On the eve of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two, new European regulations have grounded the UK’s much-loved Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, Sally B.

This is because of crippling new EU third party liability insurance requirements, based on aircraft weight, which have placed Sally B in the same insurance category as a commercial airliner. The effect is an increase in liability insurance of almost five hundred per cent, which is the equivalent of a staggering one thousand pounds extra per flying hour, on top of the already incredibly high running costs. But unlike a 737, Sally B operates for only twenty hours a year, is on a Permit to Fly, and can neither fly commercially, carry passengers, fly for hire and reward or fly over built-up areas.

Elly Sallingboe, head of the aircraft’s operating company, said ‘In this anniversary of the end of World War Two, Europe has managed to ground the last B-17 in the UK. This is a bitter setback to the B-17 Team and Members, who have put in over a quarter of a century of relentless hard work and dedication to keep Sally B in the air. It seems the Government is powerless to grant an exemption to this new regulation, which is destroying historic aviation in the UK. It is particularly upsetting when you think that Sally B flies as a memorial to over 70,000 Allied airmen who lost their lives in the skies over Europe. The aircraft is ready to fly, and we will do everything humanly possible to find a solution.’

So what are we doing about it? We have begun a national media campaign to spread awareness of the aircraft’s plight, raise the additional funds and continue our fight for an exemption. We are positive that a short-term solution will be found so that Sally B can continue flying this season, starting with the Memorial Day Flypast over the American Military Cemetery at Madingley on 30 May. This is undoubtedly her most important and poignant event of the year, when we pay tribute to all those young men who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and especially as we mark the 60th Anniversary of the end of the War.

We desperately need the public’s help now, more than ever. Details of how to support us can be found on Sally B’s website www.sallyb.org.uk

People can also lobby their MPs to get this unjust law changed. MPs’ contact details can be found at www.theyworkforyou.com/mp

Everything depends on the public’s reaction to our campaign and their generosity in making donations to The B-17 Charitable Trust. But if no permanent solution is found, this will be Sally B’s last season flying in this country.

For further information, please contact Sean Maffett, tel: (01451) 810100 e-mail sean@airsound.co.uk


This is from http://www.airshows.org.uk/news.html

I can't believe this, I've had nothing but grief from any form of insurance and this does nothing to make me appreciate it any more 

Pete

I was going to say - very old news indeed - and as Doug pointed out, temporarily solved by the combined efforts of the B17 Team, Richard Branson and Sally B's various insurance companies giving Sally B a special deal...

Personally, if it kept her in the air, I wouldn't object to seeing Sally B become the "Virgin Sally B", in fact the Virgin logo would blend in with the Sally B nose art quite nicely...

Saw Sally B and Pink Lady fly today at flying legends. Perfect weather for it. But, (what a plonker) I forgot my camera 

We've been tending to the Germans that have been camping out at Fowlmere airfield (next to Duxford). Barbecue breakfasts, immense amounts of coffee supplied free by us of course (The Flying Coffee Company). No one can understand what the hell they're talking about but it was fun .

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So who's complaining? It's supposed to be Summer. LOL

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Methinks you should get out more or at least go prepared for anything - like me. 8)

Salute Sir Richard Branson!!!!!!!

Yeah myself and my mate at our website tried to get a petition together about this whole ordeal when they first announced that SallyB wouldn't be flying.
It is a sad state of affairs when insurance companies control your life

I was lucky enough to fly Liberty Bell a few weeks ago, it wasn't cheap but knowing that here in the US the same deal with insurance companies is starting there may not be much more time to do such a thing.
It will be a sad day when the only time you see these pieces of history are in a museum instead of where they belong which is in the air.

If you want to see what will be one awesome display of B17s then check out the Thunder Over Michigan Airshow:

http://yankeeairmuseum.org/airshow/aircraft.htm

Look at that line up!!!!!! All flying!!!!!
The largest gathering of flyable bombers in the world!

Legends gets two B-17 almost every year but this was the first time I'd ever seen two B-17 and two B-25 in very, very close formation. Quite a stunning sight. I shot it all on video. The two 25s peeled off in fighter like fasion as they came back over Duxford to land, stunning sight that I doubt I will ever see again.