World’s
only two flying B-29s set to meet at Oshkosh
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin —
(March 24, 2017) — A newly restored B-29 has included EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh
2017 on its inaugural tour schedule, creating the potential to have two of
these World War II-era bombers in one place for the first time in more than 50
years.
The B-29 Doc, which has just completed
its restoration in Wichita, Kansas, will be on tour this spring and summer. Its
appearance at EAA AirVenture on July 24-30, fulfills a long commitment to bring
the airplane to the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration when its restoration
was complete.
Doc was
built in 1945 and for many years was part of a squadron known as the Seven
Dwarfs (hence, the name Doc). The airplane was retired in 1956 as the
jet bomber age began and sat as a target for U.S. Navy training missions in
China Lake, California, until 1998. A restoration group took possession of the
airplane from the U.S. government and hauled it back to Wichita in pieces in
2000. After many years of volunteer restoration efforts, the restoration group Doc’s Friends formed in 2013 to
supply the financial resources needed to complete the restoration. Doc
made its first flight after restoration in July 2016, 60 years after it had
been retired.
“This will be a historic
year for our airplane and to say we’re excited about our plans to tour in 2017
is an understatement,” said Jim Murphy, manager for the Doc’s Friends
Restoration Program.
It also sets the stage for a historic meeting
of the world’s only two flying B-29 bombers, as the Commemorative Air Force’s FIFI
is scheduled to return to Oshkosh in 2017. If this reunion occurs, it would
mark the first time two operational B-29 bombers would be in one place in more
than 50 years.
“We’ve been eagerly awaiting the completion
of Doc for several years, and its restoration group has always
maintained that one of the airplane’s first appearances would be at Oshkosh,”
said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member benefits who
coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “This will be a huge moment
for EAA members and aviation enthusiasts to potentially see the world’s only
two flying B-29s in one place for the first time.”
The appearance of Doc keeps with the
tradition of bringing new and significant warbird aircraft restorations to EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh. The annual EAA fly-in convention is the world’s largest
annual gathering of warbird aircraft, with more than 350 of them annually flown
to Wittman Regional Airport to participate in the event.
About
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh is the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” and EAA’s
yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including
advance ticket and camping purchase, is available online at www.eaa.org/airventure. EAA members receive lowest prices on
admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call
1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org. Immediate news is
available at www.twitter.com/EAA.
Labels: aircraft insurance, aircraft ownership, airplanes, airshows, Airventure, AOPA, Aviation, B-29, Boeing, Bomber, DOC, EAA, FIFI, Oshkosh, seven dwarfs, squadron, WW2