HOME      Boeing B-29 Superfortress

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
 
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was the largest, highest flying and fastest heavy bomber of World War II. In 1946 it set the still standing piston engine aircraft altitude record of 47,910 feet.

During World War II B-29 aircraft were used only in the Pacific Theatre. Soon after their deployment in early 1944, B-29 Superfortresses flying out of India, flew missions against Japanese held rail facilities in Thailand.

Starting in mid 1944, B-29’s were based in China. From there they could fly missions to the Japanese mainland.

Once islands within range of Japan were secured, air fields were built for the B-29. B-29 raids were launched against Japan from the Mariannas from late in 1944 and continued until the war ended. During these raids Japanese shipping routes were mined in additional to conventional strategic missions being flown.

On August 6, 1945 a B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. A second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. On August 15, 1945 Japan officially surrendered, marking the end of World War II.

B-29 aircraft were employed after the Japanese surrender to drop supplies to Allied personnel in Japanese prison camps until they could be evacuated.

The B-29 was used again during the Korean War. They flew primarily at night in an effort to avoid interceptor aircraft.

B-29D and B-50 models also served in electronic intelligence gathering and as fuel tankers for air-to-air refueling. By the time they retired in 1960, 3,970 B-29's had been built.

 

Specifications

    US$ Cost
    Primary Function:
    Crew:
    Engines:
    Power:
    Weight Empty:
    Max. Weight:
    Machine Guns:
    Cannons:
    Payload:
    Length:
    Wingspan:
    Cruise Speed:
    Max. Speed:
    Climb Rate:
    Ceiling:
    Range:
    Year Deployed:
 $639,000
heavy bomber
ten
Wright R 3350
4 x 2,000 hp. ea.
69,610 lbs.
141,100 lbs.
10- .50 caliber
1- 20 mm
20,000 lbs.
99' 0"
141' 3"
220 mph
357 mph
900 fpm
36,000 feet
3,250 miles
1944
 
 
Radio Control Airplane

RC Airplane built by Paul Conrad.
 
Radio Control Airplanes:
 
Pictured above is Paul Conrad's scratch built B-29 radio control airplane with the X-1 rocket. Wing span is 144" with power by 4x K&B 61's.

When three B-29 aircraft made emergency landings in the Soviet Union, the Russians copied them almost bolt-for-bolt. They were designated as the military Tu-4 and civilian Tu-70. Later some of these aircraft were sold to the Chinese. The Chinese converted some of these to early warning radar planes.
 
In the first picture below is the Tu-4 AEW RC Airplane scratch built by George Maorana. The radio control airplane has a 115" wing span and is powered by 4 x Max N32-13Y geared motors.

Also pictured below is a magnificent 21 foot wingspan, 100 lb. B-29 RC Airplane scratch built by Mac Hodges. The radio control airplane is regularly flown at air shows and launches an X-1 rocket.

Don Albright scratch built the 144" wing span B-29 RC Airplane in the third picture below. Don's radio control airplane weighs 97 lbs. and is powered by 4 x Quadra 100's.

Don Smith Plans has two plans for B-29 RC Airplanes. Wing spans for the radio control airplanes are 144" or 169".
 
The 144” wing span RC Airplane is 1/12 scale and has a length of 99”. Recommended power for the radio control airplane comes from four .91 engines.

The 169” wing span B-29 RC Airplane is 119” long. You will need four 1.20 engines to power the 169” radio control airplane from Don Smith Plans.

We have seen some sad looking ARF B-29 RC Airplanes for sale recently. One radio control B-29 ARF has a 44” wing span is shown in the last picture below. Note the position of the horizontal stab. You have to wonder how the retailers can publish a picture like that.

It appears that steering for the ARF B-29 RC Airplane is done with differential engine thrust. In addition, their doesn’t appear to be an elevator on the radio control airplane.

It is somewhat comical to see the ads, obviously translated from another language, for the B-29 RC Airplane. They advertise “ass time is 15 minutes” and there is a “crash kit 14 days” for the radio control airplane.

We are unaware if there are any quality B-29 RC Airplane ARF’s or kits out there. If you know of B-29 radio control airplane kits, plans or an ARF, please email us.


Radio Control Airplane
RC Airplane built by George Maorana.
 
 
Radio Control Airplane
RC Airplane built by Mac Hodges.
 
Radio Control Airplane

Don Albright and his RC Airplane.
 
Radio Control Airplane

B-29 toy RC Airplane.