B-29 at Bradley
Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:35 am
The nice people at the New England Air Museum let us tour their B-29 yesterday...they were actually responsible for getting us into KBDL over the last few days. The quality of this restoration is really beyond words, especially when you see what they started with. I'll post a bunch more later today.
Jim
dreaming!!
Jim
dreaming!!
That's really nice!
Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:45 am
Post more pics if you have them!
Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:56 am
Sweet! Yes, more picture please!! I'd love to see some "before" shots if you have them.
Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:22 am
My brother took part in the restoration of that aircraft, as such I too have been lucky enough to sit in the pilots seat and make airplane noises.
Wonderful job they've done.
My brother had his rehearsal dinner back in January in the B-29 room, impressive setting.
Wonderful job they've done.
My brother had his rehearsal dinner back in January in the B-29 room, impressive setting.
Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:28 am
You just made my day!!! That plane looks fantastic!!! There was a time it was a real mess. What a great job! 
Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:30 am
Awesome man.
Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:31 am
Wow, that looks really nice! Any pics of the outside?
Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:23 pm
Was this aircraft restored to airworthy standards? Is this B-29 still owned by the fed gov or could we possible see her fly in the future?
Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:07 pm
The aircraft is owned out right by the museum. It was recovered from the US Army Aberdeen Proving Ground back in the early 1970's. It was one of the first to be rescued from their stock of targets. The front half (trailing edge forward) is one aircraft that had been hit in the "star" area of the fuselage. They took an undamaged aft section from an another target ship.
Points of note are that it was damaged in the Tornado of Oct. 1979 and though the outer wing panels were not in place at that time, the spar ends at the attachment locations were damaged. A complete spar was recovered from Aberdeen and, though it was an airworthy spar, they cut the bad areas of the old spar and spliced the new spar in. It will never fly again, but atleast it's in one piece and being taken care of.
One other note: the rudder hinges on the vertical fin were traded and placed on "Kee Bird" to repair it's damaged ones. Also, many parts have been traded back and forth from "Doc", since NEAM didn't require airworthy parts. Out of the deal NEAM got a better tail gun position and the nose of the B-29 that had been at Travis AFB Museum.
Jerry
Points of note are that it was damaged in the Tornado of Oct. 1979 and though the outer wing panels were not in place at that time, the spar ends at the attachment locations were damaged. A complete spar was recovered from Aberdeen and, though it was an airworthy spar, they cut the bad areas of the old spar and spliced the new spar in. It will never fly again, but atleast it's in one piece and being taken care of.
One other note: the rudder hinges on the vertical fin were traded and placed on "Kee Bird" to repair it's damaged ones. Also, many parts have been traded back and forth from "Doc", since NEAM didn't require airworthy parts. Out of the deal NEAM got a better tail gun position and the nose of the B-29 that had been at Travis AFB Museum.
Jerry
Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:35 pm
the airplane looks beautiful but in picture #3, are those plastic tye wraps around the wiring bundle to the left of the control quadrant?
Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:32 pm
brucev wrote:the airplane looks beautiful but in picture #3, are those plastic tye wraps around the wiring bundle to the left of the control quadrant?
it is lacing cord
Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:44 pm
Wow......
Tks Jim.
I was allowed into about 15 years ago during an open cockpit day.
Man....what a difference.
Tks for the pics & please post more if you have them.
Tks Jim.
I was allowed into about 15 years ago during an open cockpit day.
Man....what a difference.
Tks for the pics & please post more if you have them.
Wire bundles
Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:32 pm
brucev wrote:
the airplane looks beautiful but in picture #3, are those plastic tye wraps around the wiring bundle to the left of the control quadrant?
it is lacing cord
Matt's right... correct stuff, and it ain't plastic.
You can always tell who tied numerous wire bundles with original lacing cord in a good restoration job. (They're the ones that leave the tell-tale bloody fingerprints on the airframe interior, usually on top of the radio cabinets and the racks...)
the airplane looks beautiful but in picture #3, are those plastic tye wraps around the wiring bundle to the left of the control quadrant?
it is lacing cord
Matt's right... correct stuff, and it ain't plastic.
You can always tell who tied numerous wire bundles with original lacing cord in a good restoration job. (They're the ones that leave the tell-tale bloody fingerprints on the airframe interior, usually on top of the radio cabinets and the racks...)
Thu Oct 02, 2008 12:41 am
viking73 wrote:Sweet! Yes, more picture please!! I'd love to see some "before" shots if you have them.
Looks about the same
Go Sox!
Phil