aviation

Visiting Doc, B-29 Superfortress in Wichita, Kansas

February 1, 2021 by Vanessa Whiteside Leave a Comment

I’ve never spent so much time in a museum that I was the last to leave, but then again, I had never seen something as amazing as Doc, a B-29 Superfortress.

The last of two remaining fly-worthy military bombers, Doc sits on display in a permanent hangar and education center in Wichita, Kansas. Boeing, located in my home city that is considered the Air Capital of the World, produced 1,644 B-29 Superfortresses for bombing missions during World War II. Currently, only other air-worthy Superfortress is FiFi.

Doc was meticulously restored and brought back to operational status thanks to dedicated volunteers — many of whom are past aviation workers, veterans, and active-duty retirees. The volunteers, referred to as Doc’s Friends, spent over 400,000 hours working on it.

The mission of Doc’s Friends, a non-profit, is “to honor the men and women who sacrificed so much for the freedom of others, including those who designed, built, maintained and flew the B-29 during and after WWII” and to “connect people with the rich heritage of the B-29 and allow aviation enthusiasts to experience the thrill of a B-29 up close.”

Doc B-29 Superfortress — Nearly every inch of Doc was restored — every inch of wiring and every control panel. It is massive. To give you an idea of its size, look how tall the tires are compared to us.

The B-29 was considered the most technically advanced aircraft of its time and was used primarily to drop bombs over Japan during World War II until they eventually surrendered. You can read more about its history here.

As a Wichitan, I was amazed to learn that much of the work done of the B-29s were by Wichita in my community. The assembly line crew pushed out about four B-29s every day at the height of its production. The city’s population exploded during the 1940s-1960s during what was considered an economic boom due to the high demand for aircraft production.

Doc was the last restorable B-29 in the world. The production of jets eventually put the bombers out of service.

During our visit, we met Doc’s friends who told us fascinating stories about the bomber’s restoration and years in service. In total, volunteers spent over 16 years bringing Doc back to life after it was found in the Mohave Desert in 1987 by Tony Mazzolini. After 42 years of sitting in the desert suffering from target practice and extensive weather damage, Mazzolini led the effort to return it to its original home in Wichita. You can read about the bomber’s final active mission here.

B-29 nose — A view from the second floor.

If you visit Doc at the hangar ($10 admission for adults), I highly recommend spending an extra $5 for the opportunity to climb into the cockpit and take a look around. A volunteer will lead the tour and describe each compartment of the bomber. Our tour guide typically sits in one of Doc’s gunner windows when in flight and he was a wealth of information.

During the cockpit tour, I sat in the navigator’s seat nestled close to a table covered in maps and equipment. While you can’t sit up front in the left or right seats of the cockpit, you get a very close view of it. I was amazed by the controls panels, wiring (Doc did not operate on hydraulics), and what must have been thousands of rivets.

Over my shoulder, I spotted a Rosie The Riveter statue. The fictional pop-culture character is a representation of the many hard-working women who worked on the assembly lines during World War II.

I’m so glad I finally carved out time to visit the hanger and learn the history of Doc and the men and women who brought it back to life after nearly 30 years.

To see the warbird up close is breathtaking, but to witness it flying above Wichita is truly incredible. You definitely hear it before you see it. Today, Doc flies to air shows and provides 30-minute rides to lucky passengers of all ages. Interested in visiting the education center in Wichita? It’s best to make sure Doc is at home before you plan your visit. Can’t make it to Wichita to see it in person? Visit the Doc & Friend’s website to view it via a live streaming video.

Do you love aviation history? I encourage you to also read a post I wrote honoring National Aviation Day and Wichita’s contribution to the legacy of flight. If you find yourself in Wichita and want to experience the city like a local, let me be your virtual tour guide. I’ve also crafted a post detailing great restaurants and attractions.

If you have questions about visiting Doc or want to learn more about Wichita’s aviation history, by all means, leave your questions below. I’m happy to answer them, and if I can’t, I’ll direct you to the best resource!

How to Enjoy Your Layover When You’re Stuck at the Airport

December 8, 2018 by Vanessa 4 Comments

It’s happened to all of us. We’ve had a long layover at an airport, and there was nothing we could do about it but sit it out. Your layover doesn’t have to be boring!

I’ve spent hours stuck in Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and other airports long enough to know that if you follow the below recommendations, your time will fly by. In the meantime, enjoy yourself!

VISIT THE DUTY-FREE STORE

Let’s be clear. I’m not suggesting you spend a ton of money at the duty-free store. Instead, try on a new fragrance, volunteer for a make-up demonstration or men’s facial or try a sample of the gourmet chocolates they’re peddling. When you exit the store, you’ll feel refreshed (and smell divine!).

SHOP THE BOOKSTORE

Some bookstores are larger than others depending on the airport you’re visiting, but even the tiniest convenience store has entire shelves filled with reading material. I’ve spent up to 30 minutes or more just flipping through magazines and reading the latest headlines. Even better, purchase reading material to take back to your gate!

EAT LOCAL FOOD YOU’VE NEVER TRIED

You know the old saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Stuck in New Orleans? Try crawfish. Spending hours in Chicago? Dine on a hotdog with a cold local beer to wash it down. Waiting in Atlanta? Eat the fried chicken.

TAKE IN THE ARTWORK

Even the crummiest airports make an effort to put up wall displays of local artists’ work or historical timelines. I appreciate learning about Detroit’s water fountains or Wichita’s aviation history.

PEOPLE WATCHING

Instead of just sitting at your gate seat mindlessly watching people as they pass, consider imagining their lives. Who are these people? Where might they be going? Why might they be acting that way? Imagine their stories. Take it to another level and play this “game” with someone you’re stuck at an airport with and you’ll find they’ve concocted a different story for each person.

CHEER UP CHALLENGE

Tired of sitting? Take a stroll through the major traffic areas of the airport with one goal – to smile at strangers. I coined the name of this activity after a layover in Chicago at Christmas time. I began to notice that people were stuck in their thoughts and their faces showed their emotions. They were stressed, bored, or rushed. The goal of this activity is to smile at a stranger when you make eye contact with them. If they smile back, that’s one point for you (and a warm fuzzy for them!). If they don’t smile back, at least someone smiled at them. A total win-win.

USE YOUR AIRLINE CLUB PASS

If you have an airline club pass burning a hole in your pocket, use it! Even if you only have an hour or two to spend in the VIP Lounge, it’s worth it. Enjoy the complimentary food, and drinks (grab a wine glass or beer!) and relax in plush chairs while you recharge your batteries….literally.

GET YOUR EXERCISE

After hours of sitting on a plane and at your gate, get your blood flowing by taking a long walk through the airport. Of course, you may have to wheel your carry-on bag behind you. Commit to walking the full length of the concourse and back without using the moving sidewalk because we all know that’s totally cheating.

MAKE A FRIEND

Not everyone is cranky at airports. Not all people are weirdos. I’ve met perfectly nice people from my hometown while sitting in airports in other states. Now, that’s a trip! Pun intended. See someone who needs to charge their phone and is looking for a station? Move over a seat and offer the charging portal next to you. Be nice. You’ll make an instant friend. It’s that simple.

Tulsa, Oklahoma: A Must-See City

October 4, 2018 by Vanessa 4 Comments

Have you ever visited Tulsa, Oklahoma? If you’ve never been, you’re missing out! If given the opportunity to take in the city, I recommend making time to tour their world-renowned art museums and galleries, enjoy the local restaurants and breweries, and get outside to enjoy the city’s newest park. Again, don’t assume it’s another midwestern city. It has so much to offer for every traveler. It’s a must-see city!

ART

Philbrook Museum of Art

Having passed up an opportunity to visit the museum a couple of years ago, I wasn’t going to miss my opportunity to tour the world-class museum this time. Originally built by the Phillips family (as in the super wealthy oil family that owned Phillips 66), the 72-room mansion on 23 acres of grounds was constructed with the plan to eventually gift it as an art center for Tulsa. What a gift to the city!

Look closely. You’ll find markers like this one on the grounds that honor those who had a hand in building it.

The museum’s interior and gardens were nearly the same as when the Phillips family lived there. As you walk through all three levels of the museum, you can’t help but imagine the wealthy family entertaining friends in the parlor while the organist played, a room that now houses European paintings. I found myself gazing longingly at two Picasso paintings (that’s me below in awe of his work). Having never seen a Picasso, I was surprised how close to it (and all the other work in the museum) I could get to it. No velvet ropes. No security personnel. Just me and two Picasso paintings. It was amazing!

I was admiring a Picasso, and I was left without words.

While on a self-guided tour of the museum, we admired all types of original artwork, from African art to Contemporary works and Native American artifacts to American artwork. The museum has it all! If you’re moving quickly through the rooms, you can probably see the museum’s interior in a little over an hour. However, if you don’t view the garden behind Philbrook, then you may regret it later. Actually, while the artwork was breathtaking, the outdoor sitting areas and garden were my favorite space on the grounds. We spent about 2 hours in the museum and the gardens, so I recommend dedicating more time to your visit so you can enjoy it all.

Plan for extra time when visiting the museum to give yourself the chance to truly appreciate the immense art collection. Not all rooms provide benches for sitting, but each room’s artwork is worthy of your attention.

Despite the other small groups of tourists and two groups of high school students, we were easily able to navigate our way through perfectly pruned shrubs and around meticulously manicured flowers. I’m from the midwest so I thought I’d recognize all of the botanicals on the grounds, but I saw many types of flowers and shrubs that I had never seen previously.

View of the gardens from the museum’s back patio.

I know we’ll return to the museum again, but next time we’ll plan our visit during one of the museum’s movie nights hosted on the Film Lawn. All I can say is that you need to see the Philbrook for yourself. The artwork, the history, and the grounds are fascinating and worthy of your visit. Learn more about the Philbook Museum of Art and view its hours here.

Spectacular stained glass windows adorn the museum.

We visited the museum during its 80th anniversary so we took the chance to play vinyl 80s records. The station was located outside of the main galleries and near the gift store.

THE OUTDOORS

The Gathering Place

Before we arrived in Tulsa, we knew we were going to enjoy the outdoors at Tulsa’s newest park, The Gathering Place. Built entirely from $400 million in donations, the park’s 66 acres were constructed to attract a diverse cross-section of people, hence the name “A Park for Everyone.”

You can enter the interior of the park from all sides, which are well-marked with signage.

Others cities should take note of Tulsa’s beautiful park project. Its vast acreage spans include areas built entirely for kids (or adults at heart!), an outdoor music venue for concert-loving crowds, and is dotted with state-of-the-art sports equipment. Not feeling athletic? No problem! Many areas of the park offer moments for relaxing and serenity. Read my complete review of the park and see bonus photos here.

BREWERIES

If you’ve viewed my Instagram, then you’ve seen what a craft beer fan I’ve become over the last year. Somehow in 48 hours, we drank at 5 breweries (and one German Biergarten).

Hungry for dinner and a beer, we made our way to Growler City in Tulsa Hills, a center for big-name retail stores and restaurants. The bar/restaurant has a three menu that includes 100 draft beers! It’s a feast for the eyes. Luckily, the menu is categorized by types of beer, and if you are unsure what you want to order, the bartender is quick to give you a sample or three. Go there for the beer, not so much for the food.

We spent Saturday on a self-guided brewery tour. Having done some research, we knew which breweries served beers that we would enjoy and had the vibe we wanted. Our first stop took us to Cabin Boys Brewery “Crafted for the Community,” situated in a blue-color factory neighborhood outside the city’s downtown area.

The tasting room pales in size to the brewery space, but we easily found two seats at the bar and were served quickly by their friendly staff. Honestly, I could have had multiple beers there, but we had other breweries to try and so after several competitive games of Connect 4, we packed it in and made our way to the next stop.

Marshall Brewing Company Tap Room was our next brewery visit, a brewery that is considered the first production craft brewery in Tulsa and one that has seen steady growth since its launch.

The two-tiered tap room is a newly renovated space in the heart of the city’s blue collar district. If you’re looking for a spacious tap room with TVs in nearly every corner so you can watch the game and fun game spaces, this is a must-stop.

This photo was take just before I narrowly lost a game on shuffleboard. I blame the tilted table.

Don’t miss the hops wall that allows visitors to inhale that true hoppy smell!

Our last brewery tour stop took us to a another new tap called Nothing’s Left Brewing Company, a one time old school gas station. Our visit took place during the brewery’s grand opening weekend, and it was so worth the visit! Brewing since 2015, their craft beer menu has something for every beer drinker. I was so pleased with my go-to brew Yabba Dabba Brew, which tasted like Fruity Pebbles cereal (it sounds insane but it was delicious!), that a bomber (22 oz.) to bring home to Kansas. Bonus? The brewery also includes a pup-friendly patio!

Side Note: If you’re not a fan of craft beers, you may enjoy Fassler Hall located in the Blue Dome District. Constructed to resemble a German beer hall that includes an outdoor Biergarten, weekend goers can order a German beer served in a glass stein or take advantage of their elaborate bottomless Bloody Mary bar. They also serve a full menu of standard bar food but up the ante by offering German sausages and sides.

The Blue Dome District is made up of locally owned art galleries, restaurants, and bars. A little rough on the edges, but it is still worth the visit. In this downtown Tulsa neighborhood, brick-exposed buildings are covered in hand-painted murals, and visitors will enjoy a variety of entertainment options.

I recommend stopping at Andolini’s Pizzeria, if you’re looking for a quick slice of New York-style pizza or a decadent serving of homemade gelato.

Tulsa, Oklahoma is a city with a vibrant arts community, a beautiful outdoorsy area, and a place that offers countless options for any foodie. Traveling from the north, be sure to swing by The Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Read about our visit there.

I was traveling with a part-time pilot instructor, so we also pulled the car over to check out The Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Plantetarium. Aviation aficionados will fall hard for the museum’s gallery of notable pilots and restored antique planes. Make sure to nab a volunteer to take you inside the MD-80.

Happy National Aviation Day from the Air Capital of the World

August 19, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Do you love the smell of jet fuel?

That may seem like an unusual question, but it’s not if you’re a pilot or hang out with one.

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Today is National Aviation Day, established in 1939 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a day that marks the anniversary of Orville Wright’s birthday. I had the privilege of celebrating the holiday with my aviation friends at Wichita’s Colonel James Jabara Airport in Midwest Corporate Aviation’s hanger. The second annual event provided networking opportunities for attendees that included journalists from the Wichita Business Journal, pilots, and aviation buffs.

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While I’m not a pilot, I grew up in the Air Capital of the World listening to Rockwell B-1 bombers fly over my house. The windows shook! The girlfriend of a flight instructor, I live the “pilot wife” life. I worry about the weather. I make him text me when he lands. I fight for the TV remote after I’ve had my fill of YouTube aviation tutorials. But, I have total respect for the industry and its hard working pilots. I even shocked myself and agreed to fly from Kansas to New York in a Cessna 172 last summer.

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Aviation is fascinating. This commemorative day acknowledges the pioneers of the industry and Wichita’s passion for flight is very much still alive.

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10 EAA AirVenture Fly-In and Convention Pro Tips: Save Money, Save Your Energy

July 31, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Getting ready for the adventure of your aviation career at EAA AirVenture Fly-in and Convention at Oshkosh, Wisconsin should be worry-free and fun-filled and if you follow these ten pro tips (courtesy of my pilot boyfriend who recently traveled there), you will save money and your energy after arriving.

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Once you’ve landed at Oshkosh and set up camp, you’re going to be pleased but overwhelmed by the number of planes and crowds at the events. It’s all worth it! This annual event celebrates all things aviation and as a pilot you’re going to feel like you went to heaven. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you arrive to keep you from breaking your bank and help you reserve energy.

Get the official downloadable map and use the trams and buses. Pro Tip: EAA volunteers ride around in golf carts and for a one dollar tip they will take you anywhere you want to go within reason. Proceeds go to the EAA Young Eagles Program. To take a load off, locate where vendors are selling massage chairs and sit in one for a rejuvenating massage for a up to fifteen minutes.
Air shows are four hours long so bring a chair or blanket to sit on. Some people even bring a little wagon to tote their belongings, an ideal choice for families. Also, bring an umbrella to block the sun and a lot of water to stay hydrated during the show. Sit center stage in front of the Boeing Plaza for the best viewpoint. Arrive early in the week to EAA to cash in on free schwag from t-shirts to toy airplanes. Pro Tip: On the EAA app you can listen to the air show so bring a portable speaker in case you’re in an area to watch the show that lacks speakers. Download the live ATC app and you’ll be able to listen to the air show performers and air traffic control.
Don’t miss the night air show that includes fireworks and something called The Wall of Fire. Pro Tip: There are long lines at tram stops before an air show. Get to a tram stop at least an hour in advance of its departure.
Ask a tram operator when they are giving the next educational tour because you can learn about the ongoing events and festival history while onboard to your destination. Pro tip: You will still do a considerable amount of walking while at Oshkosh. Pack comfortable walking shoes and clothes for various weather temperatures. You’ll be glad you packed a lightweight jacket for outdoor evenings in Wisconsin.
There are multiple grocery tents, specifically set up for campers, where you can pick up any supplies you need from camping tools to snacks. Pro Tip: Bring a water bottle from home for each person. You can fill them up at water trucks on the grounds. School buses will take you to a nearby Target store in case you need to pick up supplies.
Showers always have hot water and you don’t have to wait. Pro Tip: Wear shower shoes and bring your own toiletries including a towel.
Fuel is a reasonable price. Pro Tip: If you need to fuel up the plane, just flag down a passing fuel truck.
Famous aviation personalities will be on site. All the famous YouTube aviators you would hope to see and the occasional celebrity/pilot are also there to take in the action of EAA. You’ll definitely want to get in line early for meet-and-greets, autograph signings, and book signings. Pro Tip: Take business cards with you because you’re going to meet many pilots and want to connect with them later. You never know, you just might meet someone from NASA or a pilot who flies for celebrities.
Download the festival schedule so you can plan your day. If you just “wing” it, you won’t efficiently use your time and miss out on learning opportunities. You can sit in on classes on topics such as building an experimental plane or using aviation cell phone apps. Take advantage of the free practice time in one of the many simulators on site. Pro Tip: Follow your favorite aviator on social media and take note of their schedule and booth number so you can stop by and visit them.
Earplugs are a necessity at Oshkosh. If you hope to catch shut-eye after a long night of fun, you’re going to need them. Pro Tip: Because campers are located so close to one another, buy wax earplugs to drown out the noise from snorers and airplanes. The nearby runway becomes busy at 6 am each morning.

Not many planes left during the final hours of Oshkosh 2016, but this image gives an idea of where you can set up your tent(s) after arrival.

We hope you appreciate the pro tips for your trip to next year’s EAA AirVenture Fly-In and Convention at Oshkosh. You’re going to have an amazing experience, one a pilot never forgets.

Share any tips you may have in the comments section below.

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