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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 spent four days taking aviation enthusiasts aloft on nostalgia flights. 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's arrival at the Santa Barbara Airport.

Fuddy Duddy fires up its engines for the media flight at 1:00 in the afternoon.

Just after I shot this picture, everything on the flightline started blowing away.

Fuddy Duddy takes off from Runway 25 with a contingent of media representatives.

Fuddy Duddy breaks into the pattern for landing on Runway 25.

Fuddy Duddy taxis out for a second flight in the afternoon.

Fuddy Duddy breaks into the pattern for landing on Runway 25.

Revenue Flights

The sky cleared up on Friday. An onshore breeze caused Fuddy Duddy to take off and land toward the ocean on Runways 15L and 15R as it made three revenue flights.

A pair of North American P-51 Mustangs is expected to join Fuddy Duddy on the flightline Saturday morning.

Fuddy Duddy lands on Runway 15L at the end of its second flight of the day.

Storke Tower and the U.C.S.B. campus can be seen in the distance as Fuddy Duddy flares for landing on Runway 15L.

Fuddy Duddy takes off over Goleta Beach for its third flight of the day.

Fuddy Duddy makes its third and final landing for the day.

More Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Fuddy Duddy at the Santa Barbara Airport

April 30

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.

May 1 - 2

Fuddy Duddy made four flights on Sunday, May 1. North American Mustang P-51D, NL51MV Nervous Energy V beat up the airport in the afternoon. Fuddy Duddy flew to San Luis Obispo on Monday, May 2. It will fly on to Watsonville on Thursday, May 5.

This B-17G was formerly a fire fighting tanker.

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.

More B-17 Flying Fortress Photos

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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Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine, Liberator Witchcraft, and Mitchell Tondelayo

2020 Calendar

You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine, Liberator Witchcraft, and Mitchell Tondelayo.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N93012 Nine-O-Nine, Consolidated B-24J Liberator Witchcraft, and North American B-25J Mitchell, NL3746G Tondelayo are operated by the Collings Foundation. The bombers tour the country making revenue generating flights, taking aviation enthusiasts aloft for about a half hour.

Put a copy of the Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine, Liberator Witchcraft, and Mitchell Tondelayo: 2020 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
Aluminum Overcast

2020 Calendar

You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Aluminum Overcast.

A dozen photos of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N5017N Aluminum Overcast visiting the Santa Barbara Airport and Deer Valley Airport.

Put a copy of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Aluminum Overcast: 2020 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Fuddy Duddy

2020 Calendar

You can buy a 2020 Calendar featuring my photographs of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Fuddy Duddy.

A dozen photos of Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N9563Z "Fuddy Duddy" at Santa Barbara and Chino.

Put a copy of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Fuddy Duddy: 2020 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.

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