CAPFlyer wrote:
I think you're reading between non-existent lines there man. The plane will be home for 4-5 months every year during Winter and Early Spring for maintenance during the "off season." As there is no plans (as of now) to tour the airplane between airshow appearances, it will also need somewhere to stay during the week and between shows. As such, this is a great plan to have a location that can be a year-round attraction even when the plane isn't home and when it is, showcases it in the best possible conditions and lets people watch work being done on the airplane from a perspective most don't get to see. Most warbirds fly MAYBE 100 hours a year, especially the large ones. That's 14 per month during the flying season. You eat ~10 of that just going to 2 airshows a month during that period (3 hours to/from, 2 hours flying during). Figure the other 4 for training or giving rides at home, and you've hit that number with no problem. You can hit 200 hours of flying without trying to hard if you've got a "high demand" aircraft that is appearing at 2 airshows a month (10 hours), flying 3 flights each Saturday and Sunday between (12 hours), and doing media flights on the Fridays before the two air shows (4 hours), giving a total of 26 hours of "revenue" operation and 2-3 hours of training/miscellaneous flying to make your 28-30 hours a month for 200 hours in the year.
Well stated, and I agree completely. I do think they plan on flying Doc a lot, it's just that they need a "home", like stated above. I also do know that they plan on selling passenger rides on it as soon as they get FAA approval, but that will take some time. My guess is that they will start out slow, with a limited amount of airshows/events/appearances, and as they get their crews trained, proficient and more experience, they will probably accomplish more engagements. It wouldn't surprise me if, after all of that happens, that they spend more time on the road, and perhaps do limited "mini-tours" to compete with the CAF and Collings foundation. As both of those groups can attest, there is literally millions of dollars to be made when a "one-of-a-kind" aircraft such as the B-29 is put on a regular tour.
BTW, I have no "inside" info and I'm not affiliated with Doc. This is all just pure speculation on my part. Of course, I could be competely wrong as well. Time will tell.