Alright, so I heard some chatter a while back, you know how it is, bits and pieces floating around about the Yankee Lady. I’m always curious about these old warbirds, especially the B-17s, so I figured I’d do a little digging myself, see what was actually going on.
My First Clues
First thing I noticed, and this was a bit of a surprise, the old Yankee Air Museum, where she used to live, well, they changed their name. Yep, they’re calling themselves the Michigan Flight Museum now. That apparently happened back in May of this year, 2024. Then, not long after, in June, they put out the official word: the Yankee Lady B-17 was sold. Just like that. Always a bit of a shock when a plane that iconic moves on from a place it’s been for ages.
Tracking Down the New Owner
So, of course, the next question is, who got her? Took a bit of asking around, checking some of the usual spots where this kind of info pops up. Turns out, the word is the new owner is a collector based out in Sacramento, California. Guy by the name of Charles Somers. From what I gather, he’s not new to this game; he’s already got some serious historic iron, like a de Havilland Mosquito FBVI, the PZ474, that used to be with Lewis Air Legends. So, she’s gone to someone who appreciates these kinds of machines, which is good to know.
What’s the Big Picture with B-17s?
It got me thinking about how many of these big old birds are even still flying. It’s not a big number, that’s for sure. I was looking at a site, *, that tries to keep tabs on these things. As of June 2024, they were listing something like:
- Four B-17s as “Operational (Flying)”. That’s it, just four that are regularly up in the air, doing their thing.
- And then maybe three more that are listed as “Long Term Maintenance back to Operational”. So, they’re being worked on, big time, with the hope of getting them flying again, but it’s a long road for those.
It really puts it in perspective, doesn’t it? Every single one of these flying fortresses is precious. When one changes hands, especially one as well-known as Yankee Lady, you just hope the new caretaker will keep her gracing the skies. It’s a big deal to keep these things airworthy, a massive undertaking.
So, that’s the story as I’ve pieced it together. The Yankee Lady has a new steward. Hopefully, we’ll still see her around at airshows and such. These planes are living history, and it’s folks like Somers, and the museums, and all the volunteers that keep that history alive for the rest of us. It’s always a bit sad to see a chapter close, but also hopeful for the next one.
