Official B-29 Doc Restoration Thread

[emarkay]

Just wondering - did anyone do a time-lapse video of the restoration, or parts of the work, showing a condensed version of the process?
Also interested if anyone has professional surround sound audio (video OK too) productions of engine startups, takeoffs and flyovers available?

Thanks!
MRK

[Kyleb]

There are a few sources that stated a stripped down B29 void of turrets, guns, ammo, armor plate, etc etc etc and flying lite could out climb and effectively out run a Zero. If this was true at the time...then why have them?

I don't think a B-29's engines would survive for long if they had to be operated at full power for the duration of the airplane's time over Japan.

[MilitaryAttractions]

DOC's Arrival at Oshkosh 2018
https://youtu.be/2K_RSyKJP_Y

[tex-fan]

got to see Doc fly at the Sheppard AFB air show today, what a thrill!!!! they did a GREAT flying demo.

[CAPFlyer]

Was great getting to meet the Doc crew in person yesterday. I've met Don in the past, but the rest of the crew it was the first time and see the plane in person. The work is just immaculate. Having been in Fifi on several occasions, you do notice the differences in the way the final product looks (mainly instrumentation), but just the thoroughness of the restoration is absolutely impressive. When they talked during the restoration about the plane looking brand new, they weren't kidding. Even several years on, and it still looks like the plane just came out of the factory.

Kudos to everyone for keeping her going. Now if we can just get the airshow organizers to not double-book airshows on the same weekend like they have this year...

[scarletrjs]

If you watch the right main gear, it retracts forward towards the nose of the aircraft. The nose wheel retracts aft towards the tail in a B-29. So if the gear with the damper in the video was a main gear it would retract forward, not aft as it does.

[pjpahs]

Doc is scheduled to arrive at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo on July 22 and stay till the 25th for rides and tours. All weather and mechanical permissible. Making plans but like all plans I made this year something always comes up. Keeping fingers crossed.

[Ed Likes]

Me and a couple of my buddies are scheduled to fly in DOC on Sunday 7-25-21 at 11:00A.M. Will be hoping for the weather to be great, and no mechanical gremlins.

[Lynn Allen]

I'm sure its posted somewhere but is there a chance its coming to the DFW are sometime soon or maybe next year?

Thank you

[Thomas_Mac]

Really liking the additions to the livery for this year, pulled pics from The Doc Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/B29Doc

[Zac Yates]

That looks sharp! I know very little about B-29 schemes: are the stripes a nod to its training markings?

[JohnTerrell]

That looks sharp! I know very little about B-29 schemes: are the stripes a nod to its training markings?

The red stripes on the rear fuselage (and there were originally a lot of red stripes on the wings too, as can be seen in photos when it was not yet restored) were originally applied when it served as a target tow with the 4750th Air Defense Wing in Yuma, AZ, in 1955. Some have claimed that the stripes were added when it served in the radar calibration squadrons, but a number of other China Lake B-29s also had the same red stripes applied, that didn't serve in any radar calibration squadrons, but that did serve in the same target-towing squadron as 'Doc' (such as 'Hawg Wild', preserved at IWM Duxford). Unfortunately, I suspect the markings will remain unfinished, at least for the time being, as there should be a lot of red stripes on the wings too, if they want it fully represented as to how it was once painted when in service at that time (at least some of the cowl rings were originally painted too).

[Zac Yates]

Thank you John, that's the kind of explanation I was hoping for. I really appreciate it.