Merrill Wien’s B-29 Retirement Flight
July 18th, 2009 by MilesVickstrom
This was my dad’s last flight as a check pilot in June of 2001. He was fortunate enough to fly the Commemorative Air Forces B-29 called “FiFi.” It was (and still is) the last flying B-29 in the world. Since he never got a proper sendoff from the airline flying he did for so long, we thought it would be fun to celebrate his last B-29 flight.
This was my first editing attempt using Apple’s iMovie. I rode in the back seat of a T-6 with the canopy removed and my brother was in the fire truck. It was quite a thrill. The inside B-29 shots are from a flight I took in June of 1997. Note the Boeing 307 parked on the ramp as the B-29 taxis in. That was shot two weeks before that same Boeing 307 took a swim in Puget Sound. The 307 is on display now at the Smithsonian and the B-29 flies from Midland, TX. Take a look at their site:
http://www.cafb29b24.org/
If you get a chance to see this airplane fly, don’t miss it.
Music:
The first song is “String of Pearls” and the second song is “In the Mood.” Both are by Glenn Miller.
Special thanks to the volunteers at the CAF for making this possible. They’re a wonderful bunch.
Duration : 0:8:23
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Posted in retirement | 25 Comments »
July 18th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Very nice video. …
Very nice video. I’m happy to see a B-29 still flying today.
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
nice aircraft
thx …
nice aircraft
thx for sharing this vid!
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
you’re lucky i wish …
you’re lucky i wish i had my license but im only 10
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
that’s just a …
that’s just a beautiful bird!
your dad is a fortunate man!
do you fly?
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
i know how you feel
i know how you feel
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
That’s a truckload …
That’s a truckload of pistons there!
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Thanks for sharing. …
Thanks for sharing. You must be very proud of your Dad. Give him a hug for me. I lost my father when I was 4…..
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
It would have been …
It would have been cool if a pair of Thunderbolts came alongside as “fighter escort.”
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
b-29 the best of …
b-29 the best of the Second World War PLANE
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
epic!
epic!
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Sure
Sure
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
so many of these …
so many of these birds crashed on iwo jima
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
may i be your com …
may i be your com officer?
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Great video-brought …
Great video-brought tears to my eyes with the fire trucks welcoming him in. What a way to go out!
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
A real Lady just …
A real Lady just like my beloved eight engined behemoth, the mighty B-52
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
its about 1.2 …
its about 1.2 inches in length and its kinda small to figure out the diameter.
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
p8ntball60,I did …
p8ntball60,I did too. Speaking of which, I’m restoring it after many years in my basement in pieces. Could you give me the diameter and height of the nose gear strut?
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
it Glen Miller, a …
it Glen Miller, a string of pearls
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Some great shots of …
Some great shots of one of the most rare aircraft flying!!
Got to see her on the ground in 05′ in Buffalo. That was a treat!
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Hey. Whats that …
Hey. Whats that background song?
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I have flown “FiFi” …
I have flown “FiFi”. 3hrs. left seat. from south Ga. to Richmound, Va. about 10 years ago. Great time. Just little fact about the B-29…. the FE dose all the real work. lol
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
If i can buy a B-29 …
If i can buy a B-29 Superfortress heck i’ll make it as my mobile flying command center LOL.
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Great vid, but I’d …
Great vid, but I’d like to hear the engines roar…. just a bit more
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Well done! Cool man!
Well done! Cool man!
July 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Probably an ORION
Probably an ORION