B-29 rides

[Lee Barner]

we have a B-29 and some other WWII planes here at the Springfield airport for the weekend. I priced a ride on the B-29: they had one seat available for Saturday. the radio operator seat on the flight deck and it was only $1,295.00. guess I'll just drive out there and look at it from the ground. maybe if I win the lottery I will go for a ride in one some day. good grief. Lee

 

[rockquarry]

The expense to maintain these old airplanes is incredible. $1295.00 may not be outrageous at all.

 

[Wyo]

Honestly, I don’t think that’s bad at all. There are lots of experiences I’d like to have that would create a memory for a lifetime. A ride in a B-29 would be one, an African hunt might be another. There are others as well. Most of them would cost a lot more than that ride in the B-29 but I doubt the experience would be any better or more memorable. Heck, I see that fee as a cheap ticket to a one time adventure that I would never forget.

 

[RobertJ.]

Cheaper than tickets to Taylor Swift, and a lot more entertaining!

 

[Greyman50]

Bunch of us went to a small air show in N.C. several years ago to fly on B-17. A/C had a flat tire so we just watched a 2 seat P-51 take off with this guys wife riding back seat, cost was $2K!!!! The B-17 was the one that crashed killing all on board the following year.

 

[Retired W4]

!

While stationed at NAS Dallas I flew down to Waco for a little closed traffic in a U-21A. When we got there the Enola Gay (from the movie) was parked on the tarmac. Went over to take a look and talk with the crew. No ride, but I was allowed to climb up and crawl around inside. What a hoot!

 

[BSA1]

DOC was restored in Wichita. The project took many years and thousands of hours work by mostly unpaid volunteers. I know one volunteer who did some work on DOC after he retired.

I have mixed emotions about these old warbirds flying. I had a B-17 fly over me after takeoff and was starting to gain attitude. Man was I impressed. The roar of engines and seeing the entire underside up close was a once in the lifetime experience.

However is what is upsetting to me is how often they crash and destroy these old irreplaceable planes.

 

[PPS1980]

My wife bought me a ride on a B-17 for my birthday about 10 years ago. It was amazing and a really terrific experience. Cost about $500 at the time.

 

[M29since14]

DOC was restored in Wichita. The project took many years and thousands of hours work by mostly unpaid volunteers. I know one volunteer who did some work on DOC after he retired.

I have mixed emotions about these old warbirds flying. I had a B-17 fly over me after takeoff and was starting to gain attitude. Man was I impressed. The roar of engines and seeing the entire underside up close was a once in the lifetime experience.

However is what is upsetting to me is how often they crash and destroy these old irreplaceable planes.

And along with them, irreplaceable people! That is aviation. When we get in an airplane, we “hope” it’s not going to happen to us, and most of us try to take every reasonable precaution, but the truth is, it can happen, and does, in spite of our best efforts. I’d rather see them flying than sitting around. They were meant to fly. When they’re all gone, they’re gone.

 

[yaktamer]

Cheaper than tickets to Taylor Swift, and a lot more entertaining!

Yup. The droning of the engines sounds a lot better.

 

[BSA1]

And along with them, irreplaceable people! That is aviation. When we get in an airplane, we “hope” it’s not going to happen to us, and most of us try to take every reasonable precaution, but the truth is, it can happen, and does, in spite of our best efforts. I’d rather see them flying than sitting around. They were meant to fly. When they’re all gone, they’re gone.

According to what I read there are only nine flyable B-17’s left. Others in long-term maintenance, undergoing restoration or are in museums.

At the current crash rate most of the remaining operational B-17 will have crashed and destroyed within the next 10 years.

 

[DWalt]

If it is within your budget, do it. It would be a unique and memorable once in a lifetime experience.

 

[pantannojack]

I had a up close look, no ride, of a B17 at Pappy Boyington Field a year or two back. Much smaller than I expected from all the films, 12 O'Clock High, Command Decision, the War Lover, ... I would love to ride or pilot one. Also there was a B25? the two engine one. Looked sporty. What was the converted bomber Richard Dreyfus flew in fire fighting film "Always"?

 

[pantannojack]

I had a up close look, no ride, of a B17 at Pappy Boyington Field a year or two back. Graceful, but smaller than I expected from all the films, 12 O'Clock High, Command Decision, the War Lover, ... I would love to ride or pilot one. Also there was a B25? the two engine one. Looked sporty. What was the converted bomber Richard Dreyfus flew in fire fighting film "Always"?

 

[rockquarry]

I had a up close look, no ride, of a B17 at Pappy Boyington Field a year or two back. Graceful, but smaller than I expected from all the films, 12 O'Clock High, Command Decision, the War Lover, ... I would love to ride or pilot one. Also there was a B25? the two engine one. Looked sporty. What was the converted bomber Richard Dreyfus flew in fire fighting film "Always"?

B26, I think, but it's been at least thirty years since I saw the movie.

 

[Hair Trigger]

we have a B-29 and some other WWII planes here at the Springfield airport for the weekend. I priced a ride on the B-29: they had one seat available for Saturday. the radio operator seat on the flight deck and it was only $1,295.00. guess I'll just drive out there and look at it from the ground. maybe if I win the lottery I will go for a ride in one some day. good grief. Lee

You don't say which B-29 but I'd happily pay that much to ride in one of only two airworthy examples of the plane that helped change the world. The ONLY aircraft type in history to drop not only one, but two nuclear bombs (on purpose).

I got to crawl around inside FiFi back in 1988 before her complete restoration. She was parked on the ramp at Harlingen, Tx. when the Confederate Air Force was based there.

 

[CH4]

You'll soon forget the $1295, but never forget the experience - at least until Alzheimer's sets in. DO IT!

 

[Warren Sear]

About 10 years ago I could have gone for a ride in a B-17 for $500. I regret not taking that ride when I had the chance.

 

[Rich Richardson]

Years ago I was ready for departure in my Bonanza from Nantucket Airport in MA. I was told to hold short for a landing B29. Took a few seonds for that to register in my brain. Got out my camera in time to watch it land. Like being sent back in time.

 

[ggibson511960]

Douglas B-26

I had a up close look, no ride, of a B17 at Pappy Boyington Field a year or two back. Graceful, but smaller than I expected from all the films, 12 O'Clock High, Command Decision, the War Lover, ... I would love to ride or pilot one. Also there was a B25? the two engine one. Looked sporty. What was the converted bomber Richard Dreyfus flew in fire fighting film "Always"?

"Always" featured the Douglas B-26, not to be confused with the Martin B-26. Many Douglas B-26's survived WWII as utility aircraft for FAA instrument procedure development, corporate executive transport, CIA clandestine operations and firefighting as in "Always". They were inexpensive conversions to fast, but noisy private transport until bizjets came along. I have a cousin who was flying right seat in one coming out of Canada with a tailwind when they were intercepted by NORAD for flying suspiciously fast into the U.S. According to his memory, they were running 350 knots airspeed with a near 100 knot tailwind, equaling unheard of speed for an early 60's civilian aircraft. They were talking to ATC, as normal, but still got a verification look-see from a F-102.

 

[M1A]

There was a time when the ride was free.
Just that some didn't come home.

 

[Bald1]

For $1295 I want to fly the plane. Otherwise I’m buying a 3” model 13.

 

[MDF4]

Personally, I'd be more concerned with the flight crew rather than the aircraft, eg; age, time in type, sterile CP, so on and so forth. Flying has been my life and the one thing that was drilled into us was, Terra Firma was the enemy. Low level demo flights don't allow for much fudge room to correct a mistake or malfunction.

 

[chief38]

About 20 years ago my Son and I went to Republic Airport and toured the Memphis Belle. We also got to meet her Pilot, Captain Robert Morgan who completed his 25 missions. If I am not mistaken he was promoted to Col. before retiring. We did not take the ride as it was expensive for two even back then! The plane tour and pictures were enough for us and I did buy his book which he autographed. It was a great day!

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

FiFi was here at Trenton Airport a few summers ago, saw it take off and land.

 

[billwill]

At the age of lots of guys here......we better ride now so we can remember the event for a couple of years.... to smooth out the ride cost!

 

[SteveA]

I had a close college buddy (both History majors at a Kansas State) that lived in Wichita. Back in August 2018, he got the urge to ride on Doc, the B-29 based out of Wichita. As I recall, the gunner seats were about $750. He was single. I have a wife and two kids. I couldn't justify it. He insisted and bought me a ticket. It was a fantastic experience I'll treasure, particularly since that was the last time I saw him alive. He passed away shortly after that ride on Doc.

 

[jsbethel]

I rode in Fifi a few years back when it came to my local airport. I was in the rear fuselage and those "gunner" seats were much less expensive than the cockpit/radio positions. It was definitely one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences. A couple of years previous to that I rode in the Collings B-17 which later crashed. To me it's sort of like riding a roller coaster - there's always a fraction of a percent chance that something will go wrong. That's part of the thrill.

 

[Retired W4]

My dad was a B-17 pilot during the war. Here he is in flight school and later on. Don't know when or where.

My son is a third generation combat pilot. Can't get a ride with him. No 2 seater A-10s.

 

[BSA1]

The cost of maintaining and flying FIFI and DOC must be huge.

My Father-in-Law was a Flight Engineer on the B-29 and flew combat missions over North Korea. He has several stories.

He said they were very scared of MIG fighters. The MIG would fly along their plane just outside their gun range. Then the MIG would suddenly fly through their formation so fast that the gunners could not track it.

On one mission his plane got hit and a engine caught fire. All attempts to put it out failed. At that point in the war they knew how North Korea was treating prisoners and the crew had taken a vow not to be captured. (More on that in a moment). Anyway in desperation he told the pilot to put the plane in a steep dive to try to blow the fire out. This was successful and they made a emergency landing in South Korea. The crew went back to Japan while he remained with plane while a replacement engine arrived and then flew back to his base in Japan. As a result of saving the plane and crew he was awarded a Air Medal.

He always said he could fly a B-29. I never realized what the flight engineer did until I saw a Air Force film on Youtube. Here this skinny depression era young man with a high school education was drafted and trained in a complicated job. Using military logic he was selected to be become a flight engineer due to his small size at the time and he could crawl inside the tight spaces inside the wings to perform inspections.

I don’t recall how many missions he flew. He said he flew some missions he didn’t get credit for because the flight engineer on another bomber was a alcoholic so he unofficially took his place as a favor to the crew. His total mission count is in the 20’s.

As I said he and his crew took a vow not to be captured by North Koreans. He said he carried a 1911, a revolver (probably a W.W.2 Victory Model) and a M3 Grease Gun with extra stick magazines stuck into the tops of his flying boots.

Stories we never read in the history books.