another B-29 is in the air

[Daniel Kalal]

it happened just a couple hours ago.  The effort to bring this plane back from its role as target practice in the desert is almost beyond belief; yet, here it is.  Probably looking better than new.

engine start


airborne! Wichita Kansas is also where this airplane was built.


taxi back


And, now there are two.

[twowings]

Woo Hoo!  Fifi, meet your little brother!   

[canuck750]

A couple years ago I watched a doc on the B-29, fascinating piece of equipment it was (is).

The documentary stated that at the time the B-29 was the most advanced and expensive single project ever undertaken. There was a lot of detail on the technology that this aircraft introduced and how it surpassed the capabilities of anything else in the air. I always dumbfounded at what some very smart people accomplished before computers were available.

[Daniel Kalal]

...the B-29 was the most advanced and expensive single project...

Yeah; it’s probably just a matter of how you do the accounting that could put either the Manhattan Project or the B-29 Program at the top of the list.  As an aircraft structures engineer, I’m aware how much the analysis methods and design principles and materials that are used today came from that program.   The big airplanes that predate it are antiques by comparison; all that came after used it as the benchmark.

[CalVin2007]

 That's a thing of beauty. 

[lucydad]

My Uncle Harold who flew B-17s said he always wanted to try the pressurized B-29. 

Excellent.

[Guzzistajohn]

 

[Tom]

My dad loaded them.  Not 100 if he loaded the Enola Gay but his unit's group number matches.  I'm pretty sure he loaded for the fire raids.  Good to see another up in the air.

[guzzisteve]

Couple hrs left if you want to see the other one in Aurora, IL(Sugar Grove, actually) doing the rounds on it's way to Oshkosh.
http://www.airpowersquadron.org/#!blank/vz7iw



 

[Tom]

Thanks for posting.

[mentalfloss]

My dad flew B-24's. The HUMP in China/ Burma. He was in training to fly B-29's when the war ended. He said  the B-29 was magical to fly. Thanks for posting , I wish I was there!

[Arizona Wayne]

My Uncle Harold who flew B-17s said he always wanted to try the pressurized B-29. 

Excellent.

My father flew in the B-17s & B-29s & B-36s & B-52s in 20 years of service.
Retired @ 39 years of age as a Lt.Colonel.     Survived WW II, Korea, Cold War(SAC).

The B-52s were the 1st aircraft with modular wiring that is still used and probably why they are still flying.   They've been around since 1958. 

[Devildog]

Daniel, who funded the restoration?

[oldbike54]

My father flew in the B-17s & B-29s & B-36s & B-52s in 20 years of service.
Retired @ 39 years of age as a Lt.Colonel.     Survived WW II, Korea, Cold War(SAC).

The B-52s were the 1st aircraft with modular wiring that is still used and probably why they are still flying.   They've been around since 1958. 

 '55 . Yeah , no matter how hard they try to replace the BUFF , nothing else does what it will do .

  Dusty

[Daniel Kalal]

Daniel, who funded the restoration?

In this town, there's a wealth of volunteer aviation talent, including people who worked on the Boeing assembly line when they were first built.  All the local airplane companies seem to have (now retired) reps on the board, and there has been a lot of support from enthusiasts from across the country.  The hangar facilities have been courtesy of Boeing.  It doesn't seem to be a case of "who" but of "how many."  A non-profit "Friends of Doc" owns the airplane.

[Gliderjohn]

It is my understanding that during the 15 years of the restoration 35 volunteers who had originally worked on the B-29 lines in WWII died. A recent article focused on a woman that had gone to work as a riveter on the B-29 line a few months after her graduation from HS in 1943. She riveted on the nose section of this actual plane and now did it again as a volunteer. What a memory trip that would be! Think of all that experience.
As Daniel has eluded to it was a massive effort done by many both financacially and man-hour wise. A first class and beautiful job well done.
GliderJohn

[Daniel Kalal]

...A recent article focused on a woman that had gone to work as a riveter on the B-29 line a few months after her graduation from HS in 1943...

Here she is, this morning.  You've got to smile at her scarf and the Rosie-the-riveter earrings.  She's certainly the real thing.

[Robert]

I touched this bird as it was aboard trucks (in parts) to ship it out of town to Wichita.

There is a backstory to all this.  Local volunteers had the bird, starting to restore it for display.

Some big money cat swapped the Navy for it, and the volunteers lost it.  Some hard feelings still exist (and some major financial problems resulted for some volunteers).

I will say Boeing restored it better than the volunteers could have dreamed of.

Not to mention that Disney had 'copyright' issues with "Doc" as Nose art.

[rodekyll]

Good pics!  You're lucky to have been there.

I saw another one in ogden a few days back.  Got pics.  Tiny next to the B52 down the line from it.

[Daniel Kalal]

...a backstory to all this...

As I understand it, after looking for a salvageable B-29, Tony Mazzolini traded a restored B-25 to the Naval Aviation museum in Florida for the title to the hulk in the sands of China Lake, California (a Navy facility).

It was then towed (with great difficulty) to the InyoKern Airport, where the idea was for it to be restored and to become the center-piece of a new museum.  But, the restoration was vastly beyond what could be done, there.

So, with Boeing-Wichita stepping in to provide resources, the plane was dismantled and trucked to a hangar in Wichita that was made available by Boeing.  The labor in Wichita (just as it was in Inyokern) was volunteer.  But, buying new engines and new spars and new skins and new avionics requires cash.  Lots of it.  When it comes to making connections with aviation people with cash, you'd be hard pressed to find a city to beat Wichita.  Along the way, ownership passed to the non-profit organization that was established to support the project (and raise the money).

This was probably the single most expensive (in both money and hours) airplane restoration project ever attempted.

[Daniel Kalal]

I saw another one in ogden a few days back.  Got pics.

That would be "Fifi."  The pilot of that B-29 also did the first flight of "Doc."  I guess you can't just post a help-wanted sign for an experienced B-29 flight crew (with an unexpired ticket)...

[Mr Revhead]

This is awesome, I'd love to see one of these things one day.
In fact, I'd love to see many of the planes you guys have over there....

My father flew in the B-17s & B-29s & B-36s & B-52s in 20 years of service.
Retired @ 39 years of age as a Lt.Colonel.     Survived WW II, Korea, Cold War(SAC).

The B-52s were the 1st aircraft with modular wiring that is still used and probably why they are still flying.   They've been around since 1958. 

And slated to be in service until the 2040. So about 90 years in service. 90 years... In 2040 man will have been flying powered craft for only 137 years 

[rodekyll]

No, not "Fifi".  This ne is marked 85 and named "straight flush".  I got a full walkaround.

[Daniel Kalal]

No, not "Fifi".  This ne is marked 85 and named "straight flush".  I got a full walkaround.

Wonderful.  It'd be great if someday that one is restored, too--it sounds like it's pretty complete.  I'm unclear on what that airplane really is.  I presume they've repainted it to the colors and name of one of the more famous atomic bomb B-29s.  The website for the Ogden museum lists a different airplane (or at least under a different name).

[rodekyll]

The aircraft count and types have changed since I was there last.  Some have been moved inside, some added, some missing.  So it's entirely possible that this one is altogether different than the one listed in their inventory.

But I'm not a B29 expert.  I just like taking pictures.

[Tkelly]

my Dad was  a B24 test pilot for Ford.

[Doppelgaenger]

I damn near cried when they refurbished that B-29 in Greenland and then it caught fire and burned to the ground on the taxi run. It's good to see another one finally airworthy again.

It's also a bit of a shame that it takes wars to spur the development of revolutionary aircraft (B-29, SR-71). Aircraft design certainly has languished in the days since the days of the cold war, but at least we have the private sector making some kickass rockets now.

[kirby1923]

I am very familiar with that story.

One of the two parties that were in charge of that operation had a hangar next to mine in CA so I was in the loop.
That aircraft was landed in Greenland during a ferry flight when they had some system failures (engine related) that required an off airport landing which they managed to pull off with little damage. The crew was rescued but the aircraft spent a winter on the ground and was covered completely by snow and they couldn't find it.


Due to a warm summer several years ago it was un covered and rediscovered.
They trekked in country and scraped out a landing strip so they could get in with a C 123 and used it to bring in a Kubota tractor and build a strip long enough to get the 29 airborne but it was rough.


A lot of work later they got it to what they believed was an airworthy B-29,so to make a long story short..

During take off they were running the piston powered APU in the tail for back up electric in case of an emergency but the fuel system was clogged and they were running it with a hose stuck into an open Gery can(not tied down) and due to the rough strip it fell over and started a fire in the tail. Fortunately they were still on the ground and Darryl(pilot) aborted and all got out safely but the aircraft burned up.

I don't remember the total time on the aircraft but I think it was under 300 hours.
A lot of work down the drain for a small detail that was over looked.

Sad tale!

[kirby1923]

Here she is, this morning.  You've got to smile at her scarf and the Rosie-the-riveter earrings.  She's certainly the real thing.

I must say, that is priceless!!

Makes me smile.

Edit:
I would come from GMT+5 to meet and buy her a drink!!!

[Bill N]

What a great thread. When I was about 8 years old (1956) at a YMCA summer course I chose the B29 as my favorite aircraft and built a model. Not so much for it's history but I just thought it was beautiful.
The Greenland story is well documented and I've seen a documentary on TV. The sad part is the chief engineer for the project I think died during the recovery from a heart attack, then of course the plane  burned up. Was very emotional watching the documentary. I believe the B29 and the Constellation are the most beautiful 4 engine recips ever built.
Thanks for posting.
Bill