One year after the construction began on the B-29 Doc Hangar and Education Center at the Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas, the stunning Superfortress named Doc has moved in to its new home. The bricks and granite tiles that have been purchased by Doc’s supporters to raise funds for the project have arrived and are being installed outside the 32,000 square-foot facility.
But the work isn’t done yet. Doc’s Friends spokesman Josh Wells said the organization still needs to raise $800,000 to complete the $6.5 million facility. Donations can be made here and customized brick pavers are still available here.
“While we have successfully raised enough money to build the structure, there’s still plenty of work to be done to finish out the interior of the facility,” Wells said. “This will ensure generations to come will be able to learn about [the] Greatest Generation, how the B-29 helped protect our freedom, and how it helped solidify Wichita as the Air Capital of the World.”
An open house and opening of the facility is planned in January. Details of the grand opening will be released soon.
When Doc came to Wichita in 2000, the B-29 was in major need of repairs. More than 500,000 hours have been dedicated by volunteers from Doc’s Friends restoring the airplane, fundraising and getting the new education center ready for the historic airplane. “Doc has completed a 20-year journey from China Lake in the California Desert to his new home at Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas,” Wells said. “Welcome home, Doc.”
