Virtavia B-29 Superfortress

[hasegawa]

Now I have a big Problem. My English is not enough to point out, what I want to say...

First. Simulations like this... our FSX... are also a point, to bring history to life for us. I have "flown" a lot with old historic aircraft over the last 23 years, from FS 4 on. I have written a lot of Reviews in the last ten years for flugsimulation.com, wich is sadly meanwhile gone. and now for the germanspeaking "FS-Magazin", wich is the main written source for german speaking People about Flight Simulations on PC´s. In all this years I am aware of the conflict, between "making it for flight simulations" and the question: Is it possible from the historical standpoint, "and the morale" to fly such aircraft and such missions "for Entertainment? "Red Baron", "Aces of the Pacifik" ,Aces over Europe", "Sturmovik", "DCS", I have all of them used or in use.
But non of this has nuclear devices in it´s Arsenal. The B-29 is for me not only another military aircraft like all the others. It was the first nuclear Bomber and used as such. And so the B-29 was the very beginn of the race in to to the possible nuclear Desaster of menkind. As such, this aircraft in FSX is for me No Go.

I was for a very short visit in Tschernobyl, Yes, a ukrainian travel agency bring you direct to the point of the Event that we know as the "Tschernobyl-Desaster" and you can stay there for some minutes to have a look at this point. A makaber trip, that give us the Impression, what´s going on, if Nuclear Power ""does it uncontrolled". Since then I have a different Feeling about nuclear Power, used for "friendly things" and also as Weapon. You know, that in Germany nuclear power is a Discontinued model.

All this are my personal thinking. I have no Problem with virtual pilots flying this Thing. But for me it is no Option.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (hasegawa @ Oct 27 2013,7:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But non of this has nuclear devices in it´s Arsenal. The B-29 is for me not only another military aircraft like all the others. It was the first nuclear Bomber and used as such. And so the B-29 was the very beginn of the race in to to the possible nuclear Desaster of menkind. As such, this aircraft in FSX is for me No Go.

Andreas , no were your coming from, I thought i figured that was your meaning .. 1985 was a year in the NZ were anti-nuclear went stupid and all for the other beliefs ... I knew many who were pleased it was done back in WWII , as many would say .. is was the delivery system infamous or famous, it is in one of the most famous museums and visited by everyone from everywhere .

[zkcav]

It's an interesting model from a historical standpoint, in fact the B-29 was an advancement ahead of it's time being the first pressurized bomber and the first intercontinental bomber with about 3500 mile range.

Its been said that wars happen to advance technology - aviation took leaps and bounds in both world wars and like it or not the genie was released form the bottle in the form of Nuclear Power. There's nothing we can do to turn back the hands of time and it's unlikely that regardless of how we feel about nukes they are going to be here for a while longer yet. I think if a working fat man or little boy where modeled too, with a mission to go, it might be a bit tasteless. but in saying that I'd likely have a go just to see the results, it is a simulation after all!

[hasegawa]

Do You know the fate of the "Enola Gay"... after the end of her "useful life"? She was a long time stored and foreseen for the NASM in Washington. Now she is restored und you can see it as one of the Examples from NASM. But, ... she is not in Washington, she is in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Only very few foreigners know about that Steven Udvar-Center... in somewhere out of Sight of most of us. Think, this is purpose.

[SeanTK]

As someone who lives roughly an hour away from the Udvar-Hazy Center (I say roughly because Washington DC traffic is infamous...) the location is advertised just as much if not more so than the other Smithsonian museums in DC. That is to say, not extensively, or so it seems.

It's also worth noting that out of the dozens of aircraft there, the 'Enola Gay' is the only one that they had to somewhat restrict access to and make it vandal-proof. It's surrounded by other aircraft, with no good line of site at ground level of the museum. To get close, you have to use one of the elevated walkways in the area. These walkways are "open-air" in that they have high railings to prevent falls from height, but there is no glass between you and the aircraft. The B-29 is the exception. The museum staff had to mount a small glass barrier in front of the B-29 (section area nearest to the walkway and public access) because people kept spitting on it or throwing things.

I don't know if the barrier situation has changed within the last couple of years, but I know when they had it up that it caused a bit of a media sensation as it was obvious what was going on since guests would encounter just this one small section of barrier in an otherwise open museum near the B-29.

I respect the desire to not personally use the aircraft while not restricting others from doing so, though.
On that note, I found it interesting though perhaps not surprising that Germany has laws banning any depiction of the Swastika. We have a number of WWII-era German aircraft available for FS2004 and/or FSX, and I know that's one thing that has stood out is the lack of historically correct markings, and the need for quietly mentioned optional download packs to add them. I of course do not believe in the Nazi mindset, but pretending like it doesn't exist doesn't do anyone any favors, especially when it is displayed purely for historical context.


Also, speaking of aircraft markings, does anyone have plans to turn the Virtavia B-29 into a Tupolev Tu-4? All that's needed is a new coat of paint, as the Tu-4 is an exact copy of the B-29!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-4


Just my input...

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (SeanTK @ Oct 28 2013,2:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's also worth noting that out of the dozens of aircraft there, the 'Enola Gay' is the only one that they had to somewhat restrict access to and make it vandal-proof. It's surrounded by other aircraft, with no good line of site at ground level of the museum. To get close, you have to use one of the elevated walkways in the area. These walkways are "open-air" in that they have high railings to prevent falls from height, but there is no glass between you and the aircraft. The B-29 is the exception. The museum staff had to mount a small glass barrier in front of the B-29 (section area nearest to the walkway and public access) because people kept spitting on it or throwing things.

The world is filled with brainless idiots with no understanding or reason or no the history, either have a firestorm were you slowly burn or the other alternative !

QUOTE

Also, speaking of aircraft markings, does anyone have plans to turn the Virtavia B-29 into a Tupolev Tu-4? All that's needed is a new coat of paint, as the Tu-4 is an exact copy of the B-29!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-4[/quote]
The funny part was to speed up the copy and build process - denying that fact they even one off the originals - asking the US of A to send set of brakes and other bits and piece under lend least ... no we don't have your missing B-29s , we are making a new ?

Last edited by Ian Warren on Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Charl]

A very mature discussion, gents...

Thought I'd dig out Gnoopy's old freeware model and see how it stands up.
Virtavia need to up the ante a little on the feets modelling I reckon, although inside does look quait naice.

At the end of the war, B-29s were going to the boneyard in droves, so Boeing thought fit to fit a new P&W motor to the airframe, rename the thing B-50, and sell it to the USAF in droves!



Ian... steak egg + chips I think may have been written on the can, but I think it tasted like spam...



The model fits quite well with ACG's fantastic RAF MArham scenery seen in the first shots.


.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (Charl @ Oct 28 2013,1:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thought I'd dig out Gnoopy's old freeware model and see how it stands up.
Virtavia need to up the ante a little on the feets modelling I reckon, although inside does look quait naice.

At the end of the war, B-29s were going to the boneyard in droves, so Boeing thought fit to fit a new P&W motor to the airframe, rename the thing B-50, and sell it to the USAF in droves!

Least most the did last a lot longer than the brand new 17 ... make em then off to the scrap yard .. "Brand new to Scrap You" was the saying .

QUOTE

Ian... steak egg + chips I think may have been written on the can, but I think it tasted like spam...[/quote]
My brecky yesterday morning after a long haul , don't think i could have handled spam that early

QUOTE

The model fits quite well with ACG's fantastic RAF MArham scenery seen in the first shots.[/quote]

It dose look great , Course it is a Boeing - The one thing with this new Virtavia 29 is the interior which in the days of old many were lacking , this one is a real pickup of previous.

Love the Screens

Ian Warren

NZFF Pro

 

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[Ian Warren]

One thing pointed across other forums was the prop texture affect - appears to have a squared look to it, for those lucky to own the A2A B377 i replaced the prop and result was brilliant
quick fix , It would be easy to repaint the texture but this is a great substitute , i may even try the sound file as well .