B-29 & P-51

[Donnie]

I know some of you guys like these old planes, so here's some pics and a little video.
Tanner and I went to see these yesterday. to me there amazing and I was thinking how many parts on these planes were manufactured at the Bendix plant. which is just 2.5 miles down the road from where we were at.

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[427TJ]

Best money I ever spent on a father-son thing was a ride in FIFI two years ago. At first you feel a little sticker shock but then they start the engines and begin the taxi-out and you realize it's so worth it.

[earntaz]

These war birds kicked some a$$ during WWII ... absolutely beautiful aircraft -- there is nothing like the sound of the Pratts or Merlins crankin' through the sky. Back in the day at Chanute AFB I knew a gentleman who was a flight engineer/top turret gunner on a B-17 named the Red Gremlin – the pilot was none other than Paul Tibbets . During an open house at the same base, Paul Tibbets and Dutch Van Kirk attended. I had the opportunity to talk with them for over an hour – what history came out. TAZ [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

[Terry24]

For those in or around Western PA, Bombers at Butler in August. Click the link.

https://www.visitbutlercounty.com/ev...er-week-butler

[JRSully]

Think there is only 1-2 29's still flying in the world, incredible birds

[mssl72]

I believe Fifi is the only one currently flying. Doc just got inspected by the FAA and needs to go through some taxi tests and a few others before it's first flight. It'll be cool to see them flying together!!

[JRSully]

Saw Fifi fly late year, incredible to hear it and watch it taxi out, its huge

[parkbrau]

Doc took to the skies a few days ago. Here is the link to McConnel AFB FB page. Scroll down a ways and you'll find the AF Video.

https://www.facebook.com/22ARW/

Or:

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news...-226567-1.html


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[StealthBird]

We went up in &quot;Fifi&quot; a few days ago. Our friend was a B-29 bombsight and navigation specialist in WWII. This was the first time he's been in a B-29 since 1945.

I sat in the upper turret (or Central Fire Control Gunner position) while we were in flight. The upper turret was fired remotely by the gunner, who sat just in front of the turret. I also crawled all the way back into the tail gunner position. What an incredible view! It was extremely noisy back there, and a lot of buffeting. I can't believe so many young men endured this environment for hours on end, in freezing cold temps, while looking for Japanese fighters bent on killing them. Truly the Greatest Generation.

We were fortunate enough to have the P-51 escort us for about a minute. I captured some great photos, although I wish I'd brought a better camera!

It was a thrilling experience I'll never forget. One thing that really surprised me was the acceleration takeoff. Once those giant engines wind up, I was always under the impression it was a gradual acceleration until it lifted off the tarmac. But it was more like a commercial airliner. It lurched and accelerated pretty hard from a dead stop.

The other thing that was surprising is how this aircraft was still in its 1945 mode. It wasn't converted to make passengers comfortable for these rides. You climb into the belly of the beast via a ladder. You ducked and bent your body to get through bulkheads. There weren't any modern signs or padded railings. It was a true warbird. Everything was as it was in 1945. Still had the original crew seats, lots of sharp corners and steel in the interior. You get banged up a bit crawling or moving about as the plane buffets. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Mike

[SS427]

Great experience for sure Mike. I have been in the B29 but have never had the pleasure. The seats are not cheap but well worth the once in a life time cost. Whose P51 was flying chase? At first I thought it was Gunfighter who normally flies with the CAF and the Airpower History Tour but it is not his.