Help keep "Sally B" in the air!

Both myself and Danni were born and raised in East Anglia, which was the heartland of the mighty US Eighth Air Force during WWII. This area was once a giant aircraft carrier for B-17's, B-24's, and B-26's which day after day took off on their daylight missions over France and Germany to help defeat the Nazi's, however of the thousands of bombers that once rumbled over East Anglian skies, there remains only one, a B-17G by the name of "Sally B".

If you've ever had the opportunity to sit in the nose section of this aeroplane, you instantly get the feeling of vulnerability, that large perspex nose really isn't going to protect you from much except the elements, and you find yourself thinking about what it must have been like being under attack from Luftwaffe fighters, 20mm shells coming into the forward compartment after a head on attack, the smoke, the noise, and the fear. You leave the compartment with a whole new perspective on the air war over Europe.

2005 marked the 30th Anniversary of Sally B operations in UK skies, a real milestone for a large warbird such as this, however it was marred by EU Regulation 785/2004 which temporarily grounded the aircraft.

What is EU Regulation 785/2004?

EU Regulation 785/2004 came into force on May 1st 2005, and imposes new minimum third party liability insurance requirements for aircraft operators, with bands according to maximum take-off weight. Other privately operated vintage aircraft come under Band 5, but Sally B, comes under Band 6, the same as a Boeing 737, requiring a staggering £65 million in third party liability insurance cover whereas at the moment she carries a more than ample £25 million.

What does this mean for the Sally B operation?

In short it means that the aircraft will have to find £1000 for every flying hour, Sally B currently flies 20-40 hours per season. Sally B operates on a Permit to Fly, and can neither fly commercially, carry passengers, fly for hire and reward or fly over built-up areas. So unlike a commercial operator, Sally B has no way of recouping the new costs, and has to try and raise the necessary funds, or apply pressure on the EU to have the rules changed. At the beginning of 2005 Sally B found herself grounded by EU beaurocracy. Every year Sally B over flys the American Cemetary at Maddingley near Cambridge, as a mark of respect to those airmen that never returned, but in 2005 she could not fulfil this mission.

A rescue package was put together with help from the insurers and Sir Richard Branson's Virgin group, which eventually allowed the aircraft to fly until September 2005, however as this deal ran out, the aircraft was once again grounded for the Autumn Airshow at Duxford. Another deal has been agreed which will see Sally B remain in the UK and fly in 2006, however EU Regulation 785/2004 still needs to be revised to allow for non-revenue warbirds such as Sally B to fly in the UK.

What can I do to help?

We hope that like us, you want to see Sally B in UK skies for many years to come. Although the immediate threat of Sally B's demise is over, the threat still looms large so it's important that permanent ammendments are made to the legislation.

There are number of things you can do to help Sally B, the main one being to put pressure on your local MP, and MEP's. You can find out how to contact your local MP at www.theyworkforyou.com . A great way to contact your MEP's is by logging on to www.faxyourmp.com where you can find out who your local MEP's are, and you can contact them via the website.

The other things you can do to really help is to make a donation to the B-17 Charitable Trust, or you could join the Sally B Supporters Club .

To find out more about the Sally B operation visit their official website at www.sallyb.org.uk