The B-29 known as Doc will be making its first appearance at EAA AirVenture this week, and after returning home to Wichita, Doc’s Friends will get to work on building the airplane’s new home. The Friends announced last week they have chosen a site at Wichita’s Eisenhower National Airport where they’ll build a 32,000-square-foot hangar to provide shelter for the airplane, maintenance facilities, public access and educational programming. Construction is scheduled to start in September and will be complete by September 2018. The nonprofit Doc’s Friends already has raised more than $4.5 million to finance the project and plans to raise $2 million more. The airplane first took to the air last July, after 16 years of restoration work.
“Doc’s home will be a centerpiece to celebrate not only Wichita’s place in aviation history, but it will be a cornerstone to celebrate the men and women who built, maintained and served in the B-29 to protect our freedom,” said Jeff Turner, chairman of Doc’s Friends. “It will also be a unique place for future generations to connect with the majestic warbird through STEM education and perhaps they, too, will be inspired to a career in a STEM-related field.” At EAA AirVenture this week, Doc will be on display at Boeing Plaza. On Monday at 10 a.m., EAA will host a Plane Talk interview at the airplane at the Plaza. During the afternoon air shows, Doc will fly in formation with the B-29 Fifi.
Images: Doc’s Friends
