B-29 Doc Progress

[TimAPNY]

I just check out the web site of the restoration of "Doc". It looks like they are starting to assemble the fuselage. Check out the Web Cam for the latest pictures, I wish there was a current and detailed restoration picture page (nug, nug, wink, wink)

http://b-29.boeing.com/

[TimAPNY]

It looks like the fuselage is together. No wings but...

Any "Insiders" here that can give the scoop? Or some pictures? I really wish the web site gave some pictures that weren't 4 years old.

THANKS TO ALL INVOLVED!

[mrhenniger]

Click on the link above. Look for the Web Cam light on the right then click on it. In the pop-up window select Cam 2 from the drop down box. It gives a view of the forward fusealge. Not high quality visuals, but as recent as it is going to get.

Thanks for drawing our attention back to this Tim!

Mike

[TimAPNY]

I've been living off that web cam.

I just would love to get some good stills of the differet parts under restoration. Thats all

[Ryan Keough]

I wonder what, if any, impact the recent troubles with Boeing or the concentration on the competition with Airbus has made on the internal funding of the B-29 project and how long it is taking. I seem to remember someone saying that the plane was to have taken to the skies by 2002 originally... anyone know their focused date now? Any idea where it will be going or what it will do once flying?

Ryan Keough

Hello,

I wrote an article for "FlyPast" on "Doc" and the other active B-29 rebuilds a few years back.

According to my contact who is part of the group, the issue over there is no so much manpower it is funding. They need a boatload of cash to fund the engines, etc. I believe the monster Wright-Cyclone engines cost over 100K each.

The fuselage and other parts are well advanced too.

Ron

[Wolverine]

I work on it. We need a bunch of money.

Last edited by Wolverine on Mon Jan 10, 2005 7:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[stumac]

I think I know were you could find four of them and propellers. They at the bottom of a lake over in Greenland.

[TimAPNY]

Some group out of Fresno CA was going to go and get the engines, wings (?) and tail (?) if I recall correctly. But that was a couple years ago

[stumac]

Somebody might as well they are good parts plus they are fully paid for. That Keybird was well insured before they all sat there in lawn chairs and let it burn.

[Shay]

I always wondered what happened to all the parts brought up to keybird that weren't torched. One would have thought that they would of brought them back.
stumac
I really hope what you said wasn't the case. To think that there are people in the warbird community that would rather torch an airplane for insurance money, than bring here home. Surely the pride of restoring a B-29 for everyone to enjoy is more valuable than any amount of money.
Hey is an idea. In Greenland is a set wings engines and tail right? I a certian B-29 that could use all those parts. "Command Decision". She need to be restored back to her former glory. Besides she's no more fun to go inside of, since they put up all the plexi-glass to keep you out of the seats. Just thinking out loud.

Shay

Kee Bird was not burned for the insurance money. She was performing a fast taxi run over some extremely rough ice and in the process, the APU in the back had not been turned off and a rigged up fuel line came apart and the gas hit the hot APU sparking the fire. Apparently during the run, the inside was shaking so much that there was dust and dirt flying everywhere so the fire was very hard to see initially. Once they saw it and got her stopped, the old insulation inside went up like matchsticks and all the fire extinguishers they had just could not help her.

The lawn chairs reference was true. They literally could do nothing so they grabbed their chairs and watched her burn.

People have not always agreed with the way Daryl Greenamyer has done some things in the past but I don't believe doing all that to Kee Bird and being maybe a day or less from flying her out would make him burn her for the insurance.

Ryan

[B29Gunner]

Somebody might as well they are good parts plus they are fully paid for. That Keybird was well insured before they all sat there in lawn chairs and let it burn.

What the #$@%* are you talking about??? The fact that you’re implying D.G. & crew deliberately “let it burn” has got to be the most absurd thing I have heard in a very long time! Especially after Rick Kriege died, I find it very insulting that you would even dare make such a statement!

BTW, I’ve never heard anything about the Kee Bird (note correct spelling) being insured. After all, who would insure an A/C that’s been sitting on ice for 50yrs, that you then plan to repair on site and fly out? Now THAT’S crazy!

[Randy Haskin]

That Keybird was well insured before they all sat there in lawn chairs and let it burn.

What insurance company in their right mind would have insured Kee Bird?

[airnutz]

homer???, ....is that you???