Tuesday, March 19, 2013

This Is Good

From the Usual USAF Source...
Group Aims to Return Vintage B-29 to Flying Status: A recently formed non-profit group aims to support the refurbishment of a World War II B-29 bomber named Doc and its return to flying condition, according to a release from the organization. "This airplane is a national treasure," said Jeff Turner, chairman of the board of Doc's Friends, formed by aviation enthusiasts and business leaders in Wichita, Kan. "We will not rest until we raise enough funds to restore Doc, find a permanent home, and operate Doc as a flying museum for the world to see," he added. Group members believe that Doc is the last-known B-29 that is restorable to flying condition, states the March 11 release. Boeing built Doc in Wichita in 1944. Decommissioned in 1956, the bomber spent more than four decades in the California desert until aviation enthusiasts rescued it and brought it to Wichita in 2000. Doc's Friends now has ownership of the bomber, which currently resides in hangar space donated by Boeing for the restoration work, states the release.
And there's this, from the Doc's Friends web site:



Good on 'em.  Fifi needs a running partner.

Cross-posted at The Lexicans.

6 comments:

  1. Awesome.

    I hope they approach the restoration judiciously and with great care. I know the conditions will be far different than the B-29 restoration on the Greenland icecap, but the memory of watching that old bird burn still hurts. If ya know what I'm talking about.

    Would love to see another one in the air!

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    Replies
    1. ... the memory of watching that old bird burn still hurts.

      Wasn't that a show on TDC, History, or one of those channels? I remember watching the plane burn, but I can't remember WHERE I saw it.

      Delete
    2. Seriously Buck? You want ME to remember something?

      Actually it was on PBS, Nova to be precise (a series I dearly love). I also found a link to what appears to be the entire program: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/military/b29-frozen.html

      (Dude, there's another post for you right there! I promise, I won't use it. Just doing my civic duty, as it were.)

      Delete
    3. Thanks! I remember, now.

      I'm with you on both PBS (in general) and Nova (specifically). My advocacy for PBS has caused me to get sensitive body parts caught in the wringer of various and sundry right-wing blogs.

      Delete
  2. That is cool. I hope they getter done.

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Just be polite... that's all I ask.