Boeing B-29 Superfortress, a cup/can holder

[WilkZ]

Hiya guys,

The thing is that I got a question on Superfortress interiors. Let me start speaking in a roundabout way: back in late 1940s the Soviets mass-produced a clone of B-29 designated Tu-4. Noteworthy that Stalin's 'duplicate the B-29' request was taken almost literally — as Russian Wikipedia says, '[Russian engineers] copied even a cup holders and ash trays in the dashboard, although Soviet pilots were strictly prohibited from smoking in flight'.

Well, I tried to check this fact — Tu-4 interiror indeed displays a bunch of ash trays of 1936 Ford design. On the other hand, I failed to locate any signs of cup/can holder withing pilots reach, so my question is had those ones ever existed on B-29s?

Appreciate your response!

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Hiya guys,

The thing is that I got a question on Superfortress interiors. Let me start speaking in a roundabout way: back in late 1940s the Soviets mass-produced a clone of B-29 designated Tu-4. Noteworthy that Stalin's 'duplicate the B-29' request was taken almost literally — as Russian Wikipedia says, '[Russian engineers] copied even a cup holders and ash trays in the dashboard, although Soviet pilots were strictly prohibited from smoking in flight'.

Well, I tried to check this fact — Tu-4 interiror indeed displays a bunch of ash trays of 1936 Ford design. On the other hand, I failed to locate any signs of cup/can holder withing pilots reach, so my question is had those ones ever existed on B-29s?

Appreciate your response!

The Tu-4 was not a complete carbon copy of the B-29. The engines weren't copied and I don't think the propellers were as well.

 

[WilkZ]

The Tu-4 was not a complete carbon copy of the B-29. The engines weren't copied and I don't think the propellers were as well.

Sure thing, you're completely right, but Russian Tu-4 related publications cover tons of anecdotes about it. 'Should we copy American IFF', 'red stars or white stars', ash trays and glass-holders in the cockpit and, of course, the infamous story of a mysterious tiny hole in the left wing.

 

[Peter Gunn]

So what was the tiny hole in the left wing?

 

[space dodo]

the soviet union always tried to make production faster and simpler. if the ash tray and cup holders were originally on the design they probably would have been removed

 

[YakMan]

So what was the tiny hole in the left wing?

The internet says no one knows for sure, it did nothing so probably was a mis drill!

 

[Jimbob]

I don't know about the B-29, but I worked on a B-26 Marauder a few years back that had a stainless Dixie Cup type holder at the radio operator's station.

 

[nuuumannn]

The Soviets also transcribed the B-29's measurements into metric from Imperial measurements, and there were differences in standards the Soviets applied to aircraft construction that applied to all Soviet aircraft, such as material gauges etc. The guns were also Soviet-made, as were the engines, but the superchargers were copied and retrofitted to the engines, the ASh-73 being designated the TK for "Torbo-Kompressor" Pictures of the Tu-4's interiors are few and far between, but what was replicated was the logo in the centre pivot point on the steering wheels!

Photo I took years ago of the only surviving complete Tu-4 in Russia.

Tupolev Tu-4 B-4 Bull 001

There are two in China.

DSC_0548

 

[Graeme]

Coffee Thermos position for the F-111..

 

[nuuumannn]

Coffee Thermos position for the F-111..

HARS' Pig? I chatted with an ex-F-111 driver for ages whilst sat in that cockpit. The guy was a guide the day I was there, real fascinating stuff.

 

[EAIAnalog]

The B-29 had a water jug and so needed cups. Consequently it had a cup holder. Initial location was attached to the Navigator's cabinet at the bulkhead behind him, and later it was attached to the turret well for the upper forward turret (the well sticks down into the radio operator/navigator part of the forward cabin). According to its engineering drawing, the cup holder was supplied by the Sierra Manufacturing Company at 610-630 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, CA. Google Maps shows that location is now occupied by a Trader Joe's.

 

[Graeme]

HARS' Pig? I chatted with an ex-F-111 driver for ages whilst sat in that cockpit. The guy was a guide the day I was there, real fascinating stuff.

Yep!
The guide we had was once a mechanic who worked on Qantas Constellations.