Doc, still on the job

   I know we've all heard of Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs and the wicked witch. Doc was one of the seven dwarfs, and although all the rest are gone Doc, still lives on. Doc was born in 1945, born as a B-29 Super fortress #44-69972. Proud as he may have been, time came calling and Doc was sent to the Mojave Desert  to fade into history. Sometimes fading takes awhile and sometimes fate takes over. In walks a man by the name of Tony Mazzolini, it's 1987 and a plan begins. Rescue Doc and let him fly again as an aerospace museum of yesteryear. Many years pass and the contributions of time and money begin to breathe life back into Doc, and on July 18, 2016, Docs engines come to life and he moves slowly down the runway. Slowly becomes faster, and faster and at the hands of skilled pilots and the work of less than 100 volunteers and the contributions of many, Doc leaves earth and reaches for the sky. Doc is here to witness to a generation of young and old alike that men and women of yesteryear are still here and that they still remember. As Joe and I walked up to the hangar I intentionally looked down as I stepped into the hangar where Doc rest. As I walked in I noticed how clean and bright the floors were, and then I slowly looked up. Like a shining Jewell he just sat there. Several people were milling around the plane, just doing routine maintenance that is required of any aircraft. It was like the king on a throne and his subjects were taking care of his every need. Walking closer and reaching out to touch, you realize this is history, history of a time when we were at war and this was a major piece of the puzzle that would end that war. Then Joe takes me to the cockpit. To get there you must climb a latter up under the nose wheel, straight up and into a world known only to a very few. Primitive by aircraft standards of today which meant even more. The men who flew these were exceptional individuals. Pilots, engineers, navigator's, gunners and bombardiers, all young men, probably no one over the age of 25 and they were willing to put their lives on the line to preserve your life and your way of living. I was totally impressed with everything I saw today, from the aircraft and the crews that fly them and especially to all of those who dedicated time and money to bring back to life this fabulous aircraft. Joe, thanks to you and all of those around you, what a great feat of talent and dedication. In todays world, sometimes we have a tendency to bad mouth big business and the wealthy, but a project like this could not happen without big business, as Joe will tell you, this could not have happened with out Spirit Aircraft and Boeing and other deeeeeep pocketed individuals willing to help and see a dream come to life.