B-17 Crash and fire at Conn. airport today...

[Ace-Garageguy]

 

Edited October 2, 2019 by Ace-Garageguy

[Daddyfink]

Two Fatalities and 5 injuries have so far been reported. The plane is Boeing B-17 "909"

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-O-Nine

[Jon Cole]

"Nine-0-Nine" is gone forever. One of eighteen known currently registered to fly by the FAA. There are fatalities, but too early for numbers or names.
Fourteen victims; three were crew, ten were passengers, and one was maintenance ground crew. 
May a higher power watch over all involved.

[Dave Van]

Horrible on every level...prayers to all.

[vamach1]

Very sad news.   My father flew 30 missions in WWII in several different B-17s and I was lucky enough to ride in this very plane six years ago right around this time of year over Gettysburg PA.  I've got some videos on Youtube of the flight under Mach72man.

Edited October 3, 2019 by vamach1

[Tom Geiger]

So profoundly sad!    Bless everyone! 

[Ace-Garageguy]

 

Edited October 3, 2019 by Ace-Garageguy

[89AKurt]

I've seen a similar plane at the Champlin Museum in Mesa (now closed I just found out).  Amazing they have been able to keep such old aircraft flying, especially when seeing it close up.  Sad this happened, but this is life on planet Earth.  If you had a choice in how to die, car accident on the freeway going to work, or in a historic B-17 doing something you love...... ? RIP

[Russell C]

12 minutes ago, 89AKurt said:

I've seen a similar plane at the Champlin Museum in Mesa ....

It's still available for flights: "No plans to ground Mesa's historic B-17" https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2019/10/02/b-17-bomber-crash-vintage-plane-mesa-wont-grounded-after-accident/3840558002/

Edited October 3, 2019 by Russell C

[Deuces]

Just found out about it on the news this morning.... What a shame for the lives lost and that beautiful war bird..... ?

[Snake45]

9 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

 If you had a choice in how to die, car accident on the freeway going to work, or in a historic B-17 doing something you love...... ? RIP

I'll take "accident on the freeway," Monte, if it means the B-17 gets to live. 

[TonyK]

Sad. My first thought from the headline was the loss of my favorite type of plane and then I read the loss of life and that made it even worse.

[Lunajammer]

For those of us not involved, tragic. For those who were involved, horrifying. 

In the 90's I drove 200 miles for the chance to see this plane and climb inside. Along with the Collings B-24, it was the first B-17 I'd ever seen in person and I didn't think another one would ever come up to North Dakota, so I shot a lot of film.

I fully expect the ride policy to change in some way in the wake of this accident.

[Snake45]

21 minutes ago, Lunajammer said:

I fully expect the ride policy to change in some way in the wake of this accident.

At the very least, I'd expect insurance rates to go up, which means the ride prices will go up (if they're not banned outright). 

And those rides aren't cheap now. And they help pay major portions of the expenses of touring these beautiful, amazing airplanes around to fill us with wonder. Without that income stream, the tours might not be economically feasible at all. 

[Lunajammer]

22 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

Without that income stream, the tours might not be economically feasible at all. 

Which is why, with these plane becoming more precious every year,  in the long run I think we're living in a slowly closing window of opportunity to see them flying at all. Knowing that, I've never appreciated them more, or as a friend says, "We've been taking them for granted."

Edited October 3, 2019 by Lunajammer

[NYLIBUD]

That sucks.May all fatalities RIP.

[stavanzer]

There was some Congress Critter on the news last night with Lester Holt, banging on about grounding all the Old Planes, because they are too old to fly safely. This incident is just further data for him to cherry pick.  IMHO, the Massive number of fatalities this time will give him plenty of leverage. I fully expect somebody to sue the Collings Foundation as well. The 'window' that Lunajammer refers to, may close before the next Airshow season starts next Spring. Hopefully sound minds will prevail, but time, cost and the odds of flying are all against seeing these machines stay in the air. Sad, but true.

[OldTrucker]

Terrible to hear. Prayers for all the families affected.

I had the honor of flying on the Nine-O-Nine several years ago.

I was out to the airport when they were there and took the tour of the planes. While standing watching the planes take off and return I was talking to a guy about them and that my dad whom we lost in Korea had flown B 17's along with his brother who was a navigator and his other brother was their line mechanic.

They were on the ground getting ready for the next group and after they were loaded one of the crew runs up to the guy I was talking to and asks if there were any more. He said no and walked out to the plane with him and they talked for a minute then he ran back and asked "want to go up?" I had to ask him to repeat it and he said someone was a no show and tey had an open spot if I wanted it!

I said no way I can affrd the price and he said "who said anything about paying? You want to go or not?"

That was one of the greatest days of my life getting to see what my Dad must have seen (minus being attacked) flying in one of those great birds!

 

[Snake45]

1 hour ago, alexis said:

There was some Congress Critter on the news last night with Lester Holt, banging on about grounding all the Old Planes, because they are too old to fly safely. This incident is just further data for him to cherry pick.  IMHO, the Massive number of fatalities this time will give him plenty of leverage. I fully expect somebody to sue the Collings Foundation as well. The 'window' that Lunajammer refers to, may close before the next Airshow season starts next Spring. Hopefully sound minds will prevail, but time, cost and the odds of flying are all against seeing these machines stay in the air. Sad, but true.

I believe that "congresscritter" is the same one who got elected by lying about being a Vietnam veteran a few years ago. He has NOTHING to say to me on any subject, and needs to slink off in shame. 

It was only a couple years ago that a P-51 racer crashed into the crowd at Reno and killed more people than died in this B-17. That didn't stop the racing. I doubt this tragic incident will end Warbird flying, but there might be forthcoming regulations, especially as regards rides. 

Remember, they don't shut down air travel because an airliner crashes killing dozens or hundreds. 

We'll see what happens. 

[ChrisBcritter]

So sorry to hear this. When my uncle and I visited the Collings planes on tour here in August, I got to crawl through Nine-O-Nine for what would be the last time.

This was supposed to be the plane's last season before going in for some major maintenance; the Foundation had purchased another B-17 - this one with a CIA history, which also appeared in the Bond movie Thunderball - and were hoping to bring it online in the beginning of next year.

 

[vamach1]

1 hour ago, ChrisBcritter said:

So sorry to hear this. When my uncle and I visited the Collings planes on tour here in August, I got to crawl through Nine-O-Nine for what would be the last time.

This was supposed to be the plane's last season before going in for some major maintenance; the Foundation had purchased another B-17 - this one with a CIA history, which also appeared in the Bond movie Thunderball - and were hoping to bring it online in the beginning of next year.

 

 

[ChrisBcritter]

Pretty much correct except that the serial is 44-83785, not 44-85591 - there was a paperwork snafu when the plane was sold in the early '60s.

[Hotrod 97]

That is terrible news. A vintage warbird and precious lives, gone from this world. My prayers go out to all who were injured, and the families of those involved.

[Mike 1017]

Tragic loss of humanity. Rest in peace

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accidents_and_incidents_involving_the_Boeing_B-17_Flying_Fortress

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1945_Empire_State_Building_B-25_crash

Edited October 5, 2019 by Mike 1017
wrong word