Since I lived through World War II, the historical significance of things from that era have always interested me. Like aircraft! Last week, the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) held it’s annual convention in Oshkosh. It flew in the last remaining B-29 Superfortress Bomber. The B-29 is famous for dropping the atomic bombs on Japan, essentially forcing their surrender in 1945.
The last B-29 is named “Fifi”. I think the one that bombed Japan was the “Enola Gay”. It was a huge airplane for 1942. What made it special was that it could fly further and higher than any previous bombers. It had a pressurized cabin so that it could fly higher than other planes. When it made its bomb runs over Japan, it was so high that normal fighter aircraft could not reach it. Fly high and safe! That was the B-29. My kind of plane.
I read an article that said EAA was offering rides on the B-29 out of the Appleton Outagamie Airport. Believe it or not, I made a trip out to the airport to see the B-29. I only got to see it from a distance, but it was smaller than I had imagined from all the pictures. I guess it was big according to 1942 standards.
Part of me wanted to take the half-hour flight over EAA and the area just to experience the ride. Powerful engines (4-2000 horsepower engines). Slow gradual takeoffs. It is hard to imagine the 12-15 continuous hours in the air to drop strategic bombs! You get the idea.
I can’t say that flying on a B-29 would have been on my “bucket list”, but it would have been a candidate.
Being the thrill seeker and risk taker that you all know I am, I thought, “lets check it out”. What were the flight times? How much did it cost? The flight times were numerous. The fee per person was over $1000. Oops. Fantasy over! B-29’s and their mystique are a fascination, but not $1000 fascinating.
I got to see the last B-29 that will ever fly. It took me back. No, I didn’t sign up to fly. Getting to see the “last one”, priceless!
Love,
Dad