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Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Heavy Aircraft Family

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was a four-engine, long-range aircraft family developed from the Model 299, which first flew in 1935. Built in progressively refined variants by Boeing, Douglas, and Lockheed-Vega, it became a defining American heavy aircraft of the Second World War and also served in reconnaissance, transport, air-sea rescue, and airborne early-warning adaptations.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Heavy Aircraft Family
U.S. Air National Guard / Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot · DVIDS public-domain official-duty U.S. Air National Guard work; the appearance of U.S. Department of War visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement. https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright · Source
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Identity

Aliases
Boeing Model 299XB-17YB-17B-17B-17BB-17CB-17DB-17EB-17FB-17GFlying FortressFortress IFortress IIFortress IIIF-9RB-17SB-17PB-1W
Family Name
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Full Name
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Heavy Aircraft Family
Roles
militarycargoreconnaissancesearch_and_rescue
Status
retired
Type
aircraft

Details

Aircraft Specs
Configuration
fixed_wing
Operating Modes
land
Takeoff Landing Capabilities
conventional
Description
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was a four-engine, long-range aircraft family developed from the Model 299, which first flew in 1935. Built in progressively refined variants by Boeing, Douglas, and Lockheed-Vega, it became a defining American heavy aircraft of the Second World War and also served in reconnaissance, transport, air-sea rescue, and airborne early-warning adaptations.
First Flight Year
1,935
Manufacturer
Propulsion Configurations
  • Entries
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      wing
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Variant Notes
      Four Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 radial engines; exact dash number and rating vary across the B-17 production series.
    Name
    Production B-17 installation

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Creation Time
July 30, 2026 at 03:41:46 UTC
Updated Time
August 21, 2026 at 19:38:34 UTC