Aviation News, Boeing, Airbus

When Boeing designed the B-17 “Flying Fortress” in the mid-thirties, the aim was to meet the United States Army Air Corps request for a very-heavy, very-long-range bomber capable of flying 5000 miles. Though the B-17 demonstrated impressive strength, firepower, speed, bomb load, range and altitude capability, it was not until the B-29 Superfortress flew that the original specifications were met.

The B-29 from the beginning was a producer of “firsts” unbelievably employing some of the methodologies and successes of the later NASA Lunar and Space Shuttle programs. Manufacturing facilities were already constructed before the first prototype had even been completed, a very risky and potentially extremely costly venture. The Superfortress was the heaviest production aircraft built at that time, was the first to have pressurized crew compartments (including the tail gunner’s section), it also had centralized and computerized control of all its guns except the tail gunner’s. It had the capacity to carry a 20,000-pound bomb load. The B-29 could also fly 5,830 miles, with a top airspeed of 365 miles per hour and could cruise at 40,000 feet altitude. Even though the B-29 was designed to be a high-altitude weapons platform, it had it greatest successes at low altitude, in the firebombing of Japan. Low flying b-29s laid waste to most of the militarily important cities in Japan.

Eventually, the B-29 became the first bomber to carry and drop atomic bombs, first on Hiroshima (by “Enola Gay” commanded by Capt. Robert Lewis and Col. Paul Tibbetts) and then Nagasaki (by “Bockscar”, commanded by Maj. Charles Sweeny). It could be said that they were the first and only aircraft to effectively end a world war.

The B-29 had four 2,200 hp Wright Cyclone 18 turbocharged radial piston engines. Empty it weighed in at 70,140 lbs with a maximum takeoff weight of 124,000 lbs. It was 99 ft long, wing span was 141 ft and at its tallest point, 29 ft 7 in. Maximum speed of 358 mph, with a cruising speed of 230 mph.

After the original B-29, there were a number of variants produced, beginning with the B-29A with increased wing span, the B-29B which had automatic, radar-guided tail guns, the RB-29 for photo-reconnaissance work, two that were designed as in-flight refueling tankers, the KB-29M and the KB-29P.

The USN also used several as anti-submarine testbeds. There were a number of B-29s loaned to the RAF from 1950-1958, which they renamed the Washington. The Russian TU-4 was a near-exact copy of the B-29.

The Boeing Company has completely blown past projections for aircraft sales this month. Before the Annual Paris Air Show the Boeing Company had already made three deals for commercial aircraft of worth over 5 Billion in sales. First they cleared a deal for new 777 Cargo Aircraft, then another for new 737-400s and then another again. Then during the Paris Air Show they had even more commitments for aircraft even tripling the already stunning beginning of the month.

Mr. Stoneifer the most recent former CEO of the Boeing Company, who I have only met on one occasion since he was previously in the car wash industry, had an extra martial affair and was ousted from the firm. He would have been given credit for this stellar sales book and perhaps been thought of the as the “Aviation Turn Around King” of the twenty first century? But today the entire Boeing Company Team from the line mechanics to the engineers and sales team are the winners.

As the world grows closer together commercial aviation has a chance to take advantage of the new one-world economy. Both Boeing and Airbus have had excellent bookings and sales orders for new aircraft. The Boeing Company’s stock performance is that of a maximum takeoff on a VSTOL Fighter jet to say the least. From their commercial aircraft division to their Space Program Boeing is on a roll.