Carolina

The Boeing B-17 – A Legend In Its Time

Michael Lavelle

85 years ago, in the mid-1930, the Army Air Corp had requirements for a new modern long-
range strategic bomber. The presentation will discuss the people and events of this
revolutionary aircraft’s initial design, evolution, production, and World War II operational
history. Included in the talk the factors and personalities that influenced this aircrafts’ place in
aviation military history from its turbulent beginning to its legendary status as one of the
United States Army Air Force primary heavy bomber during World War II.

Mike Lavelle is an aviation historian and author with over 50+ years of aviation/aerospace
experience, including 12 years at Cessna Aircraft Company and 24 years with the Boeing
Company. Lavelle’s assignments in those companies were in aircraft flight crew and
maintenance training operations for both commercial and military programs. After retiring from
Boeing in 2006, he became a director at the Museum of Flight in Seattle for 7 years. A FAA flight
instructor with 7000+ hours flying in a variety of aircraft, he is also a certified airframe and
powerplant mechanic. An Associate Fellow of the AIAA and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical
Society of Great Britain, he shares his knowledge of aviation history with universities, industry
groups and air museums around the world. Mike has always had an interest in the people,
events, and aircraft that have made up the rich history of aviation. His presentation on the
Boeing B-17 ranks high in all three of those categories.