Oh, shit! This is an expensive new hobby, OMFG !

[johan]

Yeah, I have mixed feelings about CAF giving rides on such a rare aircraft.  Part of me says it needs to be in a museum and cherished for generations to come, but, I realize, there are fine museum examples.  Heck, there is one at the SAC Museum SW of Omaha, not too far.  Still, giving rides, even though I'm signed up for one, kinda sorta feels like maybe risking something that maybe otta not be risked.

Planes are meant to be flown and hold up far better and far longer when they fly regularly than when they don't.

[vorlon13]

This B-29 is over 75 years old. At some point it will not be flyable. It's a privilege to be able to fly on it, but as one of only 2 in the world that are in flightworthy condition, it is quite sobering.

The Hell Diver I saw on display, is the only flightworthy example of that plane. If I had the scratch, I'd fly in it. Those markings for the USS Franklin really are compelling.

But damn, if something happened to it . . .

[vorlon13]

Found out there is a good chance there will be rides available on a 'walk up' basis so after the B-29 ride I might see what's available and when and maybe do a second flight.

[Anomalocaris]

This B-29 is over 75 years old.  At some point it will not be flyable.  It's a privilege to be able to fly on it, but as one of only 2 in the world that are in flightworthy condition, it is quite sobering.

The Hell Diver I saw on display, is the only flightworthy example of that plane.  If I had the scratch, I'd fly in it.  Those markings for the USS Franklin really are compelling.

But damn, if something happened to it . . .

Wikipedia lists 21 complete b-29 airframes in existence.   Some would likely be suitable for restoratiom to flyable condition if one of the current flyable planes becomes permanently unflyable for whatever reason.

[vorlon13]

21 left, and realize, those 21 need to last . . . .



forever ??

[Anomalocaris]

21 left, and realize, those 21 need to last . . . .



forever ??

By the year 3126, when there are only 5 left, I think we can keep those 5 in temporal stasis to preserve them forever and use 3D printer to print up an exact copy that can be supported by tractor beam to give people that experience of flying in a b-29.

[johan]

But damn, if something happened to it . . .

If something happened to it what? Its in airworthy condition. It NEEDS to fly in order stay that way. Because the simple fact is NO ONE is going to spend the coin required to keep an aircraft like that in actual airworthy condition and then not fly it. Again, planes that fly are cheaper to maintain than those that don't. Also Museums are susceptible to damage too.  So putting it in a museum in no way shape or form guarantees it will be around forever. 

And like it or not, there's going to come a day when anything that can reasonably pass as avgas will simply not be available anywhere. So sooner or later, they'll all sit on the ground and rot if they still have original powerplants installed.

The bottom line is this. You have zero responsibility for the fate of that airframe. Take a ride or don't, but rides will still be given no matter what you do. Despite popular wisdom, butterfly wings do not actually cause hurricanes.

[vorlon13]

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.

[johan]

I suspect you'll find most aircraft sitting in museums are more or less empty shells with very little in the way of original/authentic/any interior equipment avionics etc.

[vorlon13]

Really?  I'd pay good money to fly in. P-51 and the Stearman is classic fun.

Too small for you?

Well . . . .


Got brave and signed up for a ride in the Stearman.

Oh my.  It is just completely different sensation.  The feeling of being at a great height was nearly overwhelming.  I didn't expect that, and have never felt it before except on ladders.  Not even the (damn) helicopter ride back in '79 felt like that.  We took off and headed north and despite the pilot saying the plane wasn't that powerful (top speed was well under 100 mph) it seemed to climb eagerly.

Higher.



and higher.


When we headed back I felt somewhat better.  The pilot offered me the stick, I told him he was doing fine with it as far as I was concerned.  The view was certainly overwhelming, we've had good rain this year so everything is still green (most years we are pretty brown by now).  I considered going again, I think a little more familiarization with it would have been helpful, but I had a conflicting thought, maybe spend the money on a different plane instead so went up on the C-45.

That was interesting . . . .