Pearl Harbor
After retrieving the Flying Fortress from Papua New Guinea, the B-17 bomber was first revealed in a viewing in Long Beach California. Many of the attendees were relatives and friends of the crew who initially flew the aircraft. People who attended the viewing were excited to witness the plane that was once thought to be lost forever. The remnants of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress serve as a reminder of a terrible war that killed millions. The Pacific Aviation Museum in Pearl Harbor has been housing the Flying Fortress since 2013.
Total Body Repair
Since the aircraft returned to American soil and is now secured in a safe location, its owners want to do a total body repair to bring back the plane’s former beauty. It’s not a small feat and the estimated expenses are not small either. To restore the heavy bomber, it might cost more than $5 million in total. That number is on the lower end for a project of this magnitude. Once the B-17 has been totally restored, there are also plans to transfer it to Hangar 79 in Ford Island.