B-29 Fertile Myrtle
Sat Sep 16, 2006 2:03 pm
Anyone got some stories on this plane and it's aquisition by Kermit Weeks? I'd like to see some pictures of it when it was a flyer in Week's possesion and after it was dismantled. Thought I'd start a new thread on this plane...
Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:01 pm
I can't say much about it after Kermit got it, but in the late 70's I l ived in Tucson and saw it fly on a couple of occaisions. Someplace I have a pic of it at night, parked, in all its markings. Not the best pic, but I like it. As I remember they had several engine problems and I remember seeing it land with one prop feathered.
If I can dig out the pic, I will post it.
If I can dig out the pic, I will post it.
Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:09 pm
I'd like to see that picture if you can find it...
Fertile Myrtle
Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:31 pm
She was based in Oakland in the late 70's, Attended the Travis airshow in 79 or 80 I believe. Still remember her flying low over Vacaville and the Nut Tree in California one afternoon.
The local paper even had a story on her.
The local paper even had a story on her.
Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:56 pm
I don't know who was owner at the time, but lots of technicolor flying footage of Myrtle exists in the timeless Disney classic "Last Flight of Noah's Ark."
The film was quite the stinker for plot and acting, but still worth renting for seeing those four Wrights pulling her along over the Pacific.
The film was quite the stinker for plot and acting, but still worth renting for seeing those four Wrights pulling her along over the Pacific.
Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:45 pm
From the registery I see that Weeks had at least a partial piece of the airframe on loan to a museum in Florida - the website is defunct. Does anyone know where this beastie is currently?
Tom P.
Tom P.
Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:16 pm
Corrosion or not, it's time for this plane to come back together...please!
Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:00 pm
The nose section of Fertile Myrtle is on display inside the Museum at Sun 'n Fun (Lakeland, FL) (or at least it was during my visit last November).
Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:17 am
No pictures of her in one piece?
Sun Sep 24, 2006 12:55 pm
Here is a photo of the 29 shot at Oakland in May 1971!
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/ParrottJohn/5278L.jpg
T J
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/ParrottJohn/5278L.jpg
T J
Sun Sep 24, 2006 4:21 pm
Nice, thanks! Was the bombbay area re-worked back to it's original config after her use as a drop bird?
Sun Sep 24, 2006 6:35 pm
I believe that the rear of "Fertile Myrtle" is from another B-29. The mods for the D-558 were so great that they just replaced the aft section and re- installed the bombay doors.
Jerry
Jerry
Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:36 am
Scott,
A friend I used to work with at UAL in SFO told me a story about Kermit and this B-29. My friend was once employed by Savage Magneto (did the mags for Crocker's "Sumthin' Else") at Oakland Airport, and they were listening to the departure frequency when Kermit was waiting to take the active with the B-29. When he informed the tower he was ready for takeoff, the response was a hold for a Cessna on final. His reply was "CESSNA! CESSNA! I've got a g*****n B-29 out here suckin' up fuel", at which he took the active anyway, causing the Cessna to go around. If I recall, my friend said he returned to the field shortly thereafter with an engine out and prop feathered. Bad Juju?
A friend I used to work with at UAL in SFO told me a story about Kermit and this B-29. My friend was once employed by Savage Magneto (did the mags for Crocker's "Sumthin' Else") at Oakland Airport, and they were listening to the departure frequency when Kermit was waiting to take the active with the B-29. When he informed the tower he was ready for takeoff, the response was a hold for a Cessna on final. His reply was "CESSNA! CESSNA! I've got a g*****n B-29 out here suckin' up fuel", at which he took the active anyway, causing the Cessna to go around. If I recall, my friend said he returned to the field shortly thereafter with an engine out and prop feathered. Bad Juju?