A View Through Maintenance Gate 8

Accessing a clear view of a runway at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is limited. But there is just enough room to place a telephoto zoom lens through the opening to capture arriving and departing planes. 

Last weekend was the start of local Spring Break. With the widespread corvid-19 making its rounds, the idea of social distancing is in full force. In this case it means many midwesterners have a chance to get away for a week against the risk of quarantine or a delayed return.

B-17 Aluminum Overcast Lands at Cedar Rapids CID

Another vintage WWII aircraft sighting this evening. This time it is the B-17 "Aluminum Overcast" at Cedar Rapids (CID). Yes, I saw the same flying fortress in Burlington, Iowa last year, and have seen it multiple times in Cedar Rapids. This week the plane's summer schedule had a last minute opening and fortunately was able to make another journey to the City of Five Seasons. In its one day appearance all flights were completely booked except for the last one of the afternoon. Storm clouds are on the horizon for tonight.

Aluminum Overcast sits on the tarmac in CID following a day of flights around the city for paying passengers (and media.) Unfortunately, I arrived an hour after the tour closed. I also do not have media credentials but probably should get accredited. I was an Associated Press stringer in college - maybe that will count. The covers on the engines are new this year according to a local EAA event host. The covers are designed to minimize the effects of rain, wind, debris and flying critters on the aging plane when parked for the evening.

In Between the Clouds

 

Its been a while since I've flown. Three years in fact. This time the journey was from Chicago (ORD) to Cedar Rapids (CID) on the last leg of a journey from Nashville (cats.) The pilot reported it would be a race between weather moving in to CID and his ability to land safely.

 

 

Wheels were down on final approach about a quarter mile from the runway when the captain pulled up and went around. A wall of water hit the plane with lightning all around. After a 10 minute arc around the airport the pilot said he would come in from the opposite direction. A few looks outside and it was easy to see what was happening. Developing rain systems were popping up along with the wind and light show. We did make it down just as the one of the waves hit. Our plane taxied near the ramp and shut down. For the next 90 minutes we sat on the tarmac as storm waves came through. Apparently there are actual FAA regulations about ramp crews servicing planes when lightning is around. Think about it - metal planes and jet fuel - not really safe if you are working the ramp and baggage collection in those conditions.

Superfortress B-29 Fifi Comes to a Stop at Cedar Rapids KCID Airport

 

August 1, 2015 - FIFI the only flying B-29 (at the moment) taxis near a crowd waiting for a chance to see her up close. Paying passengers were treated to a 30 minute ride around Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In addition to the B-29, a F4U Corsair, P-51 Mustang, a SB2C Hell Diver, a Stearman,and a C-45 Beechcraft were present and offering rides $$$ to $$$$. A living piece of history. The captured video sound does not do justice to the vibrating pulses of four huge radial engines.

FIFI B-29 Prepares for Takeoff at KCID Cedar Rapids Iowa

Fifi the B-29 World War II bomber made a four day stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this weekend. These three photos are from this morning during the plane's last full day here. Yesterday the weather was fantastic and many people turned out to see the aircraft and other WWII era fighters.

By going black and white and jacking the contrast I produced this old time looking image of the plane. With some sand and tropical trees this could very well be some runway in the South Pacific during 1945.

Fifi's late morning trip around the Cedar Rapids area ended with another successful landing at KCID. Airport Park area on the east side of the property is an excellent place to see and hear planes of all sorts come and go. Its just not everyday when a historic aircraft like the B-29 comes to town.

FiFi - It Was a Dark and Stormy Night at KCID Cedar Rapids

Once again Fifi, the WWII B-29 is on Cedar Rapids concrete for a few days. She will be joined by other WWII era combat planes and trainers for static display and rides. This shot came at a time of diminishing light and increasing rain. Besides having to photograph through chain link fencing the potential for me to be a lightning rod was very high. Go visit the plane if you are in the area.

Sunset on CID

Another beautiful sunset over the control tower and hangers at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID,KCID) near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Aluminum Overcast Visits Cedar Rapids During 2014 D-Day + 70 Years - Part 4

Last batch of photos of the Aluminum Overcast B-17 from last Saturday, beginning with the all important nose art.

Bottom turret gun. You had to be very small to fit in there.

Lots of aluminum on this warbird. And the overall color matches the sky conditions of the day too.

Cool newer tires on an old plane. While it may be old the Aluminum Overcast is well maintained. See it if you have a chance. 

The next stop for the Aluminum Overcast is Ankeny, Iowa. See the details of the 2014 tour here.

Aluminum Overcast Visits Cedar Rapids During 2014 D-Day + 70 Years - Part 2

A friendly smile from a EAA volunteer who helps to organize the next list of passengers and allows others to view the B-17 aircraft close up.

The Aluminum Overcast flight crew in uniform. The pilot is on the left and the copilot is the second from the left.

The business end of a B-17. We were told that all thirteen machine guns on board B-17s only had ammunition belts that stretched nine yards long - 27 feet! That was enough for a continuous one minute burst.That's "Lee" in the enclosure.

The aircraft maintenance guy told me that he only worries when these engines STOP dripping oil.

A different angle on an old warbird. Aluminum Overcast will be here in Cedar Rapids through today, June 8, 2014 before going to the next city on the tour.

Aluminum Overcast Visits Cedar Rapids During D-Day + 70 Years - Part 1

One of perhaps 13 flying B-17s left in the world is Aluminum Overcast, a B-17G Flying Fortress from the WWII era.

Today, June 7th is D-Day +70 Years and one day, was also day two of the B-17 visit to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Aluminum Overcast last visited our post on the prairie in 2010. There are many area vets, relatives and interested people who came for a look at a piece of aviation history.

A local EAA volunteer takes photos of the plane for her collection. She also offered to photograph visitors using their camera and helped people get safely around the aircraft.The B-17's pilot and his copilot can be seen on the far right.

Filled with 10 paying passengers, Aluminum Overcast needs only a short distance to take off and land. The aircraft flies around the Cedar Rapids area for about 30 minutes. During this visit I have seen and heard it flying slowly around town at relatively low altitudes on four different occasions. Last year Fifi the only flying B-29 provided the same type of visit.

This is Aluminum Overcast's tail gunner. The dummy sports goggles, mask and a helmet from the WWII era. His scarf is stitched with the name of Lee. The historic aircraft will be here through tomorrow (Sunday, June 8th). Go to the former PS Air terminal on the west side of the airport by FEDEX operations. The ground walk around of the plane is free. Cost to go inside is $10 and $449 person to fly in WWII bomber comfort for 30 minutes. Call ahead of time, I believe one of the support crew told me only a few seats remain for Sunday series of flights.

Taking Off with Allegiant Air at KCID

Mid-evening is a busy time for the Eastern Iowa Airport (KCID) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A few nights ago the airport was the scene of activity with commercial, government and private aircraft. An Allegiant Airlines jet makes its way eastbound on the taxi runway for a westbound takeoff. Close behind is an arriving United Airlines Express jet taxiing to the terminal.

As the Allegiant aircraft makes two quick right turns near the end of the runway, sunshine floods the plane's silhouette, showing Allegiant's colorful branding scheme.

It's nose up and wheels locked as another Allegiant flight goes direct to a sunny destination with no hub transfer.

Lockheed S-3 Viking Makes a Visit to KCID

A fellow eastern Iowa blogger let me know that a special aircraft flew in today to the Eastern Iowa Airport (KCID) in Cedar Rapids. This is a Lockheed S-3 Viking aircraft which is now owned by NASA. Rockwell Collins, a local manufacturer of aerospace avionics is testing equipment on the Viking, as part of a new communications system for unmanned aircraft or drones. Read Gazette article here.

Groundhog Day At Cedar Rapids (CID) Airport

Punxsutawney has its Phil to comment on the coming of Spring. At the Cedar Rapids airport (CID) the tarmac is graced with aircraft from other parts of the globe. On February 2 (Groundhog Day) a Boeing 737-81Q from Miami International Airlines was present for chartered passengers. Through the power of the internet you can see where this commercial plane travels by going to a link like FlightAware. Its been a week since this scene was recorded. The snow is all but gone having been melted by warmer temperatures and rain. Sounds like Punxsutawney Phil was right about fewer weeks until Spring arrives.

Tires of a B-29 Superfortress

B-29 nose gear comes to rest on the Eastern Iowa airport tarmac in Cedar Rapids last week (see previous posts.) Nicknamed Fifi, this B-29 is the only flying Superfortress remaining worldwide. Fifi spends months each year touring the USA. That means lots of flying cycles (take off and landings) with wear and tear on all six tires supporting the WWII bomber. These nose tires display more traction grabbing characteristics employing a diamond pattern tread compared to the four tires supporting the wings.

On Fifi's port side two tires support engines and wing. This inner tire has no pattern tread, just long smooth grooves - probably for stability. Four of these tires support the plane, two each side of the fuselage. Boeing engineers during the 1940s correctly calculated the design of the long range bomber's landing gear. That attention to engineering and manufacturing details allow this last flyable B-29 to demonstrate its American aviation heritage some 67 years after being placed into service.

B-29 (Fifi) Tail Section Explained at Cedar Rapids CID

Yesterday at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID,) a crew member of Fifi, a World War II B-29 bomber explained to me about the tail gun section of the 67 year plane. My late uncle once told me that he was a tail gunner aboard a B-29 during WWII and may have been a gunner on other stations of the craft. Since the bomber was pressurized unlike the open B-17, the gunner traveled to his location from the forward crew compartment. He crawled through a tunnel the length of the plane until he reached a hatch. 

While at Fifi's static display at the airport the crew member climbed ahead of me into the rear of the plane. He allowed me to peek in the tail section to see the open hatch where the tail gunner would enter. The crew member explained that the gunner would then stand and operate optical instruments that fed data to a weapons computer. He explained that my uncle would have engaged the computer and then pulled the trigger to fire the 50 caliber machine guns. It was an interesting tour of the B-29 and it permitted me to see how a tail gunner would operate equipment under combat situations. Fifi flies next to Oshkosh on Saturday morning to attend the EAA airshow.

A Day With a B-29 (Fifi) at the Cedar Rapids Airport CID

Make no mistake, this was a rare day for aviation enthusiasts to see, hear and experience the rumblings of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress. "Fifi" entered service in May 1945 just a few months ahead of the end of World War II and now tours the country. Yesterday the massive four prop bomber arrived at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a couple of days of static display and to provide rides for those with cash. The plane will move on to Oshkosh, Wisconsin on Saturday for the annual EAA show.

The line to climb into the cockpit was long but a wind was blowing, the humidity was down and the shade from the right wing provided great relief from the summer sun. Standing in line you meet people and hear stories related to B-29s. The guy next to me just returned from Alaska via Seattle where he visited the Boeing plant there and toured the last manufactured B-17 bomber made.

While in line you can also chat with the flight crew. Here two Fifi mechanics unscrew the face plate of one of the massive engines to determine where oil was leaking. The obvious answer is that these engines constantly leak oil all over - perhaps by design. The boys made sure all the rivets were replaced.

And finally after 45 minutes you climb up a ladder in the forward bomb bay section to enter the pressurized flight deck. Here is where the majority of the crew is seated during missions. A tail gunner would crawl in a tube from this area rearward to the 50 caliber machine guns in the tail. Note how the glass nose looks very much like Star Wars' Millennium Falcon's front view area. Hans Solo and Chewbaca would fit right in. 

The tour continues with an exit down another ladder to the nose wheels. After emerging from the wheel door you are greeted by a view of the nose window.

Hours later the 67 year old B-29, which is the only remaining flying Superfortress, started its four engines and rolled down the taxi area in preparation for flight. Fifi provided two flights today and will do so tomorrow (Friday) before leaving on Saturday for the land of beer and cheese.

B-29 "Fifi" Lands At Eastern Iowa Airport Cedar Rapids CID

The only flying B-29, named Fifi, landed about 2 PM today at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID.) After circling the airport twice the World War II bomber landed then taxied to the PS Air terminal. To get perspective of the bomber's size, I photographed Fifi and an United jet in the same frame. The dust above the B-29 came from construction activities on the north-south runway area.

Fifi is based in Addison, Texas (north of Dallas.) It makes several appearances throughout the year offering tours and rides. Locally an aerospace communications company, Rockwell Collins made the B-29's original radio equipment. Some of the company's retirees are expected to visit the plane during the three day visit.

During World War II, my uncle served on a B-29 as a tail gunner in the Pacific. He talked passionately about the plane and crew but often discussed how his compartment was pressurized due to the altitude. He said it was hard to sit in that area and do his job. I'll be touring the plane in the next few days and will find out exactly what that experience was like.

Drama Continues at CID Today with Delta N324US

Earlier today, the President and Air Force One were present at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa - see prior post. Just a few hours after the multi-blue colored 747 carrying the President left eastern Iowa, another drama event occurred - this time it was one that potentially was bad.

This Delta Airbus A320 (N324US) lost power to one engine (of two) in route from Minneapolis to St. Louis. The decision to bring the 150 people down quickly was made and the airport was alerted. See flight path below. 

The Airbus landed safely and the passengers exited. A maintenance team evaluated the engines this evening as I went back to the airport for a second time today. No word as to the nature of the problem or how Delta locally handled the passengers' travel. Stay tuned for more CID-rated news...

Surprise, Air Force One Visits CID - Again!

Its only been 2-1/2 months since Air Force One visited 42N's tarmac at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Campaigning season is intensifying and Iowa's six electoral votes are considered essential for either candidate to win the presidency. As one person noted today, internal polling must indicate the closeness of the race, that's why the president visited - and its only July - and before the conventions! 

Local news crews covered the arrival, speech and departure. Since Air Force One was parked behind a wall of baggage containers near a chain link fence it was hard to get a clean look at the plane. Television reporters climbed atop their news vans and filed live reports at noon. On the left is Waterloo NBC affiliate KWWL. On the right is Cedar Rapids' CBS/FOX affiliate KGAN. The ABC affiliate, KCRG was present but reported a half hour earlier per their format.  

The president talked to people at the plane's base, then moved to a group by the bunting, and then left for a home visit followed by a speech at Kirkwood Community College. He stopped downtown for an ice cream cone (mint chocolate chip) before returning to the plane mid-afternoon.

Making everything run smoothly for a presidential visit requires considerable coordination. One huge element of planning is special convoy vehicles. Those vehicles are transported the night before Air Force One's arrival via a C-17A Globemaster. The giant plane parked today away from Air Force One.

While the election is still months away the likelihood that these components will be visiting Cedar Rapids again and again and possibly again is quite high.