I Spent $1500 On A B29 Superfortress Flight - Was it Worth It? 

Doc's permanent home is a hangar at Wichita's Eisenhower Regional Airport. When not on tour it as on display at its hanger and is available for tours. It took 10 years to restore by volunteers from Boeing employees and retirees. Doc was built here is Wichita and it was great to watch the progress of the restoration.

Very special video for me Noel as my dad was a B-29 Flight Engineer who flew 38 combat missions out of Tinian in the south Pacific over Japan and came back to tell about it. Dad passed at 95 years old 7 years ago but I have all of his medals and even an original leather flight jacket. We donated many things of his to the New England Air & Space Museum before moving to Florida, but the thing I will remember most is having the opportunity to fly on Fifi with my dad. The things he and the other young men and women endured during WWII are a testament to what has made our country great. Thanks for this Noel very special !

1500 for the flight but the amazing experience, priceless. What a treat, and we get to experience it vicariously through you. You were like a big kid with that massive grin of yours throughout the flight. What a privilege to be on something so historical and fantastic and that they allow the public to experience it. More than worth the price tag in my opinion, especially being up the front. Thank you again for another wonderful video!

Noel: But was it worth it? Me: Shut up and take my money!

Fifi is a reconstructed B29. The B29s were put in a “graveyard” & none were in flying condition, so they scavenged the planes for parts & built her from them. She was the ONLY flying B29 when they made the movie “The Enola Gay.” She was built by & for the CAF in Harlingen, Tx, but that collection was later moved (over huge outcry) somewhere else in Texas. Doc was found in 1987, but Fifi is older. I ❤ Fifi & saw her many times in Harlingen.

$1500 seems like an absolute bargin for an experience like this!!! Awesome video as always mate.

I’ve flown on that as a kid! Someone donated a flight to me and it was awesome. Then I joined the Air Force as a Loadmaster years later.

When I was a kid, used to build plastic models of these old planes and peek out the windows of the half built fuselage, to imagine how it looked to be on board the real thing.

The Super Guppy that crossed the path on this flight is in a way the "grand child" of the B-29. The B-29 was developed into a Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter/Boeing 337 Stratocruiser which was the base aircraft in which the Guppies were developed.

The R-3350's used in the B-29's were quite temperamental, and almost as many B-29's were lost to accidents as enemy action (usually engine fires). The Commemorative Air Force's contribution to keeping the B-29's flying was obtaining FAA approval for exchanging parts on the engines with parts from 1950's airliners that were powered by later, much more reliable variants of the Wright R-3350. Doc has benefitted from this, as has the CAF's own B-29, FiFi.

Hello Noel, here is one for you, not B29 but B17 related. My Great Grandfather killed by B17 that crash landed near Great Ashfield USAF base in Suffolk in 1944. USAF paid my Great Grandmother a pension from 1944 until 1983. I managed to get a copy of the accident report via a guy that worked on the Saturn rocket from USAF records held in San Francisco, what a story !

Two years ago the B-29 was on tour and came to my local airport, when i found out it was coming i knew i had to fly in it. i worked so hard to try and get $700 to buy a ticket to fly in the back of it. I was 15 years old and did so much yard work and eventually lucked out and found a old avionic at a antique place and bought it for $2 and sold it for $500! that got me to the $700 with 2 weeks left till the B-29 came to my airport. I bought the ticket then waited. The day came and the weather was bad and they cancelled all the B-29 flights… I was super upset and still wanted to fly and they said i could go to Sun N Fun and fly in it if i wanted to. I took that offer and 2-3 weeks later i’m down at Sun N Fun flying in the B-29! That plane is absolutely amazing and was so worth the money and struggles. Getting to look out the tail while flying was like nothing i’ve ever done, Getting to stick my hand out the window at cruising speeds was absolutely amazing. The crew on the bomber were fantastic and wanted everyone to have a amazing experience. Eventually once we landed we could crawl through the tunnel to the cockpit and see everything up there and sit in the pilots seat. Flying in Doc was a amazing experience and i would recommend anyone and everyone to try and fly in it!

OMG, this aircraft has a special place in my heart - my grandfather was one of the first flight instructors on the B-29s during World War II. I got to tour "FIFI," the only other airworthy B-29, at the Salt Lake City airport but I didn't have the wallet for a flight at the time. Thank you for showing us what it would have been like - no AC and all!

I got to visit FiFi. My grandfather flew 14 missions as a gunner. They let me check out everything - but, I was only a couple of weeks out of surgery and was having trouble getting around. But I still got to sit where my grandfather would've sat in his B-29, to include a great picture taken from outside the plane and I'm inside, looking out bubble window for the left gunner holding up a picture of my grandfather. Great video!

The engines on Doc apparently have been swapped out for lower power units with easier replaceable parts according to the crew I met when it visited my local airport. They are not super or turbocharged and are suffient for the low level flight Doc takes to tour the US. I’m sure with the big power engines it originally had takeoff would have been a cinch.

That is the best seat in the house for sure. The other one, FiFi is here in Dallas and flies out of Dallas Executive occasionally. My office is under the final and when she flies overhead the entire building shakes and rumbles. I like to pull up foreflight when they're doing maneuvers and run out to catch them passing overhead. Hope I get to fly on one someday

My Dad was a B-29 Flight Engineer and was based on Tinian island during WWII. He had many many stories from the war, but this video really puts you where he was. Thank you !!

"a little airshow thing at oshkosh" 😂

Few years ago, I was home for the weekend from college and they happened to have a B-25 there giving rides. One of my favorite experiences ever. Really put things into perspective how fortunate we are that I got to do that for fun as a 22 year-old kid, where as 70 years earlier, people my age were in the exact same plane over the Pacific, praying not to get shot down during their mission.

As a 60s born kid, I had Airfix models hanging from my ceiling with catgut. My Dad used to build them and paint them. Lancaster, Mosquito, Flying Fortress, Super Fortress, Pam Am Chinook, Mustang & a Spitfire. As only a few miles from RAF Cosford I’ve seen all but Super Fortress fly over. Great video 👍🏻

My husband is at Naval OCS , afterwards going to naval flight school , this is the best idea of a graduation gift 🥹 I didn’t know it was even possible to buy tickets .

Suggest you try the Lancaster located at the museum in Hamilton, Ontario. It is also one of only two flying in the World. The other is in the UK. Flights are $3500 (Canadian Dollars)

You flew right over my house! Thanks for taking this journey for us, what an incredible experience. Its always a thrill during EAA to hear the rumbles of those piston engines and see that silver bird flying right overhead!

Many thanks for the video. My father was a radar bombadier on B29s towards the end of WW2 and then flew 24 missions during Korean War.

As cool as the plane is I could not climb into such a small space. Just watching your video I felt claustrophobic. No loo review. Once in a lifetime dream come true. Thank you for sharing this piece of history.

My eyes teared up watching this video. As Americans, most of us anyways, we hold a special place in our heart for our veterans those still here and those that passed. Your obvious profound appreciation of our military and its history is so inspiring. You may not be a citizen of the United States...yet, but I can tell you I would be so proud to call you and your family my fellow Americans. I say this mindful of the fact that you are a proud Briton, and so should you be, but as a dual citizen myself I never found my patriotism to both my countries be diminished in anyway. I miss and am proud of my grandfather who fought in the British Army in Tobruk and Italy and my maternal grandfather who fought and was severely injured as a sgt in the US Army in the Pacific in Leyte Island Philippines R.I.P.

Now your talking, I love the B-29 and I watched them restore Doc to Airworthiness. It’s a beautiful sight to see and know that there is two airworthy B-29’s flying today.

Absolutely worth it Noel. Great report! I took my son to see "Fifi" 20 years ago at the Boise airport. We took the onboard ground tour and were inside when they had to start an engine up for a test run. My 8 year old son's eyes got pretty wide when they started it up. A lot quieter than I expected though. 30 years ago my dad and I went to a ground display of a B-24 and B-17 in Wenatchee, Washington. It was really cool to listen to him talk about both of them as he had been a flight engineer on both in WW2. Also warned me not to stand directly in back of them as they started up as the old radials spit out some oil... he was right!

I'm not even an av geek and I think it was TOTALLY worth it. What a thrill. Well done!

Awesome, Noel! Timing w/this video is impeccable. (*cough*Masters of the Air*cough*) I sent this to a friend thinking he'd enjoy it, and he shot back a photo of him standing in front of THAT plane. A work of art, and truly an experience indeed. Cheers, mate!

This is the coolest thing I have watched on utube in a while. I have seen these older planes in museum but I had no idea that there was any that could still fly.

Hey Noel love the videos. Im from the Appleton Area and work at the airport. I had the privilege of fueling the B29 this year. Nice to see you had a good time. Safe flying.

Awesome flight - a piece of history - can't imagine the bravery of the folks who flew them over the skies of Germany facing flak and fighters.

I remember back in the 1980s when we had an airfare in my hometown. Somehow the airfare coordinated a simultaneous flyby of a B-17, a B-29 (Back when only FiFi was the only one) and a B-52. I remember the coordination was pretty immense as the B-17 couldn't go fast enough and the B-52 couldn't go slow enough. But they managed to get it all worked out to meet at the center.

Just to see Noel in heaven; with that smile on his face and drooling like a baby was an empathetic experience for the rest of us who can only dream of this. Having built the model kit which I hung from my bedroom ceiling 50 years ago, I have always been in love with the beautiful beast and I enjoyed every second of Noel's 'trip'.

I got to fly in the B17 "Nine-O-Nines" a few years before she sadly crashed. One of the most amazing experiences in my life. Truly incredible. Great video

Your video gives a new respect for the guys that few in the plane during the war

A bucket list item if ever there was one. How cool!!!! You are cool, Noel.

Noel, thank you so much for this video. Doc and Fifi are such treasures. This is an epic review. You made my year

Great vlog as always! I am happy for you that you got to fly in a B-29. Keep up the good work. Be safe!

Every video of yours always bring back great personal memories. Whether it’s travel, experiences, or just thoughts of my bucket list, you do a great job! This video brings back fond memories of being a co-pilot on a B-17 and B-24.

"... pretend to be a fighter pilot" Honey, thats a bomber

This was simply superb Noel. Really enjoyable video… would love to see you experience more ultra-vintage aircraft! Stay well and keep up the great work.

I've never seen a grown man look so excited and happy....😂

You need to visit the USAF museum in Dayton Ohio on the Wright Patterson AFB.

Well, I'm jealous. To be able to have a ride in a piece of aviation history is a once in a lifetime event. Hope you had fun.

That was a very enjoyable, very good video, Noel! Thank you! Created not just professionally, but with heart-felt enthusiasm! Very well done!

This is your best one yet!!! Way to go Noel !!

What an amazing plane! Thank you for this video Noel!! Greetings from the Netherlands!!

Noel... Appleton and Oshkosh is my stomping ground.... yes the EAA fly in is overwhelming.. glad you enjoyed your trip short but one of a few who have flown on those.. glad you enjoyed Northeast wisconsin.. you do awesome work on these videos.. enjoy them alot.. thanks for doing this look at history

Thanks Noel. Really puts into context what those men went through, so brave. Fabulous video as always. Buying my ticket for your London presentation this week cheers

Worth every penny. Thank you for taking us along.

Fantastic. Well done Noel 😊

At Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome they do WWI era air shows and you can ride in a 1929 biplane! I’ve done it, awesome experience!

epic video, Noel. one of the best ever. what an experience it must have been--your facial expressions and beaming smiles said it all! nicely done and cheers!

Amazing!! Those engines - music to my ears

I can't think of a better way to spend $1500

You got to see the Yankee Lady. That flies out of our local airport (Willow Run) and is a piece from the Yankee Air Museum. You really should come and take a look!

I honestly have tears watching this. Seriously, this ride so touched my heart. Thank you Noel for sharing this. ❤

Well done Noel! 1500.00 is a drop in the bucket for those priceless memories! Thanks for taking us along ❤️🙏

Great video the B-29 is a awesome aircraft. One small correction the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Bockscar dropped the second over Nagasaki. It was also built for the US Army (the Air Force was founded after WWII). The equipment the bombardier uses was the Norden Bomb sight which was similar to the Manhattan project to develop and was seen as critical to the war effort. It was also a real marvel able to be fairly accurate in the right conditions. If you like military aircraft I would highly recommend the National Museum of the US Air Force it is on Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, Ohio and admission is free.

"Oshkosh, small air show". You're joking. Busiest airport in the world that week.

Thanks for taking us on a trip into that piece of history. Great video and congrats on reaching 500k subscribers!

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing!

In the 90s I was so lucky being invited by Lufthansa on a tour over my Town to celebrate 70 years of Italy-Germany commercial flights. I flew on a Junkers Ju-52 (Tante Ju) completely refurbished and perfectly airworthy. Useless to say, this " once in a lifetime" experience was awesome!!

Imagine rushing through that tunnel during combat. Just wow!

Awesome video man! I’m one of those that is more inclined to airliners but this plane and a few others are making me consider flying these more and learn them in depth! Keep up

The bombardier 'drops his load' immediately after refusing to do a loo review. Thanks Noel - I missed that first time through. Good job I'd just swallowed my mouthful of tea.

Imagine being in that thing when a flak shell rips the entire back half off. Props to whoever flew these.

That would have been epic. My great uncle was a tail gunner in Lancaster bombers in WW2. The Lancaster my uncle flew in is on display at the Australian war memorial

Fantastic video!! Thanks!

Wow! Awesome video. What an experience. Thanks for raising awareness of these rare planes and doing something to keep them flying.

@7:33. When the Soviets copied the B-29 into the Tu-4 one of things they did not copy was the fan cage. In fact if there's a cockpit shot of Soviet equipment, and I can't immediately type it, I look for the fans. If they're not caged ... it's Soviet. They didn't man rate their equipment, they manly rated their equipment.

I like all the notices on the aircraft that says 'Experimental'

I paid for my father and I to fly on DOC last year. It was a few days before his birthday and he had no idea until we pulled up to the airport and he saw DOC sitting there. He was extremely excited. Well worth the money to fly on DOC with my dad. Thats awesome you got to fly past the Super Guppy.

Oh Noel I’m so happy for you! You looked so excited. Thanks for taking us with you.

The Commemorative Air Force is a fantastic organization. What an experience.

I often think of old time military people as being, what I call, 'military thin.' My dad was extra skinny while in the reserves...and even just as someone born in the late 30s. Seems like a lot of military men used to be super skinny. (I guess 'fresh military' could be skinny these days, too, after bootcamp and such). Thought of this as you crawled through this machine!

What an amazing thing to do. Thanks for taking us with you. Beautiful aircraft.

Noel! It looks like you were holding back tears for some of this video. So happy for you! Jelous of you as well!

A little tiny air show. Oshcosh. 🤪

You forgot the price per mile ;) I bet it would be set a personal record

You just did what I have always dreamed of doing! So happy for you!

Dude to say that I’m jealous is a MASIVE understatement. I have seen FIFI fly many times at the CAF AIRSHO’s down when they were in Harlingen, Texas and other air shows. One of my favorite WW II plains along with the P-51 Mustang and the F8F Bearcat. I have also seen the Super Guppy flying out of Ellington in Clear Lake a few times. Also, the sound of a big round radial engine starting up is one of my favorite sounds in the world.

I know some of the crew on Fifi in the CAF. If you want to volunteer and join the CAF you'll get to help keep these awesome war birds flying.

"There is a little tiny airshow thing at Oshkosh." Buddy Oshkosh is the biggest airshow on earth lol 😆

What an extra treat to see this! I spend the week at the Airventure every year and always admire Doc and FiFi. What an amazing view you had! Like all big-scale events you learn to navigate them better with each visit so it becomes less overwhelming.

Oh wow, what an absolute treat, Noel!! That take-off is worth every penny, that B-29 is a marvel of aviation. I'm so jealous, mate!! Thank you for sharing, footage is great!

Wow! What an awesome experience! I would have loved to do something like that but, as my body is no longer up to ladder climbing, it’s a no go. Your excitement on the flight was infectious - found myself smiling with you! Thank you for sharing experiences like this with all of us. It allows us to experience them too, which means the world to people like me who have disabilities that make doing them ourselves impossible. I can’t wait to see what other adventures you’ve had 🥰.

That was awesome!! My dad was a waist-gunner on a B-17 and he loved that plane; said it could take a beating and keep on ticking LOL.......then came along the B-29 though he never got to fly on one but did see them. Thought they were gorgeous and they are!

I used to volunteer with Doc, glad you were able to fly on it! Love your videos as always.

Absolutely amazing, Noel! What a view! :)

Have to say I'm stoked to have stumbled upon your channel. I never knew I even cared about any of this stuff you share! That's a sign of a very solid vlogger!

Fantastic video! Thanks so much for "taking us along." Safe travels!😊

Noel. Can't remember seeing you so giddy with joy! So glad you were able to experience a flight on this beautiful bird. Worth every cent.

Thanks for posting this! My grandfather was a bombardier on a B29 and this was the best walk around and video I’ve seen.

I don't think I've ever seen you so giddy! Looks amazing and thanks for bringing us along!

Nice video Noel, brought back my memories of a visit to USAF base at Prestwick in the '50s and a guided tour of a B29 still in service at the time !

Wow, wow, wow...that was a fantastic experience. Thank you, Noel, for taking us along!!

Superb video. Thanks for sharing your awesome adventure with us. 👍😊