B-29 Superfortress 'Doc' makes first flight

摘要

Boeing B-29B Superfortress 44-69972 Doc made its first post-restoration flight from McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, on July 17. A small audience of invited guests, media and veterans were present as the bomber fired up its engines and began to taxi towards the runway at around 8.20am. A hitch with the bomb bay doors delayed the departure, with the aircraft returning to have the problem addressed by technicians. The delay was short and at 9:08am Doc took to the air for the first time since 1956. The aircraft, which was accompanied by a chase plane, flew a circuit before successfully landing. At the controls for the first flight was a crew from the Commemorative Air Force (which operates FiFi. the world's only other flying Superfortress) led by pilot Charlie Tilghman and co-pilot David Oliver.