B-29

It is home video quality but parts of it are very good. Ride along on Fifi, the last B-29 in flying conditions.

Start a few minutes in and observe all the work the flight engineer has to do.

I met Paul Tibbetts over 10 years ago. The guy was really sharp even in old age.

When the B-29 was in development, had some catching fire issues. In order to show it off to aircrews after some of that, they had an all-woman air crew fly one around to some of the training bases.

A sexist way of stating that women can fly it; no problem.

Amazing we built so many of these.

1938- Design study
1939- Formal specification
1940- Boeing design submitted
1940- Static airframe
1941- Order for 14 test and 250 production aircraft.
1942- First flight of prototype
1943- Various troubles. 100 delivered only 15 airworthy. Most common problem was the engines.
1944- Changes came so often that production aircraft went directly to the depot for modification.

3,970 produced.

Here is a training film for the flight engineer....