posted on Jul, 24 2006 @ 08:11 PM
One of the rarest of rare warbirds could be flying the US airshow circuit by next year.
The B-29, named "Doc" (44-69972) was built March 1945, and never saw combat in WWII. In the 50s, Doc was part of 20th AF,also part of the "Snow
white and the seven dwarves" squadron of 8 bombers, The aircraft will be painted in a 20th Air Force scheme, but will not be painted with any Disney
Characters. Over the past six years a team of Boeing workers and volunteers have worked on restoring the A/C in the hopes of one day it would take to
the air once again.
Doc will be the first "new" flying B-29 since the Confederate Air force's( now Commemorative Air force) FiFi. For the past 2 years FiFi
(SN44-62070) has been down for extended Maint. Last year extensive corrosion in the wings of the CAF B-29 forced it to be grounded. This year an
extensive air show tour was scheduled but later canceled due to the requirement of a major engine overhaul. In a recent conversation FiFi's crew
chief revealed that the B-29 would need to be re-engined. The original style R-3350 -57's are no longer useable, and will be replaced with parts from
a R-3350-95W (Used in AC-119K, built in the 60s), and -26WD found in the Douglas Skyraider.
External Link:Global security, B-29 stats
Small news article about Doc
CAF'S "FiFI" website
BTW anyone at or going to Oshkosh this year?
and sorry for the grammer and spelling