What was better the B-17 or B 24?

The B-17 had a very large wing and ailerons (the moveable portion of the wing), while the B-24 used a smaller wing and ailerons for speed. Thus, the Liberator was faster, but the Flying Fortress could fly higher. Loss of an engine or engines made the B-24 more difficult to handle.

How did the Lancaster compare to the B-17?

Lancaster had far better payload, far better range and smaller crew. B-17 had better ceiling, better defensive armament and more rugged construction.

What is the difference between a B-17 and a b29?

Due to all of this, the B-29 is much heavier than the B-17. As a result, Boeing was forced to use more powerful engines for the B-29. In turn, the B-29 had a much longer combat range than the B-17. On top of the longer combat range, the B-29 also had a much faster cruising and max speed.

Was the B-17 pressurized?

The inside of the B-17 was not pressurized, so it was necessary for each crew member to wear an oxygen mask at altitudes above 10,000 feet. Each B-17 was equipped with an autopilot and a Norden bombsight.

What was the difference between the B-17 and B-24 bomber?

The B-17 and the B-24 inevitably invited comparison. Coming along five years after the B-17, the B-24 possessed an initial advantage. It carried a larger bomb load than the B-17, and could carry the load farther, with a crew of the same size — ten men.

Why did the British prefer the B-24 Liberator over the B17 Flying Fortress?

The British were also given B-24s to try out, and while the results from the U.S. viewpoint were less than hoped for, the RAF did prefer the B-24 Liberator over the B-17 Flying Fortress because of its heavier payload capabilities.

Do B-17 and B-24 crews have the best machines?

When separated into B-17 and B-24 crews, 92 percent of the surveyed B-17 crews said they had the best type of machine, compared with 76 percent of the polled B-24 crews who said they had the best type of aircraft. As the survey summary noted: “The proportion who are ‘sold’ on their own plane is… greater among B-17 crew members.”

Why do B-17 pilots have higher satisfaction than B-24 pilots?

The markedly higher satisfaction rates expressed by B-17 navigators and bombardiers than their B-24 counterparts may be attributed to the generally roomier nose section in a B-17.