Gallery: ADS-B for Ye Olde Sally B

Credit: Trig Avionics

The UK’s Trig Avionics is talking up installation of a modern-day ADS-B system in Sally B, a World War II veteran aircraft and in fact the last remaining airworthy B-17 Flying Fortress bomber in Europe. The technology “improves ‘electronic’ visibility and enhances flight safety,” the company says.

Credit: Remo Guidi

“It may seem strange to suggest that a 24-ton aircraft, with a 103-ft. wing span, needs to be more visible,” said Sally B skipper Captain Peter Kuypers. “However, adding a Trig TN70 GPS position source to our Trig transponder makes a lot of sense. Most of our flying is at low altitude, in busy VFR airspace. Having ADS-B Out will enhance our visibility and reduce the potential risk of a collision.”

Credit: Trig Avionics

Since 1982, Sally B has been maintained by B-17 Preservation, a foundation based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England. The aircraft is “maintained and flown as a memorial to the 79,000 Allied airmen who lost their lives in Europe during the Second World War,” says Elly Sallingboe, foundation director, aircraft operator, and support team leader. It is “a unique and tangible part of our national heritage,” the foundation says. Sally B skipper Peter Kuypers and Elly Sallingboe pictured with Sally B at Duxford.

Credit: Remo Guidi

“We are grateful to Trig for their continued support,” says B-17 Preservation chief Elly Sallingboe. She notes that Sally B is also equipped with two Trig radios: “These avionics are dependable and really suit the vintage panel.”

Credit: Trig Avionics

Just to refresh, ADS-B stands for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, and according to the U.S. FAA “is transforming all segments of aviation,” allowing real-time precision and shared situational awareness “for pilots and controllers alike.” Effectively replacing radar-based systems, ADS-B uses satellite GPS technology and modified onboard transponders to track an aircraft’s position. Trig’s ADS-B hardware is shown here.

Credit: Wikipedia Commons

Somebody brought their baby to see the iconic warplane, the Sally B, said to be the last flightworthy B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe. Look closely and you can see the pram at bottom right.