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B-17 FLYING FORTRESS/44-85740

           

Serial #: 44-85740
Construction #: 8649 (-VE)
Civil Registration:
  NL5017N
  N5017N

Model(s):
  B-17G Flying Fortress
Name: Aluminum Overcast
Status: Airworthy (2024)
Last info: 2025

History:
Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 44-85740.

• BOC: May 18, 1945.
• SOC: 1946.
• Accepted at Syracuse, NY and placed into storage.
• Transferred to Altus, OK, to be stripped of all military equipment, November 7, 1945.

Metal Products Inc, Amarillo, TX, June 17, 1947

• Acquired as scrap for $750.
• Purchased ex War Assets Administration at Altus AFB, OK.

Universal Aviation Inc, Tulsa OK, July 10, 1947

• Registered as NL5017N.
• Intended for use in aerial mapping.

Charles T. Winters, Miami, FL, August 2, 1947

• Registered as N5017N

Joe A. Lopez/Vero Beach Export & Import Co., Vero Beach, FL, August 16, 1947-1949

• converted for cargo use with reinforced flooring.
• Used for hauling fresh beef between Puerto Rico and Florida.

Aero Services Corp, Philadelphia, PA, June 27, 1949-1962

• Converted into an aerial photography and surveying platform.
• Used for mapping the countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Chris D. Stolzfus & Assoc., Coatesville, PA, August 10, 1962-1966

• Stored.

Dothan Aviation Corp, Dothan, AL, December 1966-1978

• Added a chemical hopper, and spray bars under the wings and used it for pest control and fire-fighting.

William E. Harrison, Tulsa, OK, February 20, 1978-1979

• Restoration to military configuration begun.

EAA Aviation Foundation, Oshkosh, WI, August 1980-2025.

• Restoration to military configiration completed.
• Flown a 85740/FU-D/Aluminum Overcast (later as later 2102516/30-H).
• Damaged when port gear collpase on landing, roll out, Van Nuys, CA, May 5, 2004.
• Recieved temporary repaird.
• Ferried from Van Nuys to Oshkosh. September 23-24, 2004
• Full restoration at Oshkosh, WI.
• First flight, March 7, 2006.

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