Boeing B-29 Superfortress: An Oppositelock Review

"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg) 05/21/2015 at 11:54 • Filed to: None

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What do you get the man who want’s nothing? That’s the question that plagues me every time a holiday comes up and I need to shop for my dad. I love the man to death, but all he likes to do is work, whether it be at his job or around the house. He has a project truck he’s working on but it’s a personal thing for him, so I don’t dare buy random crap to tack on it. And if you ask him what he wants, its always a gray sweatshirt and Levis blue jeans. Every. Single. Time.

So as I was going into birthday shopping mode earlier this spring, a funny thing happened. A friend invited me up to a big WWII weekend fly-in in Reading PA in June. I started looking at the website for the event, and noticed they had “Warbird Rides.” I clicked to see what planes were going to be there and how much rides cost. I perused the list when suddenly, something caught my eye… my heart started beating a little harder, hand started shaking on the mouse slightly. Could it be? Was this real? Fifi was going to be there, the only flying B-29 bomber in the world. Up until this moment I didn’t even realize there was a flying B-29 left, I thought they were all in museums or gathering dust in boneyards. At this moment, I didn’t care what it cost, I knew I had found the perfect birthday gift for my father.

My dad and I have a special connection to the B-29; my grandfather worked on them during the war. He was an instructor at the B-29 training facility at the Moorhead Campus of Minnesota State Teachers College during the war. This is also where he met my grandmother, he was stationed with her brother and used to go home with him for holidays because the trip back to Philadelphia was too long for him. In addition to training flight crews, he was a machinist, and so he worked on some other projects related to the B-29. I even have a small thimble box he made my grandmother out of a B-29 propeller hub in his spare time. So when we decided on this as a gift, I knew I had to do it to.

(Disclaimer: I was able to convince the Commemorative Air Force to stop over at Martin Field in Middle River, MD so that we would have a chance to fly in it. I’m a shrewd negotiator and this had nothing to do with the VE Day Flyover of Washington D.C. they participated in, or the previously mentioned WWII fly-in at Reading.

They wanted my dad and I to fly in the only flying B-29 Superfortress bomber in the world so badly that they gladly accepted lots of money in exchange for a 30 minute flight. They also accepted similarly large quantities of money from several other people. Including Doug.)

Exterior:

The B-29 is an enormous aircraft, yet not daunting in the way some of it’s contemporaries are. There was a B-24 Liberator parked just out of view, and while the 29 is dimensionally larger, the Liberator seems more imposing. I attribute this to the streamlined shape of the fuselage and futuristic looking glass nose. Also, I hear silver is very slimming.

Interior:

Flying as the Navigator and Flight Observer, we boarded the aircraft through a generous boarding hatch inside the front landing gear well. Reviews of the interior varied - dad says the flight was fun but he couldn’t imagine spending anywhere from 6 to 18 hours in there. Having some experience onboard US Navy fast attack submarines, I found it downright cozy. There’s sharp metal corners, exposed wiring and hydraulic lines, and random utility items (flare guns, fire axes) stowed out in the open. My take is, if it’s not trying to kill you, it’s not fun.

The Navigators station was relatively spartan, featuring a map table with lexan cover, and basic flight instruments including heading, altitude, and speed. The seat was some sort of small office stool with a canvas covered cushion, and a seat belt that connected to... something. Dad occupied this, while I sat in the center as the “Flight Observer.”

Despite the austere accommodations, the view out the side window wasn’t so bad.

Of course the best view in the house was through the B-29’s all glass nose. In this shot we were lining up a for a bombing run on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

And here we are making the jump to light speed. No word from the pilots or flight engineer on how well she performs the Kessel Run.

Engine(s):

The original B-29 features 4 massive Wright R-3350-23 “Duplex Cyclone Turbosupercharged” 18 cylinder, twin row, air cooled radial engines putting out >2200HP each. Unfortunately these engines had a nasty tendency to catch on fire. Lucky for us, Fifi was upfitted with custom engines combining the best features of the -95W and -26WD variants. They make more power, are more efficient, and have a much lower tendency to spontaneously combust.

One of the most interesting facts I learned was that each engine requires 75 gallons of oil to run. That’s right, GALLONS. That’s 300 gallons of oil to do an oil change on Fifi. They flight engineer told us that the cost is almost $10,000.

All the engines had their own names. Pictured is “Ingrid.” The other lovely ladies we flew with were “Mitzi”, “Rita”, and “Betty.” No wonder the upkeep costs so much, am I right fellas?

From the cockpit, the B-29 is surprisingly quiet, although I’m using quiet in a relative sense here. It is very loud, but not nearly as loud as you may expect. The engines run smooth and on takeoff provide enough thrust to get the 87,400 lb (we were flying light) aircraft into the air with no fuss and well within Martin Field’s 7,000 ft runway. Once aloft, we cruised at a comfortable 185 kts.

The one downside to the four engine configuration is that the instrument cluster is significantly more complex than in your average Toyota Camary. In fact, it requires a dedicated flight engineer to control the throttles, adjust propeller pitch, and keep an eye on all the engine vitals. My hat’s off to this man, he did a hell of a job.

Ride and Handling:

The B-29 is the Cadillac Coupe DeVille of the skies. If that Cadillac had 20,000lbs of ordnance and 10 M2 50 caliber machine guns. It glides through the clouds as if it’s... riding on air. Probably because it is, but really, it’s so smooth and relaxed. Aside from the spartan seats, it really does feel like floating down the road in a giant 60’s or 70’s luxo-barge.

Controls are your standard yoke and pedals, nothing fancy but they get the job done. No word from the pilots on the amount of steering effort required, but they genuinely seemed to enjoy flying this aircraft. In the above picture our pilot cranked her over, banking hard across the Chesapeake Bay, and I’d wager we pulled around 2 G’s. She’s no fighter jet but it definitely shocked me that you could get a big ol’ gal to turn round like that.

Toys:

If you want toy’s Fifi’s got em. She sports all the latest, greatest, state-of-the-art (for 1945) combat electronics you could want. Pictured above is the Norden bomb sight, mounted out in the nose of the plane.

But the coolest toy is pictured here. The B-29 was the first aircraft to fly with a computerized gun system. Instead of 9 individual gun stations each operated by a crew member, such as in the B-17G Flying Fortress, the 29 made use of 3 analog computers. Three gun directors controlled 6 remotely operated turrets tied into these computers. The computers were linked to the flight instrumentation which automatically compensated for aircraft speed, pitch, roll, and yaw. This increased the B-29’s kill ratio against enemy aircraft by a factor of 3 over previous bombers, despite having fewer gun stations.

My station as the “Flight Observer” was in the former forward gun directors station. I suspect someone tipped them off on my impending flight and the equipment was removed. If it had been present it wouldn’t be now and I’d be trying to fit an analog computer and quad M-2 .50 caliber dorsal turret to the roof of our old GMC Crew Cab pickup.

If you get tired of bombing factories, shooting Zero’s out of the sky, or are just looking for some wholesome, good ol’ fashioned fun, you can also try the “slide.” The B-29 was the first completely pressurized bomber, which allowed it to fly at higher altitudes without the need for oxygen, and increased crew comfort and helped to maintain a more manageable temperature in the aircraft. To maintain this pressurization, a tunnel connects the fore and aft ends of the aircraft. But in the hands of a creative pilot, it could become a flying McDonald’s Play Place.

Storage:

The B-29 has it in droves. Here is the bomb-bay observation window, looking aft. There’s plenty of room for strollers, diaper bags, luggage, bicycles, or 20,000lbs of high explosive ordnance.

Multiple 1,000 round lockers throughout the aircraft provide extra storage for .50 BMG ammunition. At $4+ a pop, these may cost almost as much to fill up as the fuel tank.

First aid kits were also stowed throughout the aircraft, this one with a nice note from someone named “Rosie”.

If you need more space, there’s plenty of it in the tail end of the aircraft between the bomb bay and the tail gunners position. Be warned, however, things get a little cramped as you move aft.

Value:

So the question is, how do you put a price on this much history, this much awesome, and this much ‘Murica? Well, the CAF can certainly tell you what it cost to buy Fifi, what it costs to keep her running, or what it cost to re-power and restore her. It ain’t cheap, and neither is a flight on this ol’ gal. But how often do you get the chance to fly over Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in an old war bird, the same type your grandfather flew 70 years before? So trust me when I say it’s worth the price of admission.

(Epilogue: Pictured is myself, my dad, and Doug. You may remember Doug from the disclaimer at the beginning of this review. Doug was a fascinating guy, a walking encyclopedia of WWII air power knowledge. You know how it is, there’s always one at every event. Actually, he was awesome and in talking with him I discovered two more adventures to add to my to-do list - fly in an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter, and crush a car with a Sherman tank. Can’t wait to write about those.)

Jcarr > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/21/2015 at 18:45

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Fantastic review, great job!

Grindintosecond > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/21/2015 at 19:03

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I’m not sure what the fee is, but to actually be part of the flight crew working the airshows for the summer, it costs a one time fee of around $12,000+ quite a bit of free time volunteering to keep it going and promote the CAF at shows. I’ve thought about it but that’s quite a big bit of credit card to float as well as family/free time away-another thing i cant afford, just to get in on possibly flying it, and that’s what would be happening. Working the flights that you and your family/friends just bought. Awesome deal. It might be something I do in the future but not for a while.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/21/2015 at 19:10

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Awesome, that was an excellent choice of gift for you both. I’ve always been fascinated with the B-29 and would love to get a ride sometime.

Great writeup, too!

f86sabre > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/21/2015 at 19:21

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I’d give you many stars if I could. First, Fifi is a treasure and good for you for taking the ride. Second, many more stars for doing something like that for your dad. Both of you will remember that forever.

Were you able to move around the aircraft during flight or were the trips aft after the flight.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/21/2015 at 20:09

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Correct me if my addition is incorrect but I tally a total score of America/100. (Fuck Yeah)

Did they get to show you the 1941-1945 Inter-Hemisphere playoff victory trophy?

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Jcarr 05/21/2015 at 21:17

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Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > NotUnlessRoundIsFunny 05/21/2015 at 21:18

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It was really great, I’m so glad I got to do it. If you have the opportunity, I would highly recommend it. The CAF travels all over the country, so there’s a possibility they may end up at an airport near you.

And glad you enjoyed the review.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 05/21/2015 at 21:19

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Haha, I love it. I think that’s the score I would give it as well. Sadly, I didn’t get to see the trophy. They must keep it back at the hangar in Addison, TX.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > f86sabre 05/21/2015 at 21:28

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Thank you. I absolutely agree, Fifi is a treasure. It makes me so happy that she’s still flying so that everyone can go enjoy her. I’m excited that Doc will be flying again soon, too.

The way they sell tickets is there are 5 jump seats installed in the back, 4 in the cockpit, and then the bombardier’s seat. The bombardier seat is the best view in the house, it’s also the most expensive, and if you’re in it, you have to stay there for the entire flight, per FAA regulations. The other 4 seats (Navigator, Radio Operator, Cockpit Observer, Flight Observer) are all free to shuffle around the cockpit once the plane is up in the air. Same goes for the 5 in the back of the plane. You are not, however, allowed to cross the tunnel from front to back during flight. There’s a separate boarding hatch in the back to get in and out of that section of the plane.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Grindintosecond 05/21/2015 at 21:33

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Flights range from $600 to $1500 depending on where you want to be in the plane. I paid about in the middle of that range to get the Navigator and Flight Observer seats. I’m sure riding in the back as a gunner is an awesome experience, but it was definitely worth it to be up in the cockpit and see out of the beautiful glass nose.

I had no idea you had to pay a fee to join the flight crew, but I suppose that’s what it takes to keep the old birds in the air. If she’s still around when I hit retirement age, I’d love to join up. It was such a wonderful experience I’d love the opportunity to pass it on to other.

Or, I can’t help but keep thinking, as a former submariner, is anyone doing this with an old WWII diesel boat? Maybe I should look into this...

Grindintosecond > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/21/2015 at 23:08

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I can’t imagine what it would cost to keep an old Diesel boat running. Think about a high maintenance diesel yacht where everything replacement must be custom made...

Yeah the full on CAF annual membership is something like just a few hundred bucks a year and you’re part of a local chapter near you or one you select and then you can volunteer to help do anything really...sweep hangars, clean planes, bally-hoo rides at area airshows for fund raising, etc. That’s what lots of people do anyway just so they can be close to or connected with the history and really promote saving history. Free rides sometimes found this way getting to and from shows. To be part of the actual pilot crew it all depends on what plane it is to get to fly them. a T-6 I think is $4,000 perhaps. But you’re giving rides all day at shows to generate revenue doing twenty minute hops. And the actual owner of the plane is footing the real restoration costs and storage space and the CAF helps offset that.

For example, FiFi got a set of 4 new engines and props in a two year re-fit and for that generous donation, it was moved to a museum of the person who donated that money and it was part of that collection for a negotiated period of time. Also, the volunteers attached to tha tplane were sweeping their hangar and doing whatever was asked of them by that man. so, he kind of owned them but that’s what you do to keep that history in the air.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/22/2015 at 00:54

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I think I gotta do it.

It doesn’t help that there’s been a B-17 and a P-51 orbiting my area for the last few days. :-)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/22/2015 at 09:45

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I built a model of this exact plane when I was a kid. The 29s are awesome, but I’m really looking forward to the Oppo B17 review!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 05/22/2015 at 09:52

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Is someone doing that? I’d love to. If Oppo will fund me I’ll review all the planes! But my bank account isn’t ready for another flight for a while. Haha.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/22/2015 at 09:54

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I think so. There are a few flying B17s left, and I flew in it when I was a kid.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 05/22/2015 at 09:55

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Oh I know there are several B-17’s still flying, I meant is someone on Oppo planning to take a flight on one?

OPPOsaurus WRX > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/22/2015 at 09:56

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this is awesome

Snuze: Needs another Swede > OPPOsaurus WRX 05/22/2015 at 10:00

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It really was. I wish the visibility had been a bit better that day. It finally cleared up... after we landed. But it was still a great experience and I managed to get a few decent pictures.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/22/2015 at 10:13

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I find a thick A-pillar damn distracting while driving - that whole pattern of pillars would probably drive me nuts.

ttyymmnn > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/27/2015 at 08:58

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Fantastic write up, Snuze. I really enjoyed reading that. You’re a lucky dog to get to ride in that beauty. And just for the sake of comparison, here’s the engineer’s position in the B-36.

AbsurdBuffalo > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/27/2015 at 13:06

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Here you go guys. Took this video a few months ago at Mesa-Gateway Airport in Phoenix. Put headphones on for full effect.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > ttyymmnn 05/27/2015 at 13:26

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Thanks so much, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I know you were pretty excited to hear about it, and I can’t say enough how fantastic of an experience it was. I’d highly recommend it if you ever have the chance.

And that B-36 engineers station is insane! That’s worse than anything I’ve ever seen on a nuclear submarine!

Clay_T > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/27/2015 at 15:46

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The Collings Foundation has a regular tour. (but you probably already knew that)

My dad took a ride in a -17 when they were at LGB several years ago. Theirs was the first flight of the day. Everyone who wanted to got to grab a blade and turn the motors over to clear the cylinders before they fired up the engines.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Clay_T 05/27/2015 at 15:53

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Well, I didn’t realize they put on the Wings of Freedom air show. They used to alternate in my hometown, some years it was Wing of Freedom, some years it was the CAF. Sadly the town doesn’t sponsor an air show anymore :( I’ll have to have a look at their schedule and see when they will be near me.

T5Killer > Snuze: Needs another Swede 05/27/2015 at 18:28

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That is amazing, I could only imagine what an experience that must have been. Great write up bravo!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > T5Killer 05/28/2015 at 08:15

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Thank you, glad you enjoyed the write up. It was a great experience, I’m so glad I got to do it, and even more-so that we could do it for my Dad. I think it really meant a lot to him.

If you ever have the opportunity to do (or fly in any old war bird for that matter), I highly recommend it.