[Guest]

And although the plane may resemble the B-17 it is however a completely different aircraft. It has a completely different wing which is 46 feet wider than those of the B-17 and much thicker than the B-17's (as you can see in my avatar) so thick in fact that it allowed for passages to be built within the wing to allow the engines to be serviced in flight. It was also used in the Boeing 314 Clipper. When it first flew in 1937 it was America's largest aircraft it also broke several of load to altitude records including flying with a 31,205 pound load to 8,200 feet. It was also much more advanced than the model 299 (B-17) with an automatic pilot, De-icing equipment, Auxilary power units for each engine, double wheel main landing gear and a crew compartment with rest bunks a galley and a lavatory. It was also designed for a different USAAF requirement so in my opinion it is definately not a prototype B-17. You should worship 'Old Grandpappy' as it is the predecessor for all large Boeing aircraft.