Flying the B-29 DOC
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 พ.ย. 2022
- Almost 4,000 B-29 Superfortress aircraft were built - only two remain in flying condition today. Come along on a flight in DOC and listen to the aircraft commander (Steve Zimmerman) and the flight engineer (Don Obreiter) guide you through the operation of the aircraft. In addition, Josh Wells talks about what it takes to keep a warbird like DOC flying - and about the mission behind it, as well as how you can support that mission.
The flight took place in Mason City, IA in July of 2022, while DOC was on its way to Oshkosh, WI for AirVenture. Some of the interviews were recorded at AirVenture 2022.
Special thanks to Steve Zimmerman, Don Obreiter, Josh Wells, Brett Schauf, and Chuck Taylor for their support in making this video.
Please visit www.b29doc.com to learn more about DOC.
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INCREDIBLE!!!!! I am significantly jealous!
You should go for a ride in it sometime, Bryan!
@@martinpauly I may buy a ticket next time it is an option. I am sort of fascinated by the concept of having the person in charge of the throttles not being the same person flying. I get that it's not an agile little GA plane but I think that would take some getting used to.
I was looking up "FiFi" and then read on about "DOC." I am so happy that these old planes have been restored and people are given a chance to see them and can ride in them if they can afford to and enjoy them! I can hardly believe the propeller engines hold this baby in the air! Beautiful restorations on both the B29's! I'd LOVE to see them in person. Found out on accident that FiFi is touring in my state this month and I wish I could go see her. I fully understand that money has to be raised to keep them going and help support not only the planes but the "greatest generation the world has ever known." War is never a good thing but we as human beings must be able to defend democracy and out HOME. Thank you for posting this. I have SO much respect for all the men and women who volunteer for projects like this! I was able to see and tour "The Midway" Aircraft carrier in San Diego over a decade ago and I LOVED IT! Was a pretty tough tour for me as it is huge and a little difficult to get around inside but I am so HAPPY I chose to go see it and took my first airplane flight ever to go to San Diego and then tour the Midway. In it's day it really was magnificent. The Midway also is run by volunteers and of course needs the money from tours etc to support its existence. I love the pride and love that goes into restoring machines like these and to keep the younger generations aware of the PRIDE involved in not just the machines but the men and women from the generations that lived through, fought through, defended through and LOVED their country and family so much!
You did an amazing job on this video Martin! It was an honor to fly in Doc that day with you, especially with my son as the co-pilot. The entire crew was top notch and helped make that day unforgettable! Again, great job!
Thanks, Gary - it was a great day and flight, and I felt in safe hands with Dan at the controls.
Have a great Sunday!
- Martin
Excellent video, Martin. Very, very well done. Thank you and thanks to all the "Doc" volunteers for their magnificent work.
Thank you for the kind words, Dave.
- Martin
Thanks to all of you who keep Doc and Fifi flying. RIP Randy Sohn.
Awesome video and I can imagine how much hard work it takes to keep these war birds flying.
Thanks for all your dedication and love of this B-29 DOC❣️❣️❣️🥰
Absolutely fantastic! I had the privilege of riding in the Pilot's Observation Seat while Doc was at Wings Over Houston a couple of weeks ago. I've ridden in B-25s, B-17s and a couple of other older transports, but nothing could even begin to compare riding in a B-29. Thanks a million to the awesome crew who gave us a fantastic ride!
Thank you for the kind feedback, and I envy you as I have not (yet) flown on a B-17 or B-25.
- Martin
Bloody fantastic video fellas. Put a big smile on my face. Thank you all
Thanks, Kevin.
- Martin
Awesome video Martin! Flew on Doc last year…..a wonderful experience! Hats off to the greatest generation that flew these amazing machines into the fight!
Thanks, Mike. And yes, those pilots from the Greatest Generation were amazing people.
Despite the risks, Japan was arguably the easier target for these planes and their crews. Now imagine having to fly a prop bomber into North Korea, destroy the transport infrastructure or industry, and get back out all while trying to fight off one of the best jets in the world, the MiG-15. The Korean War B-29 crews don't get NEAR enough credit, they were vital for turning the tide in that conflict and ultimately saving South Korea from the Communist armies.
Very well done video. Doc’s crew did a really great job of representing their B29.
Yes, I agree. They all went out of their way to make us welcome and help us understand how this large airplane is operated.
- Martin
What an amazing machine. Thanks for preserving it!
Amazing - I agree, Glenn!
- Martin
Amazing job MP…thank you
Thank you, Ben.
- Martin
That was just fascinating! Greetings from New Zealand.
Glad you enjoyed it!
- Martin
Great video! I really enjoyed it.
Glad to hear!
- Martin
Thank you for your homage to true hero’s and the war horse B29.
My pleasure, Betty, and thanks for watching and for your comment.
Regards,
Martin
What a joy of a video! The crew looks very passionate about what they do. I hope to get a ride on it during next Airventure. Thank you for sharing this, great interview with the volunteers.
My pleasure, and I hope you can make this happen next summer!
- Martin
my father was in the airforce from 1950 to 1954 . was stationed at chanute air force base in 1952 and became flt engineer tech on b-29s .several stories that he told me was one that between the pilot and copilot was knob that controlled all the turbos and when they dialed all the turbos in he said there was noting but pure power.
He also talked about they would load the aircraft with extra bodies for training purposes and on this paticular trip the belly gunner asked my dad to wake him when they got over the range which he did well the gunner fell back asleep and then everybody started opening with the fifty cals ,at which point the belly gunner comes flying off the floor screaming at my dad not waking him up and my dad exclaimed i did wake you up but you fell back asleep dad still laughed about that. lost dad in 2005 and seeing videos of b-29s flying brings back good memories
Wow, your dad had some stories to tell! Sorry to hear he's no longer with us.
- Martin
What a great video! I was so impressed with every member of the crew and how well they told the various parts of the planes history! Especially the one man who was explaining about having that older gentleman in the rear of the plane on one of its earlier flights who explained that the last time he saw that hatch was as he cleared it bailing out and seeing no others fall free! I love the stories of our WW2 Heros, my grandfather was and is mine, but they were all truly the greatest generation!! We have to keep their history alive and that man who shared the story with us in this video really committed himself heart and soul to this project and the others have too! You're all my heros too! Thank you guys!
And loved how the Captain tied to put into perspective on how these young pilots and crew must have felt and endured on each and every flight they took could have been their last!!! That takes a huge amount of commitment!!!
I'm very impressed with the crew if DOC!!!! Great video Martin!! Its been awhile since I've seen a video and this one caught me off guard when I first looked at the title and plane then saw you and was glad to see a new video by you!
As a newly minted Airplane Commander my uncle’s first job was to ferry an also newly minted B-29 from the United States to the far-east theater. By the time he reached his destination in China he had two engine changes and a complete rewiring of the supercharger system. He reports in his memoir that initially B-29 pilots were trained on how to fly ‘29s for long distances. He quickly learned to fly “down-hill” or lose maybe a 1,000 feet over a very very long distance to maximize fuel burn. As such, he never had to pull up short during his 33 missions in the Pacific due to the fuel situation. Many others apparently did have land early and refuel on places such as Iwo Jima (once that terrible battle was concluded).
I found out a couple of years ago the Seabee (naval construction battalion) that constructed runways (1944) on Tinian Island for B-29’s was the same organization which I deployed with in Vietnam (1969-70).
Also of note, my uncle was honored for his service by his piloting of FiFi, the other flyable B-29, at veteran’s convention several years ago. Ha, I’m sure FiFI’s guardians watched him closely during that time in the air after so many years of rust accumulation.
I bet your uncle has many great stories to tell from his service. Thanks for sharing a little bit of them here.
- Martin
Just a little correction: Pilots were NOT TRAINED on how to fly (best fuel conservation) long distances.
Wow, what a nice video you made!!! Thank you
Thank you, Michael.
- Martin
Great video! Thanks for putting this together and sharing!
My pleasure, Kelly.
- Martin
Great video Martin! Best look ever! Thank u to all those who have served
Thank you, Rodger!
- Martin
Thanks much Martin. Excellent!
Glad you enjoyed it!
- Martin
That is a great video and well done by the crew. So interesting to hear each person's perspective of this magnificent machine. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Ken - glad you enjoyed it.
- Martin
Superb!!
Thank you, Jim.
- Martin
I just booked my flight, can't wait! Thanks to all those who keep this bomber flying.
And? How was your B-29 flight?
- Martin
@@martinpauly Haven't flown yet. The scheduled flight is still a month away.
Best video so short of the first flight. My dad flew PB4Y-2 over Korea, probably had many of the same flight procedures.
Well timed for Veterans Day! Awesome video.
That's right - quite a few of the fine people who served on the B-29 are still alive; hopefully this will bring back some good memories for them.
- Martin
I've been aboard Fifi once, many years ago before her engine upgrade. It looks like Doc has been beautifully restored.
Doc is indeed a thing of beauty, meticulously restored. Probably looks better than when it was in active service in some ways.
- Martin
I came to Oshkosh in 2019 from New Zealand hoping to see this machine and I’m so pleased I did. I really enjoyed the cockpit tour and one day I’ll be back to go flying with you all. Keep up the amazing work!
Thank you, Larry. Hopefully you can visit for a future Oshkosh AirVenture again here in the US.
Best regards,
Martin
GREAT VIDEO MARTIN !!! Thanks.😎👍 🇨🇦
Glad you enjoyed it!
- Martin
mille, mille merci pour cette vidéo qui me fait remonter le passé et je me rends bien compte que les équipages pendant la WW2 étaient très jeunes et avaient une lourde responsabilité tant en ce qui concerne le vol d'un B29, que du succès de la mission surtout au dessus du Japon. Merci aussi à tous les bénévoles passionnés et j'ai une pensée émue pour l'équipage du B17 Texas raider et du pilote du P63 disparus dans un tragique accident.
Je suis heureux que vous ayez aimé la vidéo. Merci pour le commentaire.
(J'espère que c'était correct - j'ai utilisé Google Translate car je ne parle pas bien le français.)
@@martinpauly oui c'est absolument parfait. Merci
Fascinating…thanks for posting.
Thank you, Sir!
- Martin
As a young teenager, without much parental guideness, we used to crawl through the B29 planes at China Lake behind the backs of our fathers and NOTS Navy Range Security. The restoration work is stunning. Nice Work, I mean really NICE! ( One B29 lost a Morse Code key. ) lol. I'll give it back someday.
Thank you, Steven. I can only imagine what it might have been like if I had lived near a place like that as a teenager.
- Martin
Thanks for the view, I got to see the inside tour in Sweetwater.
You are welcome!
- Martin
Great video thank you and thanks to the dedicated crews who maintain our heritage aircraft everywhere!
Great video.
Thanks, Joseph!
- Martin
G, day Martin from Sydney Australia.
That's serious dollars keeping them in the air.
Thanks for keeping your channel running.
🌏🇭🇲
Thanks, John.
- Martin
Fascinating. From the UK, thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Maurice.
- Martin
Great video Martin. My father flew in WB-29s in Alaska during the Korean War. I was privileged to fly in the B-29 FIFI. Sat in the way back in the cockpit where the radio operator would have been but still a great view and experience.
You were probably in the navigator's seat - just behind where I was sitting on my flight in DOC.
- Martin
Thanks Martin. This is a very special video!
Thanks, Andy. It sure was a very special flight and experience for me.
- Martin
Outstanding aircraft!
Indeed! I look forward to seeing it fly again in Oshkosh this year.
- Martin
Great job Martin. That was a beautiful evening for a flight up there in MCW. I like how you enlisted the help of the bombardier for some great out the nose shots.
Thanks, Andy. Quite different from a Bonanza, for sure!
- Martin
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing this!
You are very welcome - glad you enjoyed the video!
- Martin
My mother installed right side cockpit windows for the Mighty 29! Thanks to my late mother.
Nice Work!
Thanks, Eric.
- Martin
Excellent video!
Thanks for your efforts
Thank you, Doug - glad you enjoyed it.
- Martin
Great video guys! 👍 👍 👍
Thanks, Robin.
- Martin
Wow! Thanks for the ride along! I'm going to check their website right now to see if they will be anywhere close to me in ‘23…….I want to have that experience!!!
Thanks, Wayne - hopefully you can make this happen in 2023!
- Martin
Thanks Martin for the inside story of Doc and the crew. Very interesting .
Thanks, Brian.
- Martin
Outstanding! One of your best!! ✈️😎👍
Thank you - happy to hear that!
- Martin
Great video, Martin!
Thanks, Chad - have a good weekend!
- Martin
Thank you for keeping this beautiful aircraft alive. I lost 5 members of my family, pilots flying over Nazi Germany. They young and brave and will never be forgotten. ✌👍🤝👏
Fantastic vid! Thanks for sharing, appreciate it a lot 👍
Greets from the Netherlands, T.
Thank you - and greetings from a former neighbor (Germany)!
- Martin
Just wonderful. :) Great video Marty.
Thank you, Chris.
- Martin
I was literally just underneath DOC walking around it last weekend at the Wings Over Houston Airshow!
Hi Christopher - I can assure you the view from inside of it is much better than from the outside. 😎
- Martin
AWESOME!!
I had the opportunity to ride on B-29 'Fifi' this past summer over EAA AirVenture in the Bombardier's seat. It's an incredible experience and I highly recommend getting a ride on either of these magnificent machines. I am a little jealous of whoever rides in Doc's Bombardier seat because they get a fan and Fifi's Bombardier seat does not
I fully agree - a ride in the B-29 is an unforgettable experience, especially in the front (bombardier seat or cockpit observer seat). I am so glad I had the opportunity.
- Martin
Great video Martin. I was able to see Doc at KPSP last September. Very moving as my dad flew a B-29 over the (then called) Burma Hump in the war. Hope you get your Bo back soon!
Thanks, Michael.
Yes, there is light at the end of the Bonanza tunnel 👍
- Martin
Wat a magnificent airplane and great bunch of people 😎👍.
Indeed - very impressive!
- Martin
I Love the B - 2 9 👍
I gotta Book a Ride Some Day 😉
Go for it! 👍
This is just great! 👍😃
👍☑ Fantastic video Martin, tks.
Thank you - glad you liked this one!
- Martin
Looking good old doc.👍👍
While ground touring FiFu a few years ago in Naples, Fl, I noticed them changing a jug on #2. Without an engine ignition analyser how do you identify the dead one. I flew R 2800s in a CV 440 which occasionally made one small backfire after a ring land failure but the BMEP gauge barely budged. After landing maintenance did a "wand check" with a thermocouple on a pole to find the dead jug. Jug replaced overnight, screens checked and off we go in the morning.
Makes sense - thanks, Lee!
- Martin
I'm speechless
Thank you so much. I would love to buy a Doc hat. I have tried, however, you don't deliver to Sydney Australia. My mum and dad were both in the Australian airforce after the war. This plane, the lancaster and the B29 are my favourite planes of all time.
I have a great DVD called Thunderbirds of war. This is all original footage including the Enola Gay on Tinnian.
I can't help you with the hat, Susan, but I guess now you have another reason to visit the US during AirVenture/Oshkosh (so you can buy a B-29 hat right then and there).
- Martin
Awesome video Martin. I can’t imagine in today’s inflation how much it added to the cost of keeping Doc going.
Well, the numbers you heard in the video are only a few months old. So think $10K per hour to operate.
- Martin
That's a bargin if you are Lucky enough to have a seat in the thing ...any price is worth it ...l can't imagine being 20 years old and flying that thing across the pond back in ww2 ...
I just want one good cargo hold audio recording of those engines in operation. Just one for good ambience.
It’s such a shame that the Kee Bird rescue-rebuild attempt ended in that fire that completely destroyed it on its attempted flight out of the Greenland frozen tundra. The crew I believe rushed the rebuild of the Kee Bird. This was a once in a life time opportunity to get it checked over to get to flight status. The crew should’ve taken the plane apart piece by piece. It would’ve taken years, but that plane being left in the elements for over 40 years probably had an effect on the gas lines, rubber fittings,etc. I was so shocked to see the plane catch fire after the APU broke lose and splashed fuel to set the fire. The crew most likely would’ve been killed if the plane caught fire after being airborne. The plan was to get it to Thule Air Force Base for a thorough check over and rebuild. If this rescue of the Kee Bird was successful it would be flying alongside with Doc and FiFi.
What about installing insulation to make it like the WW II aircraft?
Will you ever come to Calgary?
….WAAAAAY COOL!
Yup 👍
- Martin
After my dad had retired and moved from MI to Texas I hadn't seen him for nearly a year and a half when we met for a weekend visit. I asked him if he'd done anything exciting while we were apart, expecting him to tell me he'd gone down to a pier on the gulf and fished in the ocean. He replied, "Not much." And I said, "Oh come on. You must have done something." To which he replied, "Well, I did take a bite out of the sourest damn orange I've ever tasted. It was Godawful. I never knew an orange could taste so damn sour! Oh, and I rode in the nose-gun seat on a B-29 a couple of times." Dad had been a tank gunner and a recon car commander during WWII, so perhaps he really didn't consider it all that exciting. It was always hard to tell with a guy who had a Bronze Star and a Silver Star in his old cigar box of war ribbons. He was always proudest of his Good Conduct Medal, because he said he didn't earn it.
Your dad must live a good life if a ride in the B-29 is in the "oh, I almost forgot, I also did this" category. Good for him!
- Martin
How did you learn the engineer job?
Martin, what's the status of 70TB? Did you get it back yet?
Yes, Randy - I picked it up on Friday from Garmin. Will have more details to share here on TH-cam soon...
- Martin
Bucket list..
Just think, the war lasted 4-6 years total and here in 2024, this plane is still flying thanks to volunteers doing the job of 19-22 year old soldiers
Yes, that is quite an accomplishment!
- Martin
Is FiFi the other B29 that’s still flying?
Yes, Mike - that's correct. FIFI is operated by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF).
- Martin
👍 Where’s the Bo?
Still in Kansas City, waiting for FAA approval of an STC. Hopefully not much longer.
- Martin
Watch out for those P-63's.
You boys gonna let me fly that hotrod? 😂
I'd be interested in hearing what kind of trouble, if any, they got from Disney for using one of their characters. The mouse is notorious for "protecting" his IP.
B-29 Design Makes it Impossible to steal well for 1 person at least
2 could maybe do it ok.
I think given the current state of technology, the extreme rarity of these birds, and what just happened in Dallas, it's time to sacrifice some authenticity for safety. There is enough room on these airframes to install ADS/B, proximity sensors, and multiple cameras, even on fighters, which will allow much better visibility. Synthetic vision and precision flight path markers should also be equipped, along with full fidelity Situational Awareness displays showing all aircraft in the formations, and immediately warning all aircraft of any departure from the formation, and recommended evasive action if necessary, in real-time. In addition, there should be systems monitoring on each aircraft, also warning the formation and air bosses of any critical conditions. As a taxpayer, I support my tax dollars being used to fully fund this program, through the NDAA if necessary. Any warbird flying in formation should be required to have this tech, in addition to flight data recorders. We need to submit a proposal to the FAA. Full disclosure: I have no investments or stake in any companies that manufacture equipment like this whatsoever. I just want these aircraft to fly for 1000 years. It's a show of strength for our adversaries to see aircraft hastily made in wartime conditions still able to do the job 100 years later. Symbols matter.
Thanks for your comment, Ray. ADS-B, synthetic vision, etc. can indeed be very helpful with creating good situational awareness, and I have (and apply) those in my Bonanza. But creating a link at this time to the recent tragic accident in Dallas is a stretch, in my opinion. I will wait for the analysis of the NTSB and others; only with a good understanding of the root cause of this accident can we say if the technologies you mentioned might have helped here. "Giving the pilots more data" may very well not be the answer to the question; in fact, I can see ways in which more data would overload the pilot and could potentially make things worse.
Kind regards,
Martin
@@martinpauly Absolutely, we don't want to pull their face out of the windscreen too much - what's right out front is still priority #1 in the air. This is why getting that data to air bosses in realtime is also a critical component of my recommendations. We do know from the videos that the B-17 very likely had no visual on the P-63. I've been in one, you have too, we see the angle of the P-63's approach.. we can reasonably conclude they didn't see it. I think we can also reasonably conclude that even if they had information about it, the rate of closure was such that they may not have been able to push the nose over fast enough to get out of the way. However, if both pilots and air bosses had info about the deviation from formation in realtime.. Surely you agree that their chances for both pilots to take evasive action to avoid the collision would've probably been better, right? And given the lack of data recorders, the NTSB has clearly stated that their report may not reveal much more than we already know. There is a taboo in the aviation community about "speculating", but that's not I'm trying to do here - I'm talking about adding safety equipment and pilot aids that are already mandatory in commercial aircraft. In other words, we cannot say for certain that this equipment would've prevented that tragedy, but I think it's totally reasonable to say that this equipment would make CAF Formations safer, and also solo flights. Having eyes on the ground able to help monitor systems/engines really has no downside that I can see. Anywho - good luck up there!
Awsome plane...they can be as careful as possible..but it only takes one dumb air boss to screw it all up....
Only 2 airworthy??? Im sorry, but maybe it’s time to put them in a protected hanger to save them.
There are plenty in museums. If you think these two (DOC and FIFI) should be grounded and added to museums, you are missing the point the crew makes in these interviews.
- Martin
Shame about Kee Bird,
too damned much talking, not nearly enough visuals.
Well - this video is all about the story of Doc, its purpose and its operation. Having the crew talk a lot is required to tell that story. Sorry if you didn't get much out of this one.
- Martin
Wao! Thank you for sharing your experience. Few questions, does this aircraft has an AP and what is the range ?
Steve Zimmerman answers the autopilot question in the video. No, it doesn't have one. No hydraulics, either - just control cables. I do not know what its range is.
Regards,
Martin