Haven't seen a thread on this, but it seems right up GRM's alley.
On Sunday, the B-29 "Doc" is scheduled to fly for the first time in more than 60 years. If so, that will make it one of only two airworthy B-29s in the world. The flight is supposed to be live streamed (no schedule that I know of) on the team's YouTube channel.
I think whether you're a Mustang guy or a Miata guy, we can all agree this is pretty rad.
More info: http://www.b-29doc.com/
Indeed, most definitely rad. Beautiful airplane. Imagine living in the era when this was cutting edge technology? I would have loved it. Imagine buying a hundred shares of Boeing stock in 1943 and holding?
That IS cool. I saw Fifi fly over Washington last year and it was well worth the effort to get there.
It will be like the first time I saw FIFI all over again. Those two flying in formation are the things dreams are made of.
Polished aluminum, nice. I always wondered why anyone with any of those old warbirds would every finish them in anything else (many are painted silver). Not really period correct though. They were bare aluminum, but certainly not polished (they were easy enough to spot as it was).
Historically the engines in the B29 were very unreliable. I am sure they have avoided some of the historic issues. I know when FiFi flew by my house on its "give a ride" tour, those motors must have been turning 1200 rpm! Just chugging along.
Nice to see another one get airborne. Now, if they got the gun mechanisms working, that would be SUPER impressive. As a whole, those planes where crazy complex and advanced for the time!
aircooled wrote: Polished aluminum, nice. I always wondered why anyone with any of those old warbirds would every finish them in anything else (many are painted silver).
I agree that bare aluminum looks much better, but it also corrodes, and I don't want to be the guy who has to polish a whole B-29.
Wheels up scheduled at 8:30 CST. Their webcast goes live at 8:15.
Direct link to live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNckztvXU3I
Engine #3 already running...
And cancelled. One of the comments mentioned hydraulic issues. Better safe than sorry!
cancelled or postponed? they got the bomb bay doors up.
Edit
They got the engines started again and are taxiing back to the runway
Yeah, they had some trouble with the bomb bay doors, but Doc is heading back to the runway.
In reply to mad_machine:
Woohoo!!!
Edit: That was awesome! 
Successfully up, successfully down. Just a short loop around the airport, but I don't blame them for being cautious the first time out. Hope there are many longer flights in the future.
Racecars and airplanes should not be immobile. Nice to see when people get them back up and running properly.
considering this is what Doc looked like pre-restoration:
Imagine the amount of effort it took just to get this thing into an available work space. Not like you can just back up with a trailer and tow it to a garage. Everyone involved in the restoration can give themselves a huge pat on the back. Fantastic job done by all.
The bomb bay doors were air operated.
Faster than hydraulics.
Two more noteworthy aircraft restorations for those interested in this sort of thing:
P-61: http://www.maam.org/p61/p61_recovery.htm (seriously, sorry for the "Geocities needs to make a comeback" web design)
XP-82: http://www.warbirdsnews.com/category/warbird-restorations/xp-82-twin-mustang
Both will be the only airworthy examples of their kind when complete.
The complexity of these things is just amazing! I've been in a couple of hangars with restorations in progress - the Urbana B-17 and a local Avenger, which is now complete and flying. The sheer number of parts and systems is just overwhelming, let alone the work needed to get parts, restore/recreate them, and build everything into a complete airframe.
Many years ago I got the chance to go in a WW2 era bomber and was stunned and just how many rivets hold the whole thing together.
Thanks to "Rosie(SP) the Riveter.
Will wrote: Two more noteworthy aircraft restorations for those interested in this sort of thing: P-61: http://www.maam.org/p61/p61_recovery.htm (seriously, sorry for the "Geocities needs to make a comeback" web design) XP-82: http://www.warbirdsnews.com/category/warbird-restorations/xp-82-twin-mustang Both will be the only airworthy examples of their kind when complete.
Even more rare, Chino is restoring a P-59 to flying condition!
http://www.planesoffame.org/index.php?page=restoration-projects
In case the number doesn't ring a bell (I made a funny):
In reply to aircooled:
I hope they use something other than the original engines. T-37 engines, maybe?
Not sure, but the original engine is a copy of the British engine so perhaps there is an early engine (e.g. Vampire, which I know there are a few flying) that will retrofit. A T33 engine might fit, it's about the same size and type (radial flow).
I go to the show every year, so I will have to try and ask them next time.
XLR99 wrote: The complexity of these things is just amazing! I've been in a couple of hangars with restorations in progress - the Urbana B-17 and a local Avenger, which is now complete and flying. The sheer number of parts and systems is just overwhelming, let alone the work needed to get parts, restore/recreate them, and build everything into a complete airframe.
Don't forget that these planes were "mass" produced back in the war. B-24's were rolling off the line at about 20 a day.
Over between '43-'46, almost 4000 B29's were built. Imagine seeing the production facility going at full blast.
Mind boggling.
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