B-17 Air Tanker

[Oliverlovesplanes]

https://aerialfiremag.com/2025/07/01/flying-the-b-17-air-tanker-the-final-story/

 

[Warspite63]

https://aerialfiremag.com/2025/07/01/flying-the-b-17-air-tanker-the-final-story/

View attachment 877757

Very cool! I used to see a PB4Y2 tanker at YYC, along with a handful of yellow A26s, used as spotters. I loved the sound of their engines

 

[fubar57]

Super. Had the Mars bomb one of the forest fires I worked on

 

[MIflyer]

In 1982 I needed to do one more long cross country in order to complete the requirements for a Private Pilot License. I chose to fly from Torrence CA to Lompoc CA to Porterville CA. When I arrived at Porterville I noted a B-17 air tanker parked near the South end of the runway and felt sorry I would not be there long enough to look at it. But after I cranked up and taxied down to the runway I realized the B-17's engines were running. It pulled out onto the runway and took off, as I cheered. Being No.2 for takeoff behind a B-17 provided unexpected excitement.

In the 1980's the USAF began providing some surplus older model C-130's for forest fire bombing, trading the Hercs for B-17's and other vintage aircraft that could be donated to museums. I think that program took a big hit in credibility when one of the supposed forest fire C-130s showed up in Iraq shortly before Desert Storm.

 

[muskeg13]

One summer evening in central Alaska (1991-93 not sure of the year) I heard a sound and felt vibration unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. As the roar and vibration grew, I went outside in time to witness a PB4Y2 water bomber fly directly (<1000') over the housing area on Ft. Greely to drop on a fire about 20 miles away. I remember thinking to myself that I'd probably not see anything like that again. I believe the aircraft I saw may have been this one:

https://yanksair.org/exhibition/consolidated-pb4y-2-privateer/

 

[cammerjeff]

One summer evening in central Alaska (1991-93 not sure of the year) I heard a sound and felt vibration unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. As the roar and vibration grew, I went outside in time to witness a PB4Y2 water bomber fly directly (<1000') over the housing area on Ft. Greely to drop on a fire about 20 miles away. I remember thinking to myself that I'd probably not see anything like that again. I believe the aircraft I saw may have been this one:
View attachment 877771
https://yanksair.org/exhibition/consolidated-pb4y-2-privateer/

It could also be this one

Yankee Air Museum PB4Y-2 Privateer Restoration

by Adam Estes

vintageaviationnews.com

 

[muskeg13]

It could also be this one

Yankee Air Museum PB4Y-2 Privateer Restoration

by Adam Estes

vintageaviationnews.com

Unfortunately no. The one I saw (and felt) was painted just like #124 above, with the same blunt nose configuration. Several months later, I saw this plane sitting on the flight line with several other U.S. National Forest Service fire bombers and command planes outside a hanger at the Ft. Wainwright (formerly Ladd Army Airfield) flightline (Fairbanks, AK).I heard a few years later that all of the PB4Y-2s had been grounded due to structural issues.

 

[Warspite63]

One summer evening in central Alaska (1991-93 not sure of the year) I heard a sound and felt vibration unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. As the roar and vibration grew, I went outside in time to witness a PB4Y2 water bomber fly directly (<1000') over the housing area on Ft. Greely to drop on a fire about 20 miles away. I remember thinking to myself that I'd probably not see anything like that again. I believe the aircraft I saw may have been this one:
View attachment 877771

Awesome! I dunno if the operator had several of them, but the paint job matches the one I saw several times at YYC

 

[Sisu]

The company was the legendary "Hawkins and Powers" out of Greybull, Wyoming, and they had several and operated them for many years. I saw them drop a couple of times -- it was impressive.

 

[MIflyer]

Look at those engines. I understand that a frequent mod for PB4Y forest fire bombers was to replace the four R-1830 with four R-2600 engines and cowlings from B-25's. The USAF continued to use the B-25 as a trainer and hack transport until at least the late 1950's so there was some kinds of logistics support system available along with surplus material.