Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Competing against Douglas and Martin for a contract to build 200 bombers, the Boeing entry (prototype Model 299/XB-17) outperformed both competitors and exceeded the air corps' performance specifications. Although Boeing lost the contract (to the Douglas B-18 Bolo) because the prototype crashed, the air corps ordered 13 more B-17s for further evaluation. From its introduction in 1938, the B-17 Flying Fortress evolved through numerous design advances, becoming the third-most produced bomber of all time,
B-17G "Flying Fortress" No. 44-83690 and in 1961, flown to Grissom Air Force Base (then known as Bunker Hill) for permanent display. The Heritage Museum Foundation, established in 1981 as part of the Air Force Museum Program, maintains 44-83690. In 2015 the aircraft was moved to the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB, Georgia and is currently undergoing a lengthy restoration. B-17G "Flying Fortress" No. 44-83690 is a reasonably intact example of a World War II aircraft type of which only 50 exist in the world. It is also an example of an experimental craft, which participated, in military tests shortly after World War II.