B-29 Doc Taxis Under Her Own Power For First Time!

A screen shot from Doc's Friends latest video showing the Superfortress during her first taxi trials on May 11th. 2016.
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A screen shot from Doc's Friends latest video showing the Superfortress during her first taxi trials on May 11th. 2016.
A screen shot from Doc’s Friends latest video showing the Superfortress during her first taxi trials on May 11th. 2016.

More exciting news from Wichita, Kansas today, as on May 11th, 2016 the B-29 Superfortress known as ‘Doc’ taxied using her own engines for the first time since 1956. The restoration team needed to check the performance of the B-29’s brakes and her turning ability, so what better way to demonstrate this than to maneuver the old bomber around on the ramp. Using just her outer engines to propel her, the crew slowly steered the aircraft on the ground, describing figure eights on the tarmac and traveling more than half a mile in the process.

Another screen shot from Doc's Friends latest video showing the Superfortress during her first taxi trials. You can just about tell that it is the outer propellers that are providing power.
Another screen shot from Doc’s Friends latest video showing the Superfortress during her first taxi trials. You can just about tell that it is the outer propellers that are providing power.

They regularly applied braking power to slow or stop the aircraft, and Doc performed “better than expected” according to Doc’s Friend’s Restoration Program Manager Jim Murphy and Project Manager T.J. Norman. The team needs to run a couple more taxi tests, and after that she should be just about ready to fly once the FAA approves her airworthiness certificate. Doc’s Friends expects the B-29 will pass these hurdles very soon. Then it will be time to request the Pentagon’s permission to use the military runways at the co-located McConnell Air Force Base. WarbirdsNews will endeavor to bring progress updates as they arrive, and we wish to thank Doc’s Friends for the details in this article, and look forwards to their achieving a safe first flight for the Superfortress in the near future!

 

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Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.

After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.

Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.

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About Richard Mallory Allnutt (Chief Editor) 1060 Articles
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends. After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups. Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.

4 Comments

  1. My brother Joe Rose was a crew member in a B-29 during the Korean conflict. Engine caught fire on TO from Kadena AFB in Okinawa in early 50s. Made a turn around but crashed on landing when IP took control and mis-judged terrain. Glad to see Ole Doc is up and ready to fly. I hope I can get the webcast tomorrow.

  2. This brings back many memories as an Radio Operator on a B29 in WWll. I am 92 but will never forget my great crew
    Gene Swarbrick Daytona Beach.
    Let’s find more

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