WICHITA, Kan., June 24, 2016 – The United States Department of Defense has granted B-29 Doc approval to use the non-joint-use runway at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita for final ground testing and eventual first flight operations.
“The approval from the Pentagon is another important milestone along our path to first flight,” said Jim Murphy, Doc’s Friends Restoration Program Manager. “With the airworthiness certificate from the FAA we received a few weeks ago, and now permission from the Pentagon to use the runway at McConnell, first flight for Doc is imminent.”
The authorization signed by officials at the Pentagon means Doc’s flight crew will begin conversations with base leaders to schedule high-speed taxi testing and eventually takeoffs and landings. The restoration team has been performing minor maintenance and systems tests on the ground while awaiting approval from the Pentagon.
“We still have to run medium and high-speed taxi tests, as well as other ground, systems and instrument testing prior to first flight. Those tests will begin soon and we hope to have the plane in the air within the next few weeks. Our restoration volunteers have worked 16 years to get this far and we’re a few final steps away completing the first stage of Doc’s mission to honor those who built, flew and maintained the B-29 warbird,” said Murphy.
The ground testing schedule and scheduling of first flight is weather dependent. Public viewing locations and a timeline for first flight will be released as the event approaches. Information will be provided online at www.b-29doc.com and via releases delivered to the media.
On the web: www.b-29doc.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DocsFriends
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DocsFriends
Media Contact: Josh Wells, Doc’s Friends, (316) 209-0470 [email protected]
About Doc’s Friends
Doc’s Friends is a 501c3 non-profit board managing the restoration of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress known as Doc. The group was formed in 2013 and is led by retired Spirit AeroSystems CEO Jeff Turner along with other Wichita business leaders; Charlie Chandler, Jack Pelton, Steve Clark, Lynn Nichols, Brad Gorsuch, Vic McMullen, Ron Ryan, Tim Buchanan, Jeff Peier, Esq., and Tom Bertels. Doc’s Friends is committed to returning this World War II warbird to the air to honor previous generations, educate current and future generations and connect the world to the rich heritage of aviation.
