B-29 Superfortress "Jack's Hack"

[Subnuts]

I've been to the New England Air Museum a few times these last 10 years, most recently a few days ago. One of their centerpieces is an RB-29 Superfortress, fully restored and modified into a B-29A bearing the markings of an aircraft of the 58th Bomb Wing based on Tinian in 1945. This plane was damaged in the tornado that destroyed the original museum in 1979, and spent two decades out in the field, providing a home for birds.

Keep in mind these really aren't the best quality photographs around, and I'm posting them simply for my own amusement.

This is what the plane looked like in 1998.
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4204/34781950868af9593eaeo.th.jpg (http://img219.imageshack.us/i/34781950868af9593eaeo.jpg/)

Here's what it looked like in 2008.
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8446/2562626601de70f3b3e8o.th.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/2562626601de70f3b3e8o.jpg/)

As much as I'd like to tour the interior, I'd be too worried about ruining her showroom finish.
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/3307/dscn1393y.th.jpg (http://img830.imageshack.us/i/dscn1393y.jpg/)

A closeup of one of the engine nacelles.
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3092/dscn1398m.th.jpg (http://img687.imageshack.us/i/dscn1398m.jpg/)

I imagine they chose this particular nose art because it didn't contain any nudity or casual racism. ;)
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/7706/dscn1395ku.th.jpg (http://img801.imageshack.us/i/dscn1395ku.jpg/)

The stenciling under the cockpit. The restoration crew really went out of their way to make "Jack's Hack" as authentic as possible.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6707/dscn1394g.th.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/i/dscn1394g.jpg/)

Anybody know why the canopy was arranged on the B-29 the way it was? Besides looking really cool, that is?
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2662/3580088896391c5e00e7o.th.jpg (http://img155.imageshack.us/i/3580088896391c5e00e7o.jpg/)

I tried to make the plane look massive and imposing in this shot, but the lighting in the hangar and the quality of my camera's optics doesn't really do it justice.
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7629/dscn1392k.th.jpg (http://img291.imageshack.us/i/dscn1392k.jpg/)

A less threatening version of the above shot.
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/8184/256262716391808f3de8o.th.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/i/256262716391808f3de8o.jpg/)

Some various attempts at capturing the sheer size of this aircraft. You can't photogtaph the whole thing at ground level in one shot, and while I've heard you can ask the museum staff to let you upstairs into the balcony, I've never gotten around to doing so.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9168/2562625109393c511d6ao.th.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/2562625109393c511d6ao.jpg/)

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/98/256344924427e2a2fbd4o.th.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/i/256344924427e2a2fbd4o.jpg/)

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/5972/256345007077f3a4c1e7o.th.jpg (http://img811.imageshack.us/i/256345007077f3a4c1e7o.jpg/)

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/3592/2563451548a3e75500b4o.th.jpg (http://img813.imageshack.us/i/2563451548a3e75500b4o.jpg/)

A 141 foot wingspan doesn't seem like all that much until you're standing right underneath it.

One of the four Wright R-3350 engines that powered the aircraft.
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/5364/2562627697301cc2fe48o.th.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/2562627697301cc2fe48o.jpg/)

This post was brought to you by the letter I.
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9554/358008565400821564b9o.th.jpg (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/358008565400821564b9o.jpg/)

[nikimcbee]

Hey subnuts, that's pretty cool. Can you go inside?

[Freiwillige]

Beautiful aircraft.

Every time I see one I think of this and it saddens me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tJb-bmgBC0

[Oberon]

Beautiful aircraft.

Every time I see one I think of this and it saddens me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tJb-bmgBC0

Sheeeet... :nope: That is terrible...poor guys...damn...

What a terrible shame. :wah:

[Platapus]

Beautiful aircraft.

Every time I see one I think of this and it saddens me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tJb-bmgBC0


That is a sad video. :nope:

Did I misunderhear something about the B-29 not having a steerable front wheel?? That can't be true. Were they saying that this B-29 did not have steering due to damage?

[Freiwillige]

That is a sad video. :nope:

Did I misunderhear something about the B-29 not having a steerable front wheel?? That can't be true. Were they saying that this B-29 did not have steering due to damage?

No it really did not, But under normal conditions it was towed or they used differential breaking and engine power and the rudder to steer.

[Platapus]

No it really did not, But under normal conditions it was towed or they used differential breaking and engine power and the rudder to steer.

And why would the designers do this? Is there some advantage for not having a power-steered front wheel? I am truly surprised at learning this piece of trivia.