'Doc' and 'Fifi' to fly in for EAA AirVenture

Doc’s Friends Inc., the nonprofit organization formed to manage the operation of the B-29, released the first half of its 2017 tour schedule March 21, confirming that the restored aircraft will be at EAA AirVenture this year. The Commemorative Air Force's B-29 Fifi also is scheduled to be at AirVenture for the duration of the event.

As AOPA previously reported, hundreds of volunteers worked on Doc for more than 16 years to get it back in the air. Its first flight since 1956 took place less than a year ago, July 17, 2016. Workers have continued the restoration process since then to make sure the World War II long-range heavy bomber is ready for a U.S. tour. (See the February 2017 AOPA Pilot feature, "Doc’s Friends.")

“This will be a historic year for our airplane, and to say we’re excited about our plans to tour in 2017 is an understatement,” Doc’s Friends Restoration Program Manager Jim Murphy said in a news release. “I can’t say enough about our dedicated team of volunteers. Not only have they put in thousands of hours to restore our warbird, they continue to work hard to ensure the airplane is able to embark on its 2017 tour schedule.”

Doc’s tour will kick off with an open house at Yingling Aviation in Wichita, Kansas, April 22. The aircraft will fly to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, for the Defenders of Liberty show May 6 and 7, followed by the Wings over Whiteman event at Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri, June 10 and 11.

Doc will be on site at EAA AirVenture for the duration of the show, but Doc’s Friends Inc. hasn’t released the four final four stops of the year, other than to say the B-29 will be in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas. Those interested in schedule updates can visit the group’s website.