Not everyone was impressed Saturday by the new permanent home for Doc, one of two World War II-era B-29 Superfortresses in the world that can fly.
Doc’s new hangar is a state-of-the-art, 32,000-square-foot interactive facility that cost $6.5 million to complete. The building has a glass front that faces South Airport Road at Eisenhower Airport.
Sitting in the middle is the mirror-finished World War II bomber that survived 42 years in the Mojave Desert and was flown in 2016 for the first time since 1956 — Doc. Kendell Reimer, 11, said there’s probably not a big enough — or flashy enough — hangar to do Doc justice.
“Not to be disrespectful,” Reimer said. “But this plane is what led us to win World War II and ended it. This plane ended that war, and I think it deserves to be the main attraction in this city.” Doc serves as a reminder of that history, Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell said. He said he hopes it will pass that legacy on to future generations, like Reimer’s.
“Doc is more than a plane,” Longwell said. “He’s a symbol of Wichita’s history as the Air Capital of the World. He’s a symbol of our community coming together and sacrificing support for our country in its time of need. He’s a reminder of the part Wichita played and continues to play on the world stage.”
(Read more: Wichita Eagle)