The newly restored B-29 “Doc” now has an FAA airworthiness certificate, 16 years after restorers brought the historic aircraft to Wichita. Doc’s Friends, the organization behind the project, said Friday a first flight is “imminent.” The B-29, salvaged from the Mojave Desert in 1987 by Tony Mazzolini, was moved in pieces to Wichita in May 2000 for the restoration, which gained momentum a few years ago with the formation of Doc’s Friends.The heavy bomber’s four engines started for the first time in September and the team performed a taxi test earlier this month.
The restoration team will soon submit a formal request to the U.S. Air Force and Pentagon to gain access to a runway at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita for high-speed taxi and flight tests.“It’s been nearly 60 years since Doc has flown and 16 years since this majestic warbird arrived in Wichita to be restored, and now we are another major milestone closer to a return to flight,” said Jim Murphy, Doc’s Friends Restoration Program Manager. “Today, we celebrate this major milestone and honor the hundreds of thousands of hours of volunteer work that has gone into restoring our B-29.”
