VIDEO: B-29 Doc logs multiple hours, takeoffs and landings in one weekend

B-29 Doc successfully logged multiple hours, takeoffs and landings during two days of flight operations, November 5 and 6. The fights originated from McConnell Air Force Base and Eisenhower National Airport, both in Wichita. During the two-day operation, the crew was able to continue to test the warbird’s flight control systems, including landing gears, engine run times and the aircraft’s operation at more than 250 mph.

“The flight crew reports that Doc performed flawlessly and as expected,” said Jim Murphy, Doc’s Friends Restoration Project Manager. “We were able to make significant progress on meeting FAA requirements for flight testing. We could not be happier with the overall performance of the airplane, as well as the hospitality from the ground crews at Yingling Aviation and Wichita’s Eisenhower National Airport.”

The flight paths on Saturday took Doc east of Wichita over the Flint Hills and included multiple takeoffs and landings, several of which were at Wichita’s Eisenhower National Airport (KICT), the eventual permanent home for Doc. The crew and the B-29 were hosted by Yingling Aviation, a fixed-based operator at KICT.

“The success of this weekend’s flight operations further proves our need to build a permanent home for Doc in Wichita,” said Josh Wells, Doc’s Friends spokesman. “We’re in the process of working with a ‘Hangar Task Force Team’ to finalize hangar designs and location, as well as develop a cost estimate. A capital fundraising plan will be announced soon but at this time, we don’t have a definitive timeline for fundraising or construction. The focus for the crew remains getting additional flight hours on the airplane to meet FAA requirements. Once that phase of the project is complete, we’ll move to the next step of training our own flight crew… and eventually working to schedule public appearances for Doc.”

During the flight operations on Saturday, Nov. 5, chase plane photographers were able to capture dramatic videos and photos of Doc. One of the videos from Lyle Jansma included a 360 degree cockpit view. Click play on the video below to view.

NOTE: You can click around on the video to zoom in and rotate the view to see throughout the cockpit.