Merrill Wien's B-29 Retirement Flight

Video Title :	Merrill Wien's B-29 Retirement Flight
Description :	This was my dad's last flight as a check pilot in June of 2001. He was fortunate enough to fly the Commemorative Air Forces B-29 called "FiFi." It was (and still is) the last flying B-29 in the world. Since he never got a proper sendoff from the airline flying he did for so long, we thought it would be fun to celebrate his last B-29 flight. This was my first editing attempt using Apple's iMovie. I rode in the back seat of a T-6 with the canopy removed and my brother was in the fire truck. It was quite a thrill. The inside B-29 shots are from a flight I took in June of 1997. Note the Boeing 307 parked on the ramp as the B-29 taxis in. That was shot two weeks before that same Boeing 307 took a swim in Lake Washington. The 307 is on display now at the Smithsonian and the B-29 flies from Midland, TX. Take a look at their site: http://www.cafb29b24.org/ If you get a chance to see this airplane fly, don't miss it. Music: The first song is "String of Pearls" and the second song is "In the Mood." Both are by Glenn Miller.
Views :	90585
Rating :	4.79
Keywords, Tags :	"B-29 Superfortress" B-29 Boeing Superfortress Aviation Bomber Flying WWII flying flight Wien Everett Paine R-3350
Video Length :	8 : 22

Comments :

wow what a thrill that must have been! I would love to see a B-29 fly!

Sad that with all the B-29's that rolled off the manufacturers floor that this is the last flying exmaple. Beautiful video by the way. :)

I believe a feature of early B29's was a tendency for the engines to overheat with occasionally disastrous consequences. Was this overcome with later variants? Or would it still always be in the back of Merrill Wien's mind to get airspeed quickly on full power?

is this is the plane that druped the hiroshima bomb?

No, that was the "Enola Gay" piloted by Col. Paul Tibbets.

When did this take place?

Wow, I can't believe I left that out of the description. I'll add it now. It was in June of 2001.

I was a crew member in b-29s in 1956-56(Tow -reel operator at Goose Bay Labrador.We towed targets for air-to-air gunnery(F89x)The targets were six feet by 30 and the F89s used rockets.I loved every minute flying in this aircraft.

WOW i could watch that video over and over and wouldn't get bored.. that plane is gorgeous and it must have an awesome view from the cockpit. U do a great job filming and editing these videos sir.

Thank's for the reply.. would that be in the UK ? I've seen a 29 up close at IWM Duxford, awesome ! Are the engine's crated old stock, or re- build's ?