Books and Information for the Aviation Enthusiast
You see that question asked a lot. The current answer is….four, but it sort of depends on what you mean by “flying”? My answer to that question is that “flying B-17s” can be rolled out of the hangar today, have some (actually, lots of $8 a gallon) fuel and oil added, and get airborne. I call those “Operational B-17s.”
As of the issuance of the 2023 Airworthiness Directive on the B-17 wing attach structure, all airworthy U.S. B-17s (there were three) were grounded effective June 1, 2023. The only non-U.S. registered B-17 (Sally-B) in the UK self-grounded itself effective May 23, 2023.
However, Ye Olde Pub complied with the AD with an earlier inspection completed several years ago, so it remains flying. Sentimental Journey was inspected in late May and received the FAA blessing on June 9, so it is flying again. Sally B was inspected and received the FAA and UK CAA blessing on June 22, so it also is flying again. Yankee Lady evidently received its FAA blessing on Friday, June 23, so it also is flying again and has tour dates scheduled. Thus, all four B-17s were inspected and evidently found with no problems.
There are several B-17s that are “close” to flying…but they don’t qualify as “flying” or “operational” because either they have not flown for many years, may be out of annual inspection, or are grounded for major maintenance reasons. So, by my count, as seen below, there are three B-17s flying out of 46 existing complete B-17s. Check out the detailed information linked below. There is some good stuff contained there that will answer your questions.
And, I’ll add that the book Final Cut: The Post-War B-17 Flying Fortress and Survivors, available right here on this website, has the in-depth story of each of the 48 B-17 survivors (2018 count B-17 count at publication…since then, we’ve tragically lost two B-17s), told both with text and photos. And, there is so much more contained in its 288 pages that you won’t find anywhere else. If you are a B-17 guy or gal, you need to check out the book.
| Operational (Flying) | 4 |
| Long Term Maintenance back to Operational | 3 |
| Under Restoration or Rebuild to Operational | 4 |
| Under Restoration to Static Display | 1 |
| Static Display (near airworthy) | 3 |
| Static Display (grounded) | 24 |
| In Storage | 7 |
| Total Complete Airframes | 46 |
| Current U.S. Civil Registered B-17s | 18 |
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