C-1 Autopilot Fundraiser
Donation protected
Who We Are
We are a group of diverse expertise who have undertaken the task of building a B-17. The majority of our group is local to Fort Collins, Colorado, however several people are helping us from around the country. We have several companies who are willing to sponsor us, as well as many aviation folks from the community who will help to mentor.
This is a huge project, and we welcome anyone to join us. My name is Eli Josephs, and I am currently leading this project. My role thusfar has been to organize the group, manage funds, network, as well as build this site. I have received outstanding help from many of our members, as well as companies and individuals who are willing to help the group succeed. This is a long project- Currently slated for 10 years.
Of course, students will graduate, however this will not be the end of their participation in the project. We intend to continue bringing in highschool and college students, as well as others from our community and around the country. The bottom line, is that we are a mish-mash of different experiences, ages, and backgrounds. We welcome anyone and everyone to help out, and to spread the word.
You can see more on our website, FortCollinsB17.org.
How we will use Donations
We will use the $960 to buy a C-1 Autopilot. The cost of the autopilot box with shipping is $815.33, however Kickstarter charges a 5% fee, and federal income tax takes up even more. We calculated the total amount needed, in order to be left with $816 after taxes, and that number is $960.
Mission Statement
We are building a B-17G to spread the appreciation of WWII and Aviation history accross the country.
Rationale
We live in a time when WWII is being slowly forgotten, and propeller planes are dying out for the common public. By building a B-17, we are exposing younger generations to a very real time in history, when the world pivoted between two paths. Millions of people died in WWII, and we can not fail to remember their sacrifices.
We are involving many young people in the construction of the aircraft, and intend to have them learn from older generations who have much more experience. This, in itself, gives them real-world experience and provides them with skills they will always be able to keep.
Many of the veterans of WWII have already passed away. Every day, we are losing stories, and history is slowly being forgotten. Our goal is to preserve what we can, and continue the legacy of the people who fought for our country.
Who doesn't want to build a B-17?
The Project
Here's a quick overview of the Fort Collins B-17 Project. Our goal is to build a B-17 G variant Flying Fortress, using spare parts and new construction. We are based out of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
The entire project will be funded by fundraising, and all work will be volunteer only, unless we need to outsource to a company for specific parts. Due to the rarity of B-17 airframes, the airframe will be brand new manufacture, all done by the group. Parts such as landing gear, powerplant (the engines), instruments, and other parts will all be purchased from new old stock, surplus, and scrap.
The project is slated to last for about 10 years, and cost upwards of $500,000. It's hard to predict time or costs, due to unforseen changes in the economy, etc., but these numbers seem fairly accurate for the current time.
For now, we are focusing on the cockpit. It will be built with a temporary airframe, however the control quadrant, seats, and instrument panels will all be used in the final aircraft. The idea behind this move, is that we can transport the cockpit to local airshows, in order to gain publicity. The more people we have involved, the better! In order for the project to work, we need a large range of experience, knowledge, and interests.
Upon completion of the B-17, we will fly it to airshows across the U.S. similar to the Collings Foundation B-17G "Nine-O-Nine". Our goal is to spread appreciation for WWII aviation across the country, in a time when WWII is being slowly forgotten, and propeller planes are dying out for the common public.
We have been in contact with itsyourairplane.com. They are currently sponsoring the restoration of a B-17 E variant, "Desert Rat." They are willing to help us fundraise by giving us more publicity via their social media.
Over this past summer, we had the opportunity to visit the B-17G "Nine-O-Nine." While there, I had a brief discussion with a few members of the Collings Foundation. They are more than willing to assist us with dimensions, specifications, and construction methods. They also mentioned several part suppliers, and good sources for information regarding the B-17 G.
I have also also been in contact with EAA Chapter 43 and Chapter 515. Chapter 515 is a local chapter, and 43 is based in Southern Colorado. Chapter 43 supports the Young Aviators group who built the B-25 Mitchell cockpit and forward third. I have visited with them twice, and stayed in contact as best I could. They will be a great resource of knowledge for us as we really begin to take off on this project! We have already begun purchasing instruments for the cockpit.
Currently we are looking to buy a C-1 Autopilot. The C-1 Autopilot was used during bombing runs and long flights, to keep the aircraft stable and level, without the pilot or co-pilot needing to physically move the control stick.
Drawings from b17panels.com will also be a great aid for us constructing the cockpit, combined with drawings from the Smithsonian and pictures taken aboard Nine-O-Nine.
We have already purchased 11 individual parts. These are the Altimeter, Horizontal Gyro, Directional Gyro, five Oil Temperature Gauges Type A-24, and two Interphone Jackboxes. The C-1 Autopilot box will be our largest purchase, and really push us further towards our goal. You can read about all of the instrument on our website, FortCollinsB17.org, by going to out Instrument Inventory page and looking through the listed pages.
This is a massive project! We need more people involved! If you know anyone who might be interested, please tell them to donate or contact us! Even if you are not interested, please spread the word! We need everyone we can get! Remember that even if you can't physically be here, you can help by networking, sourcing parts, finding drawings, and of course donating! We welcome any and all replies!
Thank you for reading, and please lend us a hand! Everything helps further the project!
Thank you for reading!
Eli Josephs
Fort Collins B-17
KD0UJM
FortCollinsB17.org
We are a group of diverse expertise who have undertaken the task of building a B-17. The majority of our group is local to Fort Collins, Colorado, however several people are helping us from around the country. We have several companies who are willing to sponsor us, as well as many aviation folks from the community who will help to mentor.
This is a huge project, and we welcome anyone to join us. My name is Eli Josephs, and I am currently leading this project. My role thusfar has been to organize the group, manage funds, network, as well as build this site. I have received outstanding help from many of our members, as well as companies and individuals who are willing to help the group succeed. This is a long project- Currently slated for 10 years.
Of course, students will graduate, however this will not be the end of their participation in the project. We intend to continue bringing in highschool and college students, as well as others from our community and around the country. The bottom line, is that we are a mish-mash of different experiences, ages, and backgrounds. We welcome anyone and everyone to help out, and to spread the word.
You can see more on our website, FortCollinsB17.org.
How we will use Donations
We will use the $960 to buy a C-1 Autopilot. The cost of the autopilot box with shipping is $815.33, however Kickstarter charges a 5% fee, and federal income tax takes up even more. We calculated the total amount needed, in order to be left with $816 after taxes, and that number is $960.
Mission Statement
We are building a B-17G to spread the appreciation of WWII and Aviation history accross the country.
Rationale
We live in a time when WWII is being slowly forgotten, and propeller planes are dying out for the common public. By building a B-17, we are exposing younger generations to a very real time in history, when the world pivoted between two paths. Millions of people died in WWII, and we can not fail to remember their sacrifices.
We are involving many young people in the construction of the aircraft, and intend to have them learn from older generations who have much more experience. This, in itself, gives them real-world experience and provides them with skills they will always be able to keep.
Many of the veterans of WWII have already passed away. Every day, we are losing stories, and history is slowly being forgotten. Our goal is to preserve what we can, and continue the legacy of the people who fought for our country.
Who doesn't want to build a B-17?
The Project
Here's a quick overview of the Fort Collins B-17 Project. Our goal is to build a B-17 G variant Flying Fortress, using spare parts and new construction. We are based out of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
The entire project will be funded by fundraising, and all work will be volunteer only, unless we need to outsource to a company for specific parts. Due to the rarity of B-17 airframes, the airframe will be brand new manufacture, all done by the group. Parts such as landing gear, powerplant (the engines), instruments, and other parts will all be purchased from new old stock, surplus, and scrap.
The project is slated to last for about 10 years, and cost upwards of $500,000. It's hard to predict time or costs, due to unforseen changes in the economy, etc., but these numbers seem fairly accurate for the current time.
For now, we are focusing on the cockpit. It will be built with a temporary airframe, however the control quadrant, seats, and instrument panels will all be used in the final aircraft. The idea behind this move, is that we can transport the cockpit to local airshows, in order to gain publicity. The more people we have involved, the better! In order for the project to work, we need a large range of experience, knowledge, and interests.
Upon completion of the B-17, we will fly it to airshows across the U.S. similar to the Collings Foundation B-17G "Nine-O-Nine". Our goal is to spread appreciation for WWII aviation across the country, in a time when WWII is being slowly forgotten, and propeller planes are dying out for the common public.
We have been in contact with itsyourairplane.com. They are currently sponsoring the restoration of a B-17 E variant, "Desert Rat." They are willing to help us fundraise by giving us more publicity via their social media.
Over this past summer, we had the opportunity to visit the B-17G "Nine-O-Nine." While there, I had a brief discussion with a few members of the Collings Foundation. They are more than willing to assist us with dimensions, specifications, and construction methods. They also mentioned several part suppliers, and good sources for information regarding the B-17 G.
I have also also been in contact with EAA Chapter 43 and Chapter 515. Chapter 515 is a local chapter, and 43 is based in Southern Colorado. Chapter 43 supports the Young Aviators group who built the B-25 Mitchell cockpit and forward third. I have visited with them twice, and stayed in contact as best I could. They will be a great resource of knowledge for us as we really begin to take off on this project! We have already begun purchasing instruments for the cockpit.
Currently we are looking to buy a C-1 Autopilot. The C-1 Autopilot was used during bombing runs and long flights, to keep the aircraft stable and level, without the pilot or co-pilot needing to physically move the control stick.
Drawings from b17panels.com will also be a great aid for us constructing the cockpit, combined with drawings from the Smithsonian and pictures taken aboard Nine-O-Nine.
We have already purchased 11 individual parts. These are the Altimeter, Horizontal Gyro, Directional Gyro, five Oil Temperature Gauges Type A-24, and two Interphone Jackboxes. The C-1 Autopilot box will be our largest purchase, and really push us further towards our goal. You can read about all of the instrument on our website, FortCollinsB17.org, by going to out Instrument Inventory page and looking through the listed pages.
This is a massive project! We need more people involved! If you know anyone who might be interested, please tell them to donate or contact us! Even if you are not interested, please spread the word! We need everyone we can get! Remember that even if you can't physically be here, you can help by networking, sourcing parts, finding drawings, and of course donating! We welcome any and all replies!
Thank you for reading, and please lend us a hand! Everything helps further the project!
Thank you for reading!
Eli Josephs
Fort Collins B-17
KD0UJM
FortCollinsB17.org
Organizer and beneficiary
Eli Josephs
Organizer
Fort Collins, CO
Kelly Josephs
Beneficiary