A Man Builds His Own B17 Desert Rat B 17 E 2018 Update a restoration

I have been following this project for a few years now. Progress always seems slow. But, when you see the fuselage in one long beautiful piece you know that good progress is being made.

[@wesesper6300]

Love B17s. Flown on several including the Nine o Nine.

[@davidcisneros1429]

My hat is off to these people who preserve these examples and expressions of The Greatest Generation. These are monuments to the 30,000 Airmen who lost their lives in this War. God Bless America!

[@wildcoyote34]

it's a beautiful thing seeing this old warbird rebuilt by hand ,,it'll be wonderful seeing it fly again someday ,,especially after the crash of 9 Oh 9

[@demagchevy]

I would be there in a heartbeat if I lived nearby! Chance of a lifetime!

[@CHaas-bn3xi]

My father was a pilot he flew 22 missions in a B17 he never really talked much about it that much he passed away 22 years ago. One of the storys he did share with me, B17s where not pressurised and they would get extremely cold inside the cabin at a ceiling of 20,000 he said the machine gunners hands would freeze on to the handles of machine guns and they would pee on there hands to free them from the handles. Men back than like my father where tough sons a bitch's. My dad could rip a full yellow pages book in half with his bare hands. When he was about 65 years old he was kind of showing off to a couple of other guys and in the process of TRYING to rip a yellow pages in half he broke a couple of ribs l ok LOLOL all my family could do was laugh at him for that little stunt. My father was a true AMERICAN PATRIOT and again one tough mother fucker. Over 43,000 men died in B17s he was one of the lucky ones and flew 22 missions which they we're supposed to fly 24 missions the war was over by his 22nd mission think God it was he may have ended being in that 43,000 men that died in those amazing airplanes.

[@joemajeski4109]

C.Hass you are absolutely correct about these men. My father who died 6 years ago trained in the 17 and ended up flying 35 missions over Japan as a tail gunner in the B-29. There'll never be another generation like them, so courageous. Like your dad he didn't, and for a long time couldn't without choking up, talk about these incredible life changing experiences. They called the pilot on my fathers plane the old man.....he was 25 years old!!!!

[@daveestes942]

looks some different now than it did when I played in this old plane in the early fifties in Earl Bishops Junk yard in Lagrange Maine used to visit this old girl and stay all day there some times some of the control cables went into my soap box derby racer used for the steering I only lived a couple miles from there and old Earl would let us kids play there in the old plane he had some very interesting old WW2 equipment in those yards then

[@area85restorations75]

If you want to find volunteers I would highly recommend creating a youtube channel and putting out regular content.

[@daveestes942]

if I remember right as a kid in the early 1950s playing in this old B-17 it had a large cargo type door and stenciled Air Transport Command over the door way

[@paulgerald5808]

A B-17E is a fantastic project . Very rare and very historic . She carries the brunt of the Pacific War ,1941 to1942/1943 . Thank. You

[@matthewk6731]

Great job! It takes a long time. Champaign Aviation Museum in Ohio also has a B17 in restoration. They are 15 years into a 7 year restoration and have a long way to go. There's something like 29,000 pages of blue prints. 850,000 rivets. Lots of parts.

[@rogerhowell6269]

Great work on the B17 restoration, look forward to your updates on progress! well done.

[@AMStationEngineer]

For me, this is bittersweet. Having been raised, nurtured, and educated by members of "The Greatest Generation", and having followed the Desert Rat's progress for a few years, now, knowing that so few of them remain saddens me. I was never able to "get my fill of WWII stories", for many who served preferred to not talk about their service. I "saw the spark in my old man's eye" twice, first, when we went up in the CAF's B-24 in 1990, and the very last time, when he retook the right seat in the B-36 at Wright-Patterson. From 2005, thru 2009, I visited with retired workers from the Sylvania - Emporium, PA "(Electron) Tube Production facility". Sylvania was second, only to RCA, in quantities produced to supply the war, and that particular facility produced the "miniaturized" tubes used in proximity fuzes. The stories collected were crafted into a book, however, I don't see it as being a marketable commodity these days, so I'll probably wind up 'just' sharing it, because their story needs to be told. Thanks, Chuck, for keeping us updated on this "totally cool" project.

[@RideswithChuck]

I think this was my first Desert Rat visit where there were no WWII veterans present. Hang on to your book, who knows..

[@AMStationEngineer]

tinyurl.com/Ron-Frisbee-WWII-Veteran In January, a gent from my area passed away, his name was Ron Frisbee. Almost 10 years ago, he stopped by the shop after hearing that there was another antique radio enthusiast near him. In '93, he opened an elaborate radio museum - adjacent to his home. Prior to that, he helped design, and build this area's telephone system, which is still considered to be one of the very best (he employed, and created many forward-thinking innovations; some, still in use). ,,, well, the youngest of them are approaching 90, with many having either reached, or are approaching centenary status as the target years for the WWII "Wartime Emergency Draft" ranged between the years 1916 thru 1928. I'm greatly bothered by the fact that we, as a generation, failed to realize just how great they were, and are.

[@MrKillswitch88]

Don't give up hope on that book as there are some young people out there who are into this stuff though still rare.

[@craigcook1030]

Hey, contact a guy named Cal Taylor. He'd be interested in this book. He's an old C-133 guy, and has written a book about the type. His Facebook page, called 'Unsung giant: The C-133' has posts for all kids of different, large aircraft and related topics. This would certainly fit.

[@jasonmushersee]

It's coming together! Mike and all the help worked right through the recession

[@shaynechild2517]

I wish i lived closer i would totally come work on it! I a am retired areospace .

[@65gtotrips]

Shayne Child Ditto, I’m way out in the Philadelphia, PA area...I’d help in a heartbeat

[@darkdom5439]

In fine one only man understood , he could sit in his model in order to build a big big big RC model ... Impressive , congratulations 👏👏👏👏👏 👍

[@Legitcar117]

Cool video chuck! Always nice to see how this projects going!

[@area85restorations75]

Damn, it's really starting to look like an airplane. Looks amazing guys!!

[@williamcharles9480]

Chuck, Working with corroded aluminum as a pattern for a wing tip has to be a challenge, but the determination of this master will overcome its limitations, I'm sure. The progress on this plane has been far beyond what I thought would happen. The determination of all involved is unbelievable. It's really a shame that human beings don't live longer. Just when you need someone's expertise, they've grown old and passed. As for the B-17, the surviving builders and crews are in their mid 90s and fading into the heavens fast. If this project ever reaches completion I hope that it can get certified for flight. It's a very complicated aircraft as I'm sure that you know. Wishing you all the best, Chuck and thanks for sharing.

[@RideswithChuck]

I am very lucky to be able to witness this project.

[@spiritofmilwaukee27]

That is so cool. My favorite WWII War Bird has always been the B-17 Flying Fortress.

[@Miatacrosser]

Here's hoping for a productive 2019 you guys. Get em flying, Keep em flying.

[@ericblair1547]

Carry on, never give in , never give up: help will come from God's way. Just ask and share!

[@backtogodyougo3103]

My favorite plane! ❤💖

[@stevenwagner9912]

I watched videos of how many 17s were new or near New and just cut up for scrap. Makes me sad. If I could just go back and acquire a few dozen to preserve.

[@1339LARS]

Talk about entusiasts !!

[@TuffBurnOutTeam]

The cost of a restoration project like that is mind blowing

[@ssergeant9682]

It's been a while.........I think the last time I was there - we ferried my cherokee out of the bean field across the street after doing the annual. That was while Dip was still around.. (Bert's sister here). Bert is up north in Mosinee ATC. He'd probably love to hear from you.

[@2ndarmoredhellonwheels106]

I would love to see someone privately building a b17 c or d

[@michaelmckinnon1591]

Nice Red Center Star model B-17

[@ditzydoo4378]

I absolutely love this project to resurrect this old girl! Do you know the history of the aircraft as "The Desert Rat"? I know it still away from completion, but as they say good things come to those who wait. And bless war birds squadron 4 and the husband/wife team of part timers for helping. Many hands make light work!

[@ramongraham1427]

he term Desert Rat is for the English Not German, The term was used by Rommel To describe the commonwealth defenders of Tobruk . He said they were rats in the ruins, and the desert with the LRDG raids on his forces. The troops of the 8th Army called themselves The Desert Rats as a point of pride. Germans never used the term to describe themselves. As a Brit I find it annoying that Americans Can never read History properly

[@rotorheadv8]

And to think it took less than a week to build one of these by the end of the war.

[@colline7829]

What projects did the guy have

[@flipz1306]

So one Boeing started making b-17s it took them like three moths to make but it's taken this guy 23/20 years to make thins b-17

[@Thunder_6278]

Eventually, you'll need a real aircraft hangar if you're going for a complete build.

[@mybluebelly]

Cute. Very Cute ;-)

[@wouterstavleu4158]

If I lived close I would have helped for sure sadly I live in Netherlands

[@jeffinknoxville]

Five years later; does anyone know if the project was finished?

[@RideswithChuck]

It is still a work in progress.

[@Tenzingthek1]

Boeing B-17 old years

[@philipbrailey]

What’s the latest?

[@RideswithChuck]

I will try to head out there in April for an update.

[@alexenns3203]

Are they planning on making it air worthy?

[@L8Pilot]

Yes, it is the real deal

[@ramborambo2072]

before they spit them out from the factory...now it takes years just to build on

[@RideswithChuck]

Decades..

[@geodes6722]

Very easy to do when you have a multitude of factories and subcontractors turning out thousands of parts and components ready to be assembled into the air frame. This is the difference when an entire Nation has its industrial base fully mobilized and directed towards building war materiel!

[@jamesfritz3170]

Must be nice if your rich!

[@aclusa9664]

James fritz Seriously this guys been working on it for 30 years and needs all the help he can get, what a dumb comment !!!

[@sidefx996]

James fritz Come on don’t be ignorant this is about a lot more than just being rich. And by the way it’s “you’re” not “your.” Spend more time paying attention in school.

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

I clicked on this as I thought it was Chuck Norris....

[@RideswithChuck]

right....

[@ILSRWY4]

If I was going to go through that kind of time money and trouble I'd Build an A-26A Counter Invader... or better yet, a P-47 or P-51 but Not a B-17

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

So? Actually man RESTORES B17. Very misleading title. Was expecting to see someone scratch BUILDING a B-17. Fantastic work, hope to see it in the air one day. Should change title to be a little more accurate though.

[@AR-jx6wr]

Shelby Seelbach shut up.

[@sidefx996]

Shelby Seelbach You obviously have no idea the disaster this guy started with. He basically IS building a plane from scratch. Educate yourself so you don’t sound stupid.

[@imthefuckinglizardking4590]

What scale is this going to be

[@RideswithChuck]

This is a real, actual B17.

[@datsdope6701]

RideswithChuck how much money goes into this project?

[@RideswithChuck]

Don't know.

[@LeftyLucyRightyTyty]

ACTUAL B17...ACTUAL scale...so...let's randomly assume 1/1

[@L8Pilot]

This is not a model. It is a real B-17