The Great Bend Municipal Airport will host the World War II B-29 superfortress “Doc” for ride flights on Saturday, Oct. 24, Airport Manager Martin Miller announced Friday. The plane, based in Wichita, has scheduled two rides for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., before flying to Olathe that afternoon. 

Each flight offers nine seats, positioned at different locations on the aircraft, Miller said. Tickets are now available for purchase ranging in price from $600-1,500 at www.etix.com/ticket/o/5476/docs-friends.  

Great Bend Municipal Airport, formerly Great Bend Army Airfield, was built in 1943 and dedicated to aircrew and maintenance training on the brand new B-29 bomber. 

“Only two airworthy B-29’s are in existence, and both came to Great Bend for our most recent Airfest in 2018,” Miller said. That year, only “FiFi” was allowed to sell rides, while “Doc” was restricted to ground tours. 

“The airport has been working with Doc’s Friends (the non-profit that manages the plane) to schedule an appearance, and we’re fortunate to again see it in the sky around Great Bend,” he said. Due to time scheduling and COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the public will not have access to the aircraft, but will be able to view at a distance.  

For more information, visit www.b29doc.com.

This is part of a three-city end to the plane’s 2020 tour season. It starts in Wichita and ends in Olathe, running Friday, Oct. 23, through Sunday, Oct. 25. The historic warbird enters a scheduled winter maintenance period from November through March of next year.

“Doc” is one of 1,644 B-29s manufactured in Wichita during World War II. It was found in 1987 sitting and rotting away in the Mojave Desert. Since then, it has been restored to flying status, serving as a flying museum.