Greetings. Here's a
look at one of my favorite models. The "Kee Bird" was a B-29
Superfortress that took off from Ladd Field in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1947. The
aircraft became lost during a secret Cold War surveillance mission over the
Soviet Union and crash-landed in Greenland 580 miles from the North Pole. The
crew was rescued but the aircraft was left in the deep freeze.
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Enter Darryl Greenamyer. During
1993, this world famous test/race pilot collected a group of deep pockets and
set-off on the first of several expeditions to see if it was possible to salvage
the "Kee Bird". Not take it apart- FLY it out! After fighting terrible
arctic weather, logistical trouble, even the unfortunate death of one of the
crew, the day had come to fly. The new motors (Ida, Norma, Pat and Polly) were
running, the new
props were spinning, the new wheels were rolling, the recovered fabric
control
surfaces ready to direct this bird back into the sky. What a moment!
At 20 to 25 knots, the aircraft
was really getting bounced around taxiing across the frozen lake runway. In the
rear fuselage, the APU was left running for "extra" power for the
hydraulics'. The fuel line to the auxiliary power unit tore loose from all the
bouncing and sprayed gas over the hot engine. The flash fire spread quickly
throughout the fuselage.
Everyone on board got out but there was nothing to do but watch her burn
to the ground. They were SO CLOSE! The whole story inspired me to build the
"Kee bird". I wanted her to look like she had made it to Thule Air
Force Base. Hope you enjoyed my model.
Blue skies,
Wiggy
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