The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a heavy bomber aircrft developped by the Boeing Company. It is the most famous bombers of the U.S. Air Force during the Second World War and was known for, despite heavy losses from the operations return. The full crew of a Flying Fortress consisted of ten people, four of which were exclusively machine-gunner.

The B-17 got this nickname ( Flying Fortress) because of their robustness and their strong defensive armament of up to thirteen heavy machine guns.

Type: Bomber
Draft Country: United States United States
Manufacturer: Boeing
First flight: 28 June 1935
Commissioned: April 1938
Production time: 1936 to 1945
Quantity: 12,731

Characteristic data of the B-17G

Length 22.80 m
Height 5.85 m
Wingspan 31.63 m
Wing area 141.90 m²
Empty weight 14,855 kg
Start Weight (max) 29,700 kg
Drive four Curtiss-Wright R-1820-97 Cyclone nine-cylinder radial engines, each with 1,200 hp at 2,300 rpm
Top speed 485 km / h
Cruising speed 296 km / h
Maximum range 6034 km with no bombs
Range 2897 km with normal load, 1760 km with maximum payload
Service ceiling 11,920 m
Crew min. 6, usually 10