'7 FLYING FORTRESS The name "Flying Fortress" that was applied to the Boeing B-299 prototype was one of ‘those rare naturals that just popped up. Boeing did not make a practice of naming its air- lanes at the time. When reporters at the July 17, 1935 rollout of the new bomber tumed in their photos, an editor was impressed by the then formidable battery of five defensive ‘machine guns and called the giant “a 15-ton flying fortress" in the caption that he wrote. Boeing Public Relations i nn "popular" names were assigned to U.S. Service models for general put development status.” All B-17s regardless of series letter were simply "Flying Fortresses" in itary press releases ‘When an invitation was received from the Army on August 8, 1934, to submit a company-owned design in a fly-off bomber de- sign competition to be held at Wright Field in August, 1935, Boeing decided to enter. Model 300 was shelved for the time and all design effort was concentrated on the Model 299. First, though, Boeing had to determine that a four-engine design was ‘acceptable under the rules, which specified a " multi- engine” design capable of carrying a 2000-Ib. bomb load a desired dis- ‘tance of 2200 miles at a required top speed of 200 m.p.h. but a desired top speed of 250 m.p.h. A visit to Wright Field by Boeing President Claire Egtvedt brought official assurance that the term " multi-engine", then commonly applied to twin-engine designs, also included four engines. Using theextra power to carry the small load faster, Boeing plunged ahead with Model 299. It is hard to appreciate today the huge gamble that Boeing took with the Model 299. Tt was not built with Army money as was ‘the XB-15. The company was in difficult circumstances at the time, having just withdrawn from the giant United Aircraft and ‘Transport Corporation that Boeing had helped found in 1929. This was broken up in mid-1934 by government trust-busters who decreed that firms building airplanes could not have financial ties to others that operated them. No further civil or military contracts were in sight. Employment was also tapering off-down to 600 in August, 1934, from 1700 in January. Cash on hand was barely half a million dollars.’ ‘After almost a full year of high-priority work, Boeing's contest entry was rolled out of the final assembly hangar on Boeing Field, the King County airport, on July 17, 1935. It presented a truly phenomenal sight for the day-a gleaming silver giont with a crew of ing span of 103 feet 9 inches, and a length of 68 feet 9 inches. Four 750 h.p. Pratt & Whitney "Hornet" radial engines were hidden under NACA cowlings that faired neatly into the nacelles projecting ahead of the wing. Another startling sight was the formidable array of five enclosed machine gun nests covering all possible anales of attack: the inspiration for the name CONSTRUCTION LANDING GEAR Gea ian dim Gh eam Pease tan ain 2 70m) egies tates We Gyctone Seyi radia Sux pend: obmph EB1umh) at 25.0008 ieee Jeurational celina: ‘A SPECIAL THANKS TO Gicoe Toe comune ane sean ere Peaseapaoat cvs crm, om SSCP uret thes ; Srey ouerely 'B-17 FLYING FORTRESS PROPELLER (© FIDDLERSGREEN.NET/2008