Doc’s Friends Kicks Off B-29’s Event Season with Open House

The beautifully restored B-29 named Doc will be on display at an open house this weekend. Doc’s Friends

The B-29 Superfortress Doc will be on display at an open house hosted by Doc's Friends this weekend, on Saturday May 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Air Capital Flight Line at the McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas. The facilities were formerly occupied by the Boeing Company and now serve as a temporary home for the recently restored historic bomber while its permanent home is being built.

The Open House is the first of six major events where the historic B-29 is scheduled to attend, including EAA’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at the end of July.

The price of admission to the Open House is $10, or $20 for those who want a tour of Doc’s cockpit. Doc’s Friends still need to raise $1.5 million to make the new facility a first-class experience. The total budget for the project is $6.5 million. Supporters can buy a personalized brick ($200) or paver ($400) that will be installed in the courtyard area of the B-29 Doc Hangar and Education Center.

Construction for the B-29 Doc Hangar and Education Center began recently at the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Wichita. The ground has been prepared for the construction site and an elevator shaft has been erected.

Doc's Friends expects the new facility in Wichita to be completed in November.

Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest FLYING stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox