In early July, our team travelled to the United Kingdom for one of the busiest periods of our anniversary season, flying four major projects back-to-back. Among them was a mission that had been on our wish list for many years: a dedicated air-to-air photoflight with the sole flying Boeing B-17 in Europe. After a brief encounter with a Flying Fortress alongside the Skyvan in 2016, the desire to photograph this legendary aircraft in detail had only grown stronger.
That opportunity exists today thanks entirely to Elly Sallingboe and her remarkable team, who have achieved what few thought possible—keeping a B-17 flying in European skies not just for a season, but for decades. Their dedication has ensured that this iconic aircraft remains a living part of aviation history rather than a static museum exhibit.
We were privileged to operate from the historic airfield at Duxford, watching the B-17 “Sally B” line up behind our Skyvan for departure. Conditions were classic summer flying weather, with temperatures approaching 30 degrees and clear blue skies, although the heat brought significant turbulence, making the mission technically demanding for both crews.
The objective was to capture “Sally B” in flight while overflying historic landmarks, documenting the aircraft in the environment that defines its legacy. Thanks to the exceptional flying of Peter Kuypers in the B-17 and Phillip Artweger in the Skyvan, the mission delivered exactly what we had hoped for. Along the way, the unexpected appearance of a MiG-15 flown by Kenneth Aarkvisla added a remarkable and completely unplanned highlight to the flight.
For nearly an hour, we had the rare privilege of sharing the sky with one of the most exclusive warbirds flying in Europe today. The sights, sounds, and presence of the B-17 in formation will remain with us for a very long time. The Aviation PhotoCrew extends sincere thanks to Elly Sallingboe for her trust, permission, and support in making this long-held ambition a reality.
