I'd imagine the museum pieces are probably 'more' authentic. The CAF B-29 has modern communication gear, different (better) engines, contemporary tires, missing bomb bay equipment and likely a pile of things I don't know about.
Also, this B-29 (AFAIK) was not a 'silver plate' model, so some what less 'historical' (WTM). This one does have a desk station at the navigators position autographed by the navigator from Tibbets crew from the Enola Gay.
And I realize now, '2016 airworthy' is way safer than the 'as delivered' condition of the 40s. The original engine design had some overheating problems with the upper cylinders in the rear set. It could lead to some unpleasantness if the plane was overloaded at takeoff (pretty much everyone during the war was) and an engine caught fire.
Technology has advanced too, the replacement engines I was told, are capable of 3000+ horsepower, but are detuned to 2200 since the propellers cannot absorb the extra power. I was also informed runway lighting is taller in Omaha than down south (because of wintertime snow) so on narrow taxiways, engines 1 and 4 might not be running till on the main runway as there could be some clearance problems with the propeller tips.
I did not know this, the original B-29 design had 3 bladed propellers, they were changed pretty quickly as they found out the 4 bladed ones worked better at altitude (this plane can go over 30,000 feet high). Also, all crewed positions are pressurized, even the tail gunner. Damn, that had to be an engineering headache for back in the late 30s when this plane was designed.
They also mentioned the CAF B-29 is steered with the engine throttles at the start of the take off roll until the airspeed is high enough for the rudder to work. Because all the engines rotate the same direction, the plane will want to hook or slice on take off with equal power on both sides, twiddling the throttles fixes that. The plane is also surprising in having very little hydraulics on it, mostly the landing gear. Most everything else is actuated electrically.
I'm really keyed up for this. Riding in the cockpit is going to be a real treat.
Also, this B-29 (AFAIK) was not a 'silver plate' model, so some what less 'historical' (WTM). This one does have a desk station at the navigators position autographed by the navigator from Tibbets crew from the Enola Gay.
And I realize now, '2016 airworthy' is way safer than the 'as delivered' condition of the 40s. The original engine design had some overheating problems with the upper cylinders in the rear set. It could lead to some unpleasantness if the plane was overloaded at takeoff (pretty much everyone during the war was) and an engine caught fire.
Technology has advanced too, the replacement engines I was told, are capable of 3000+ horsepower, but are detuned to 2200 since the propellers cannot absorb the extra power. I was also informed runway lighting is taller in Omaha than down south (because of wintertime snow) so on narrow taxiways, engines 1 and 4 might not be running till on the main runway as there could be some clearance problems with the propeller tips.
I did not know this, the original B-29 design had 3 bladed propellers, they were changed pretty quickly as they found out the 4 bladed ones worked better at altitude (this plane can go over 30,000 feet high). Also, all crewed positions are pressurized, even the tail gunner. Damn, that had to be an engineering headache for back in the late 30s when this plane was designed.
They also mentioned the CAF B-29 is steered with the engine throttles at the start of the take off roll until the airspeed is high enough for the rudder to work. Because all the engines rotate the same direction, the plane will want to hook or slice on take off with equal power on both sides, twiddling the throttles fixes that. The plane is also surprising in having very little hydraulics on it, mostly the landing gear. Most everything else is actuated electrically.
I'm really keyed up for this. Riding in the cockpit is going to be a real treat.
The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it.
