Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > Sitting around the Campfire
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-17-2016, 04:33 AM   #1
dieselguy
Montana Master
 
dieselguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
A bit of history was made in Wichita this morning

16 years ago a B-29 was shipped in from the desert to the Boeing facility in Wichita, Kansas. It came in on several semis and trucks in hundreds of pieces. After countless manhours of original WWII aircraft assembly workers and younger aircraft enthusiast it flew for the first time this morning about 8:45AM. Some of the older workers have passed since the project started in 2000. I was at work with a birds eye view standing on a roof of one of the taller buldings right across from the runway, and took in the historic moment. An engine light came on shortly after takeoff so the first flight had to be shortened, but it was still an awesome sight along with the sound of the ole radial engines droning away.
 
dieselguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2016, 04:43 AM   #2
mlh
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,528
M.O.C. #2283
We need to preserve our history. I live in a railroad town. We have a 911 passenger engine here that was built here that we are very proud of.
Lynwood
__________________
www.harrellsprec.com
Lynwood Harrell
323 RL HC 2008 F250
mlh is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2016, 05:14 AM   #3
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
That's really cool! I remember when the project started, but in our part of the state we hadn't heard a thing since.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2016, 07:21 AM   #4
pkbridges77
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Clermont
Posts: 289
M.O.C. #17920
I love this! Thank you for sharing the moment! These flying machines that made monumental history, as well as their airmen, have rapidly faded and I'm thankful for those willing and able to preserve these birds.
pkbridges77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2016, 08:03 AM   #5
jcurtis934
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
Lots of cool planes at ellsworth air museum should anyone make it to the rapid city south dakota area. Wright patterson air museum in dayton ohio another good one to visit. John
__________________
2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
jcurtis934 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2016, 12:34 PM   #6
TLightning
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kville
Posts: 2,865
M.O.C. #7871
Those round engines have their own sound.
TLightning is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2016, 03:26 PM   #7
RVokie
Established Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Owasso
Posts: 21
M.O.C. #18767
I'd been following this off and on the past decade or so. Now "Fifi" has some company. What did they name her?
RVokie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2016, 05:08 PM   #8
rames14
Montana Master
 
rames14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,135
M.O.C. #1920
Something they can be very proud of in Kansas.
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
rames14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2016, 05:35 PM   #9
dieselguy
Montana Master
 
dieselguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
A little under 4000 of the B29's were built with a few over 1600 right here in Wichita. The early models were powered by Wright Cyclone radials which had overheating problems as well as a fire issue with the magnesium engine blocks creating extreme heat when caught on fire. The later models had Pratt and Whitney Wasp radials that proved more reliable and more powerful. The turret guns were actually computer controlled back in 45. Optical sights fed info to computers that aimed the guns. Pretty awesome for their time. What really stood out to me was there were several men and women that actually were on the production lines back during the war that came forward and volunteered their time as best they could to help rebuild the plane. Some didn't make it to see her fly ... a handful were on hand this morning to watch her lift off for the first time in 60 years. They named her "Doc" as she was part of a squadron known as the Seven Dwarfs. Doc is one of only two flying B29's left ... the other is Fifi and travels the airshow circuits.
dieselguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2016, 05:27 AM   #10
Steve and Susie
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Grand Ledge
Posts: 417
M.O.C. #12618
Wow, now the wheels are turning here. there is another very nice museum in Mobile, AL. Its been quite a few years since I was there, but I believe it is part of the USS Alabama Ship museum site. If your in the area and into that sort of sight seeing am sure you'd enjoy it. Happy Trails, Steve and Susie
Steve and Susie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2016, 06:33 AM   #11
BB_TX
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
Love those old planes. The Commemorative Air Force (formerly Confederate Air Force) makes periodic visits for shows in this area and sometimes to our local small air port. And since we are only about 4 miles from the air port and in a rural area, they circle around right over our house during demo flights. You can hear them coming well before you see them. Great stuff.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
BB_TX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2016, 05:48 PM   #12
Petmoose
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Denton
Posts: 289
M.O.C. #12532
Saw the video of this flight today......very cool!
Petmoose is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
RV Park near Wichita, KS onekla Campgrounds 2 06-13-2015 02:15 AM
Wichita falls tx to Texarkana lfw Navigation 3 05-27-2014 03:58 PM
Wichita Tornado dieselguy Sitting around the Campfire 8 04-17-2012 03:52 AM
Wichita Falls, Texas Charlotte Was that You??? 0 09-04-2006 03:49 PM
Back in Wichita krvk Who, Where & When? 1 09-03-2005 08:55 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:00 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.