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Boeing B-17G
GossHawk Unlimited, along with Air Response, performed spar fitting repairs on Bob Pond's B-17. In addition to these repairs, GossHawk did numerous other structural repairs and rebuilt the forward instrument panel. Custom Connections rewired the aircraft while the repairs were being performed. All of this work involved removing engines, propellers, outer wing sections, the vertical stabilizer and all the fuel stress panels and fuel tanks.
Boeing B-17G
Before repairs and modifications
Cracked wing attach socket, before repair
Removing fuel tanks
Cockpit, instrument panel and housing removed for modification
Wood box housing for instruments and instrument panel
Fabricated metal housing for instruments and instrument panel, wood box housing being replaced by metal housing
Cockpit, after instrument housing and panel modification
Fuel door stress panel, before repairs
Fuel door stress panel, in repair process
Removing outer wings
Outer wings removed, moving into the hangar for repairs
Painting flap well
Wing attach fittings, before repair
Disconnecting lines inside wing
Removing wing attach fitting for repair
Wing attach fittings, after restoration
Wing fillet and fairing, in fabrication process
Wing fillet and fairing, after restoration
Fuel tank, in restoration process
Wing doubler, fabricated and original
Fabricated doubler installed
Wing attach socket, after repair
Wing socket doubler repair
Fabricated doublers
Fitting and socket, in repair process
Aircraft wiring, before restoration
Aircraft wiring by Custom Connections, after restoration
Installing right hand wing
Installing restored fuel tanks
Restored fuel tanks installed
Installing engines
Engine run
Pulling aircraft out to install outer wings
B-17 taking off for the first flight after repairs and modifications
Flight