flaps) 95mph / 85mph

Guns:

Ordnance:
0: 12x500lb bombs
1: 6x1,000lb bombs
2: 24x100lb bombs
3: 10x100lb bombs + 6x500lb bombs

Fuel Time/Percent: 164 seconds/percent

Power/weight (Empty/Loaded/Max): 6.8 lb/hp / 10.3lb/hp / 12.5lb/hp

Corner Velocity: 265mph

Durability: Excellent

WEP time: no WEP

Accleleration:

Climb:
1k-5k: 116s
5k-10k: 174s
10k-15k: 175s

Zoom Climb:
1k 400mph:
1k 300mph: +2,500ft

Dive:

Max Speed

Turn Performance

Corner Speed and Radii (1,000ft):

Speed: 265mph
Radius: 511ft
Sustained Turn Speed: 105mph
Sustained Turn Radius: 683ft
Full Flaps Speed: 95mph
Full Flaps Radius: 648ft

Roll Rate:
150mph: 17.9s
200mph: 22.4s
250mph: 35.9s
300mph:
350mph:
400mph:

Minimum Full-Flaps Full-Power Split-S altitude:
150mph: 1,300ft
200mph: 1,300ft
250mph:
300mph:

Hoof's Tips and Opinions:

The B17G is Warbird's representative for America's long-range high-altitude heavy strategic bomber. One of the few combat aircraft equipped with four engines, B17s were designed with the idea of the "fortress" concept of strategic bombing, which arouse during the 30s.

During the 30s, many new bomber designs were being produced that had speeds and altitude limits that rivaled and exceeded fighters of the time. Many of the world's armies felt that bombers would continue to become faster, would continue to outdo fighters in service ceiling, and that fighters would soon become obsolete as a result. Needless to say this did not happen. In the US, in particular, it was felt that massed formations of heavy bombers, equipped with heavy defensive firepower covering all possible attack routes would allow bombers to protect themselves and thus the need for escorts would cease to exist. Thus, it was felt, these bombers could range into an enemy's country, bomb their industry, and return with minimal losses. Experiences over Europe during the early years of the American involvement of the war proved otherwise, as the bomber formations were repeatedly mauled by the German fighters. Unfortunately, neither the British, nor the Americans had a fighter with sufficient range to escort the bombers to and from targets at the edge of the bomber's combat radius, thus forcing the dilemma of leaving the bombers unescorted for the last leg of their flight, or restricting the range of the strikes. Later, as new American designs came out, the escorting fighters for the bombers went from Spitfires, to P38s to P47s to P51s. Finally, with the P51s, the B17s had an escort all the way to their targets, and the problem of unescorted bombers was largely solved.

The B17G is very well equipped to defend itself in Warbirds. Thanks to Otto's accuracy at range, and the .50cal's relative strength at shooting down fighters, a lone B17 has quite a fair chance of getting to target and back again even with interception. Warbird's B17 is not invulnerable, however, as Otto's weaknesses are well known, and easily exploitable. Many arguments have arisen over Otto's effectiveness, many people feel that B17s should be reduced to Historical effectiveness as far as Otto is concerned (and thus make B17s historically vulnerable in small numbers). Others feel that Otto needs to be beefed up, as the B17 in Warbirds is too vulnerable, they feel, and takes too long to get to safe altitudes, thus need the extra help. Regardless of people's feelings, a lone B17G is vulnerable to more than one attacker, and a group of B17Gs in formation is a very tough nut to crack, even for multiple attackers. But against a single attacker, of average skill, a B17G can usually survive the attack and continue his mission.

The B17G in Warbirds carries the greatest bombload. This is one of the few planes that can close a forward base with one plane and a half-decent pilot, although it doesn't quite have the ordnance to take out a main base single-handedly (a pilot can get everything but the tower with 12 500lb bombs). The B17G is the most popular Bomber in Warbirds, because it is rather tough to shoot down, sports heavy defensive armament, and has a large bomb load.

One unfortunate aspect of the B17G is the AB17 seen in Warbirds. Otherwise known as "Deathstar" or "flying Ack", an AB17G pilot ditches his bombs early in the sortie and flies his plane deliberately near enemy fighters in an attempt to shoot them down with Otto. This is seen as a dweebish move by many, since it is a computer subroutine, namely Otto, that does the killing and not the pilot (or another human). This is most common around main airbases, as an AB17 pilot can quickly grab a fresh B17 and continue his flying ack mission when he is shot down.

As far as being the best bomber, that all depends on your point of view. The B17 carries the biggest bombload, but handles the poorest at all speeds, cannot dive bomb effectively, carries no torpedoes, and is the slowest of the two and four engine bombers in the game. But when a base needs to be ravaged, nothing like a Buff, or B17, can do the job quite as effectively.

Back To Main Page