NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress prototype first flew on July 17, 1935.
The aircraft went into service in mid 1938. On December 7, 1941, the start of World War II, few were in service. Production was then accelerated and by the time the last B-17 Flying Fortress rolled off the assembly line in May of 1945, over 12,700 had been built.
By the start of the war the B-17 was already being outclassed by other bombers of not only the United States and its allies, but by Axis aircraft as well. Many were faster, had a greater range, could carrier more ordnance, and had better defensive weapons systems.
It was at that time that the Flying Fortress was modified and improved. The rear fuselage was redesigned and lengthened for twin .50 cal. machine guns which were aimed from a rear gunners position. A powered dual .50 cal. machine gun blister was added aft of the pilot in the top of the aircraft.
A power ball turret with two more .50 cal. machine guns was added just aft of the wing, under the fuselage. These changes were incorporated into what was to become the model "E". The next production model "F" was fitted with the now familiar looking power twin .50 cal. chin turret.
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress served in every zone of World War II. They were known for their toughness in being able to absorb a great deal of punishment from enemy fire. If any heavy bomber of World War II could be called a "pilot's aircraft" it was the Flying Fortress.
In the above picture you can see some of the changes made on the aircraft through the years. An easily recognizable feature of the model F was a turret added under the front fuselage.
With the end of the war B-17 production ceased. Flights of the aircraft were primarily for the maintenance of air superiority. However the role of the aircraft was quickly taken over by faster, larger, and more modern aircraft.
The B-17 Flying Fortress served with the Strategic Air Command as photo reconnaissance aircraft from 1946 to 1951.
A number of the bombers were converted to air tankers and airliners. In recent years these have been converted back to their former configurations and the aircraft put on display.
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses are preserved in a number of museums and airports. About fifteen still fly and can be seen performing in air shows.
About 38% of the total 12,700 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses produced were lost in action during World War II.
Pictured above is the rc B-17 Flying Fortress ARF for sale from Nitro Planes. It has a wingspan of 65", is 47" long and weighs around 4 1/2 lbs. You can power it with four brushless 400 size motors.
ASM, Advanced Scale Models, has a rc B-17 ARF giant scale model rc airplane for sale through a number of retailers. It is made from balsawood and plywood and has a 10 foot wingspan and a 7 foot 3 inch length. Power can come from .35 to .40 two cycle, .52 four cycle engines, or the equivalent electric motors. Weight is around 32 lbs.
American Eagle Plans has a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress rc airplane. It has a 123" wingspan. Recommended power comes from Saito .72 four strokes.
Pictured below is the magnificent scratch built rc giant scale B-17 Flying Fortress built by Jan Hermkens. It has a 158" wingspan and is powered by Laser 0.70 four stroke engines. Jan's new home page is www.janhermkens.nl.
In the second picture below is a rc B-17 Flying Fortress model radio control airplane built by Brian Gafford from American Eagle Plans. It has a 123" wingspan and is powered by Saito .65's.
The third picture below is the scratch built giant scale rc B-17 Flying Fortress built by Matt Miller. It has a 18 ft. wingspan and power is by G-38's.
Another scratch built giant scale model B-17 Flying Fortress rc pictured below has a 13' wingspan and Saito 1.50 engines. It was built by Roger Layton and is flown by Paul Gruber.
ATI has a rc B-17 Flying Fortress kit for sale with a 103" wingspan. Recommended power is by four Webra .32's or equivalent.
Don Smith has plans for sale of a 138" wingspan B-17 Flying Fortress rc model airplane powered with .91 engines.
Madden Model Products has a 138' 5" wingspan rc B-17 Flying Fortress kit for sale with recommended power by Saito .91's.
You can find plans for sale from Bob Holman for a 1/10 scale rc B-17 Flying Fortress. It weighs around 44 lbs. ready to fly with recommended power as .61's.
Aerotech has a kit for sale of a rc B-17 Flying Fortress with an 8' 7" wingspan. We have seen it converted to electric power using Mega 600/20/8 motors.
Henrik Klagges wrote to tell us about yet another rc ARF B-17 Flying Fortress for sale. It is from PW - RC in Hong Kong. Wingspan can be either 78" or 81". It is 63" long and weighs
about 12 lbs. It requires electric motor power.
EC Trade (HK) Co., Ltd., Hong Kong has a rc B-17 Flying Fortress ARF for sale with a 78" wingspan that is 55" long and weighs around 9 1/4 lbs.
Luoyang Iceage Aeromodelling Mfg. Co., Ltd., China, has a ARF B-17 Flying Fortress model airplane for sale that has a wingspan of 65".
Yongkang Fly Model Factory, China has a rc B-17 Flying Fortress ARF for sale. Its wingspan is 65".
Senye International Trading Co., Ltd., China has a 65" wingspan B-17 Flying Fortress ARF for sale.
Shin Zhen Hobby-Win Co., Ltd., China has a rc B-17 Flying Fortress for sale. It has a 65" wingspan and is a ARF.
Amax Industrial Group China Co., Ltd., China has a RTF B-17 Flying Fortress for sale. Its a foamy with a 28" wingspan.
HK (Shenzhen) Industries Development Co., Ltd., China has a rc B-17 Flying Fortress RTF for sale. No length, wingspan, weight, or type of power is shown.
We would appreciate you emailing us if you know of any other rc B-17 Flying Fortress that we should post to this site.
Radio Control Airplane
The rc B-17 Flying Fortress by Jan Hermkens.
Radio Control Airplane
A rc B-17 Flying Fortress by Brian Gafford.
Radio Control Airplane
The rc B-17 Flying Fortress by Matt Miller.
Radio Control Airplane
A rc B-17 Flying Fortress by Roger Layton.
Brian Rowley has a giant scale rc B-17 Flying Fortress. Its wingspan is 216" and weight is about 98 lbs. Power comes from G38 engines.
Bill Holdaway has a B-17 Flying Fortress giant scale model rc airplane. It has a wingspan of 140" and weighs about 57 lbs. Construction is all wood. Saito .91 engines provide the motivation.
Dale Sellers rc B-17 Flying Fortress has a 103" wingspan, is powered by O.S. 25 engines, and weighs in at around 20 lbs.
Bob Handies has a B-17 Flying Fortress rc airplane with a wingspan of 105" and a length of 77". It uses Webra .32 engines to power its approximately 26 lb. weight.
Ben Dabbles built a rc B-17 Flying Fortress that has a wingspan of 126". It uses Saito .65 engine power and weighs about 43 lbs.
The giant scale B-17 Flying Fortress rc model airplane of Charles Cleese has a 140" wingspan. Construction is all fiberglass and the inside has scale details. Power comes from RCV .90 engines.
Michael Hannon built an rc B-17 Flying Fortress EP. Its wingspan is 104" and weight is about 20 lbs. Mega 600/2018 motors provide the power.
Daniel Radford's rc B-17 Flying Fortress has a wingspan of 120", is powered by Saito .72 four cycle engines and weighs about 50 lbs.
Hank Jamerson's giant scale B-17 Flying Fortress has a 160" wingspan. Four Laser .70 four stroke engines pull the approximately 55 lb. model through the air.
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
