Warbird Information Exchange

With so few B-29s and B-50s in the world, why doesn't someone with more money than me build a B-29 replica out of one of the half dozen KC-97s that are sitting at Greybull Wyoming? The owner of some of then is talking about scrapping the planes. They flew into Greybull about 20 years ago. Some are complete and in pretty good shape.
It appears to me, who is not an aircraft engineer or mechanic, that it would be rather straightforward to graft a B-29 fuselage on the wings and tail of a C-97. Or else chop off the C-97 fuselage above the main deck and replace it with a new built fuselage that replicates the dimensions of the B-29 tube. you could probably use most of the C-97 cockpit.
If some one built a replica B-29, they could fly it at air shows and carry passengers. It already has a passenger deck in the plane. This would give Fifi a break and save on wear and tear on the real B-29. Most people would not know the difference and few would really care.
Just an idle thought.

That's a lot of engineering and $'s. The B-29 and C-97's are pretty complex aircraft and systems.
You'd end up with a B-50 instead of a B-29. Too much work to put the 3350's back on the C-97 wing.
A B-50 flying would be nice.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

With a B-29 in restoration put in storage in Kansas, due to a lack of money to build a hangar, I think that if someone with deep pocket want to put an another B-29 in the skies again, there are cheaper opportunity.

ad if I remember correctly there is also a B-29 in storage at Aero Traders ?

That could made 3 B-29 airworthy, so I suppose it's probably enough in regard of the cost of operation and airshow circuit needs ?

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Sorry for my bad English:-(

Actually along with Myrtle and the pile of parts in Borego Springs Kermit could build 2 B-29's so if someone had deep enough pockets we could have 4 B-29's in the air.

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There are only two types of aircraft -- fighters and targets

What is at Greybull? Googlemaps show several B-32's.. one blue and partially in a hanger.., a bunch of P-2's, C-97's, C-119s.. what the heck is there?

Are these still there?

http://www.fencecheck.com/content/index ... in_Wyoming

http://myweb.lmu.edu/rpardee/recpix3.htm

As of 2004!
http://www.ruudleeuw.com/greybull.htm

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S.

No, the B-32 is on the moon. Looks like a bunch of PB4Y Privateers though...

Heck, i had no Idea there were so many B-29s around. I looked on Wikipedia and it said the supply was very limited. I kept reading about some fuselages at China Lake and that was it.
When I was last at Greybull Wyoming, there were a half dozen KC-97s, a half dozen or so C-119s, a half dozen C-130As and a few Neptunes left. the Neptunes are being scrapped. Several C-119s are to be returned to use and one scrapped. The C-130s are being stripped of parts and will be scrapped. Brooks Air in Alaska is supposed to be fixing the C-118/DC-6. The PB4Y-2 Privateers are being refurbished and will fly out. The Hagerstown Fairchild museum owns two C-82s that are disassembled. The Fairchild F-27 is being repaired for flight. The air museum in Greybull owns a Beech 18, a C-119 and a Neptune. Clay Lacy owns two C-97s in the field and one flying one on the ramp, which is being restored. The fate of the other two is uncertain.
the Google Maps photo at Greybull is at least 3 years old and does not reflect the removal of all the parts to the west of the hangers and the removal of many airplanes from the ramp.

Think Russian, think Russian!

Moto,
I saw Kermit's B-29 at Borrego with Carl (while I was looking at my future B25)
It is amazingly in incredible condition.
For entertainment purposes Carl and I did a budget to get it in the air. The budget included the hangar issue and the first year of testing and support after air worthy.
The hangar issue is a real problem.
( I.M.H.O To do it right you would have to get it stationed in the middle of nowhere on land you owned and build your own airstrip and building to avoid the usual local airport municipality lease / debt bondage / feeling of pretend ownership one gets in those hangar deals )
Anyway...........

With no volunteer efforts and paying for everything down to floor sweeping It would cost 15 million to do it right at a high level of craftsmanship, fabrication, engine upgrade etc.....and including a hangar and a strip in B.F.E

I don't think anyone out there would do it that way. And I don't think anyone would pay for a flyer like that....could you imagine the Courtesy listing on that one, once the owner wanted out of the aircraft ?

A large museum could pull it off cheaper

Neely

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To be in the hardware business you must first have a screw loose....

Aero Trader is currently selling a B-29 for 1.5 million. check www.aerotrader.net Click onto B-29 project.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

One of the Privateers went to Yanks Air Museum. Where are the other ones headed to?

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

That's not Kermit's Fertile Myrtle is it? Any photos of Kermits B-29 in storage there.

No, this is another airframe altogether.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I would rather see a restored flying B-50 or even a restored C-97 rather than try to make a "B-29" from the remains of a B-50 or C-97. I would rather see and hear the 3,500 HP R-4360's roaring thru the air on one of those rather than another B-29.

If you are going to try to put another B-29 in the air I would say start with a B-29.

I thought I heard a rumor that the Collings Foundation was finally going to try and close the gap and acquire a B-26 and B-29. Could this be Aero Traders? Or maybe Kermit's spare?

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

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