Stepping into a superfortress

By MATT BARNARD Staff Photographer on Sep 28, 2012, at 6:00 AM  Updated on 9/27 at 6:37 PM

A living piece of history taxied into Tulsa on Thursday and aviation buffs will have all weekend to check it out.

Officially called a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the gigantic plane was a visual delight. We got a sneak peak outside the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, where the craft will be on display.

Each of the four propellers towered over the tarmac, and the jumbo-sized wheels rose chest-high. But the real treat was inside the cabin.

A short climb up a ladder revealed a cramped, stuffy cockpit filled with knobs and switches. Turns out, they were originals. An airman turned those knobs and flicked those switches decades ago when the U.S. was deep in World War II.

What looks like a simple map is actually an aviation chart signed by Dutch Van Kirk, the last surviving crew member of the Enola Gay.

Historical touches like that don't come around every day.

For more on the craft, you can read D.R. Stewart's story in Friday's paper.



CONTACT THE BLOGGER

Matt Barnard

918-699-8817
Email

CONTACT THE BLOGGER

Matt Barnard

918-699-8817
Email

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