B-29 At The Strategic Air and Space Museum

[APG85]

Anyone got any pictures of the B-29 restoration at the Strategic Air and Space Museum? Any updates? Thanks...

[DanteC]

I only have a few, it was not on display, so I had to squeeze between some doors to get a decent look at it. Hope you find these useful. I took these back in Feb or March 2006. Too bad most of those airframes had to sit out exposed to the elements for so long....sure did a number on some of them.

Dante

[retroaviation]

Where are the outer wing panels?

[bryang]

the outer wing panels are off to be able to put it in the restoration hanger
I've been there lately(live in omaha), It's stripped down--to what extent now I don't know. Its been a long time coming

[APG85]

Thanks for posting the pictures. It would be nice to know what the full restoration plan is for this aircraft. I would have to assume it is relatively intact on the interior since it flew to the museum under it's own power (not recovered from China Lake)...

[GrumpE]

It flew to Offutt where the original outdorr display was. All of the aircraft at the new facilty were hauled overland. Some were torn down extensively to facilitate this.

Also, as mentioned, all of the original museum aircraft were outside in Nebraska for many many years. It gets crazy hot/humid in the summer and bitter cold and icy in the winter.

That was the reason we have the great new faciltiy. The Air Force basically said take care of them now or we will re-distribute them to other museums.

When they opened her up there were all sorts of critter nests and droppings. The first major steps in all of the restorations there so far have been cleaning out all of the muck and such. Check out their website for more info. I am a member and have been trying to get out there for several months but work/family things keep popping up. They just had her open for one of the member crawl through days several weeks back. Of course I missed it.

Somebody had to get pics.

Eric

[APG85]

The museum web site only says the aircraft is in "restoration assesment". There is no information or pictures of the current status...

[Paul Krumrei]

I will e-mail them and see if I cannot get some pics/updates.

[retroaviation]

Here's a portion of an e-mail and photos just sent to me...

"These pictures of Man O War are from the backyard of the SAC Museum and were shot on Tuesday, July 18th 2006. If truth be told, the a/c was not on public view, but a kind volunteer walked me just outside the back door of the museum and I snapped the two shots from a distance as that was as far as he was going to take me."

All photos by John Gates.

[GrumpE]

Just got another e-mail from the museum. 2nd saturday of the month and there is a crawl through scheduled. The B 29 is listed as being open again!

Will call Tuesday to verify it will really be open and not just a stop on the walking tour of the restoration hangar. If it is I will try to fit in a quick trip between basketball games (kids), birthday party (kid's friend) and a football watch party (me, the BIG kid).

Eric

[APG85]

Prioritize!

[Brad]

Man-O-War when it was still at the old SAC museum, at least 7 or 8 yrs ago.




Flight deck of Man-O-War about six years ago, just after moving to the new museum.





Interior of 44-62220 when it was still at Kelly AFB, now probably at Lackland.

[APG85]

Great Pictures!

[APG85]

Any more on the SAC Museum B-29 Restoration?

[Pat Carry]

Wow! The interior of Man-O-War looks pretty much intact. On the other hand the one at Lackland looks ridiculous.