Doc Ready To Tour

B-29 Doc has been cleared for takeoff at airshows across the country. Doc's Friends announced last week the FAA has granted them a special airworthiness certificate for the enormous Second World War bomber. The new status means the end of the first phase of flight test operations and removes many of the accompanying flight restrictions. "We've been working for the past several months with the Wichita FAA office, along with the FAA team in Washington, D.C., and we are pleased that we have satisfied the requirements for ‘phase one' of flight test operations," Jim Murphy, Doc's Friends Restoration Program Manager, said on the organization's website. "The FAA's approval means we can begin the next phase of our restoration and flight operations plan, and that includes sharing our historic warbird with airshows around the United States."

Heading the list of possible airshow dates is AirVenture 2017. Since the Commemorative Air Force often takes its B-29 Fifi to Oshkosh, it could mean the only two flying B-29s in the world will meet there. The group says it's looking at shows in at least six states and the schedule will be announced later. In the meantime, the airplane is being woken up from its winter hiatus. "We have a few more minor winter maintenance items to complete and we'll begin running engines before the end of March. If everything goes as planned, I expect us to be back in the air in early April," Murphy said.