Rumor Control, Collings B-29?

[John Dupre]

I heard today that the Collings Foundation is looking to buy into a B-29 being restored to fly. I assume this is T Square 54 the B-29 being restored in Wichita. Anyone know if there is any truth to this?

[JohnB]

If the Kansas group doesn't want to sell (and I can't say I'd blame them, Wichata needs one on display), how about Weeks'?
Lord knows, it's not doing much good where its at...and I don't mean that as a slam on Weeks.

Last edited by JohnB on Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

[bombadier29]

Yes they are talking about it. The airplane is Doc not T Square 54.

[SaxMan]

Wow. That would be something to see if it came to fruition. Technically, you could have two formations of B-17 / B-24 / B-29 flying at one time.

[John Dupre]

Yes they are talking about it. The airplane is Doc not T Square 54.

Thanks for the confirmation. T 54 was just a guess on my part, not as up on B-29s as I should be.

[WIXerGreg]

They mentioned wanting to acquire a B-29 in one of their recent newletters. I've kept alot of the newsletters but can't find it now.

[APG85]

T Square 54 is at the Museum of Flight in semi-storage and will never fly again. That's a great rumor on Collings getting a B-29 (Doc?). Hope it happens...

[Steve Nelson]

"Wanting to" and "working to make it happen" are two very different things. That said, I think it'd be great if Collings could finish the great work already started and return Doc to the skies.

Of course, that begs the question: can the airshow/tour/flight experience world support two flying B-29s?

SN

[gary1954]

hey a while back a guy on Pawn Stars had a Navigator Observing Dome for a B-29 so there is start....Concur with the comment on the Weeks -29 (not a slam toward Weeks..he's a great guy) since it is just sitting there... which brings to mind the engine complication(s) they had on FiFi, would engines be available?

[ktst97]

Of course, that begs the question: can the airshow/tour/flight experience world support two flying B-29s?
SN

Considering the ongoing success of the Collings Foundation, I would think that they have already considered this issue and gary1954's question about engines.

[StangStung]

Just out of curiosity, anyone here know what would be the motivation of the Wichita group to sell? In other words, I was under the impression that Doc was their biggest (if not only) asset. What is an aviation museum without any aviating thinigamimbobbers?

That said, having visited the Collings folks every year they pass through Big D, It would be something to look out my office window and see the B-29 following the -24, -17 and -51 on final to Love.

[CAPFlyer]

That said, having visited the Collings folks every year they pass through Big D, It would be something to look out my office window and see the B-29 following the -24, -17 and -51 on final to Love.

If you want to see that, just go up the road to Addison when one of the B-17's are in town with the CAF's planes around as well. They've had several fly weekends where the B-24 and a B-17 were flying together and now that Brat III and B-29 are back flying, I think you'll get plenty of chances to see it happen on multiple occasions.

As for the engines issue - the B-29/B-24 squadron offered the hybrid engines to both Weeks and the Doc crew. Weeks donated parts of his aircraft for use in mockups by Nelson Ezell for the new exhaust system and Anderson Airmotive is more than willing to build up additional engines if they're requested, but the Doc guys said they had enough "stock" engines that were NOS in cans for their purposes and declined participation. I'd imagine if Collings gets Doc, they'll trade in the NOS engines to Anderson for the R3350-B29 hybrids since the bigger concern is reliability for their touring schedule and safety versus being historically accurate.

[wendovertom]

To me it sounds great - I understand how hard it must be to put so much heart and soul in to DOC and then have to sell it. But from the other side of the coin, to see it return to flight would be awesome and really is the ultimate goal it seems and Collings is probably one of the few organizations that has deep enough pockets to field a B-29. And yes, the air show market CAN support two B-29s.

Tom P.

[Warbird Kid]

What about the semi-complete B-29 that Aerotrader was/is offering from there site?
http://www.aerotrader.net/

[kalamazookid]

Wanting a B-29, having the resources to acquire a B-29, and actively seeking a B-29 are three entirely different things. It's no secret that the Collings Foundation wants a Superfortress. Having the resources to acquire, restore and operate one, plus finding someone who is willing to sell are pretty big issues. I'm sure CF will find a way to get one someday, but I'm not going to get too excited until it seems close to happening. I'm not sure that there are any motivated sellers at this point, other than the Aero Trader project. Even then, that's a good long ways from flying.

Not trying to be a pessimist, but I don't think this is happening next week. I'm sure they'll find their deal eventually though. It would be incredible to see another B-29 in the air, regardless of who is operating it.