Boeing B-29 Superfortress (Milestone)

Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Summary
manufacturer	Milestone Aircraft
designer	Bancos Milestone
introduction	Unknown
role	Strategic bomber
crew	1-2 (pilot, co-pilot)
capacity	7 (total)
weapons	VICE/TCS combat systems: VICE Bombs VICE Atomic bombs VICE Turret machine-gun VICE Tail machine-gun
prims	26, Sculpted prims (attachment vehicle)
variants	Enola Gay, Bocks Car, Tupolev Tu-4

The Boeing B-29 Superfortress (ICAO: B29 / WAKE: HEAVY) is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber. Created in Second Life by Milestone Aircraft, the aircraft was based on the real-life B-29 Superfortress designed by Boeing.

Background

Flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War, the real-life Boeing B-29 Superfortress was one of the largest aircraft operational during World War II and very advanced for its time. It featured a pressurized cabin, all dual wheeled, tricycle landing gears, and a remote, electronic fire-control system that controlled four machine gun turrets. A manned tail gun installation was semi-remote. The name "Superfortress" continued the pattern Boeing started with its well-known predecessor, the B-17 Flying Fortress. Designed for high-altitude strategic bomber role, the B-29 also excelled in low-altitude nighttime incendiary bombing missions. One of the B-29's final roles during World War II was carrying out the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Due to the B-29's highly advanced design for its time, unlike many other World War II-era bombers, the Superfortress remained in service long after the war ended, with a few even being employed as flying television transmitters for the Stratovision company. The B-29 served in various roles throughout the 1950s. The Royal Air Force flew the B-29 as the Washington until phasing out the type in 1954. The Soviet Union produced an unlicensed reverse-engineered copy as the Tupolev Tu-4. The B-29 was the progenitor of a series of Boeing-built bombers, transports, tankers, reconnaissance aircraft and trainers including the B-50 Superfortress (the first aircraft to fly around the world non-stop) which was essentially a re-engined B-29. The type was finally retired in the early 1960s. The B-29 production total was 3,970 aircraft. Dozens of B-29s remain as static displays but only one example, Fifi, remains on flying status. As of 2015, another B-29 is being restored for flight.

Features

• Working lighting (landing, beacon and navigation lights).
• Animated components (functioning landing gear, bomb-doors, propellers, ailerons, elevators, rudder, and flaps).
• VICE/TCS combat systems with: standard bombs, atomic bombs, topside turret machine-gun, and tail machine-gun.
• Included prop accessories:
  • "Little boy" atomic bomb.
• Flight safe mode (optional).

Images

Boeing B-29 Superfortress departing from Grenadier Airport.

B-29 Superfortress taxiing at Grenadier Airport.

Superfortress cockpit with pilot/co-pilot seating.