1944 B-17G Flying Fortress "Pink Lady" stored untill 2045

[Propwash]

The only French airworthy B-17G Flying Fortress "Pink Lady" F-AZDX (starred in the movie Memphis Belle) made 'for the time being' her last landing at La Ferté-Alais Airport (LFFQ), where she will be professionally stored by Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis (AJBS). Pink Lady will 'hopefully' airborne again in the year 2045.

[nilsko]

35 years to restore an aircraft? I know spares are hard to get as well as funds, but this seems an awful long time..

[Richard from Rotterdam]

They probably want to make sure they can have a Fortress available for the 100th anniversary of the end of WW2.

[frank kramer]

35 years to restore an aircraft? I know spares are hard to get as well as funds, but this seems an awful long time..

Who says "REstore"? Propwash mentions "STORE". It is put in storage so it will be (hopefully) be around in an airworthy state with enough life left to mark the centenary of the end of WW.2. That must be quite a challenge, as they must both prepare the aircraft for long time storage so that it CAN be made to work again AND work out a plan how and when to revive her in time The risk that the revival will not come about is very real IMHO, but then again, if this action is not taken the odds are that it will definitely (and forever) be out of service by 2045!

Still, "not much" B-17's left flying around Europe in the next decades

[nilsko]

Sorry I misread it

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[aviodromefriend]

If they store it at La Ferté, return to flying is out of the question, as the runway is too short for a B-17 take-off. (And it can't be lengthened, due to the change of height near the tresholds.)

[JetStar2]

runway is not too short, saw it land and take-off there in 1997 (or was it 1998).

Peter

[Stratofreighter]

See http://www.foxalpha.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16646" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for pictures made of Pink Lady's last landing (for now at least)...

[Propwash]

runway is not too short, saw it land and take-off there in 1997 (or was it 1998).

Correct

BTW Any Truth 'Flying' Lady has landed and take-off at La Ferté Alais