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Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N9563Z Fuddy Duddy at the Santa Barbara Airport, May 1 - 2, 2005 |
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The Experimental Aircraft Association Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N9563Z Fuddy Duddy arrived at the Santa Barbara Airport on Thursday, April 28. It is based at the National Warplane Museum at Horseheads, New York.
Fuddy Duddy flew to San Luis Obispo on May 2 and on to Watsonville on May 5.
Fuddy Duddy lands on Runway 25 at the end of the first flight of the day.
A short while later this Great Blue Heron crossed Runway 25 without contacting the tower.
Fuddy Duddy lands on Runway 25 at the end of the second flight of the day.
Fuddy Duddy lands on Runway 25 at the end of the third flight of the day.
Fuddy Duddy takes-off from Runway 25 for the fourth flight of the day.
Fuddy Duddy lands on Runway 25 at the end of the fourth flight of the day.
Fuddy Duddy's crew: Larry Gray, Don Coester, Linc Dexter, Mike Hastings, Carol Suggs, and Dick Lewis.
North American P-51D Mustang, NL51MV Nervous Energy V made a series of high-speed passes over Runway 25 in the afternoon.
This P-51D was delivered to the Army Air Corps in 1945 wearing serial number 45-11391. It is restored in the colors of the 325th Fighter Group of the 15th Air Force, which was based in Lesina, Italy. 00 was the mount of Lt. Colonel Ernest H. Beverly, 325th Group Commander from September 11, 1944 to March 2, 1945.
Don Coester and Larry Gray conducted the pre-flight inspection before the departure to San Luis Obispo.
Firing up the number-4 engine.
Fuddy Duddy taxis out for the last take-off of its visit to the Santa Barbara Airport.
The Santa Barbara Airport bids a fond farewell to Fuddy Duddy.
The Experimental Aircraft Association Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Fuddy Duddy arrived at the Santa Barbara Airport at 10:30 in the morning on Thursday, April 28.
Saturday April 30 at the Santa Barbara Airport was like a small airshow. Fuddy Duddy was joined by a pair of North American P-51D Mustangs. Several North American T-28 Trojans visited the airport. Fuddy Duddy flew five times during the day.
B-17G-85-DL, N9563Z tanker c24 at Falcon Field, Arizona on May 4,
1974. It was delivered to the U. S. Army
Air Corps as 44-83563. It was modified to a CB-17G cargo transport and then to a VB-17G
VIP transport. It was acquired by American Compressed Steel of Cincinnati, Ohio
on August 18, 1959. Aero American Corporation of Tucson, Arizona acquired it on May 9, 1960
and gave it its current registration. Columbia Pictures Incorporated of New York leased
it on October 11, 1961 to use it in the movie The War Lover. In the movie
it portrayed B-17F, 41-27742. It departed the United Kingdom on May 16, 1962. It spent
some time in storage at Ryan Field, Arizona. Aviation Specialties Incorporated
of Mesa, Arizona bought it
on February 2, 1963 and operated it as tanker e24, c24, #24, and #89. It was flown to
Hawaii in January 1969 to appear in the movie Tora Tora Tora. Globe Air Incorporated
of Mesa, Arizona acquired it on February 18, 1981. The National Warplane Museum at Horseheads, New York bought it in October 1985.
It is now named Fuddy Duddy and carries serial number 42-97400.
B-17G, N9563Z tanker 89 fires up its number 4 engine at
the Goleta tanker station at
the Santa Barbara Airport, California
on July 30, 1980. It was formerly tanker c24.
B-17G-85-DL, N9563Z tanker 89 taxies out of the Goleta tanker station on July 30, 1980.
B-17G-85-DL, N9563Z tanker 89 taxies out of the Goleta tanker station on July 30, 1980.
B-17G-85-D, N9563Z tanker 89 and B-17F-70-BO, N17W tanker 04 at Falcon Field, Arizona
on December 15, 1984.
B-17G-85-D, N9563Z tanker 89 at Falcon Field, Arizona
on December 15, 1984.
B-17G-85-D, N9563Z tanker 89 and B-17G-110-VE, N3193G tanker 34
at Falcon Field, Arizona
on December 15, 1984.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortresses were used to fight fires unitl the 1980s. Subsequently, the tankers were restored to stock configuration. The restored Flying Fortresses tour the country, taking aviation enthusiasts aloft on nostalgia flights.
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