The B-29 Superfortress remains one of the most technologically advanced and historically significant aircraft of World War II. Discover the incredible engineering history and the massive $3 billion gamble that the United States government took to secure victory in the Pacific theater. In this comprehensive military aviation documentary, we explore the origins of the American super bomber, an aircraft explicitly designed to fly higher, faster, and farther than the legendary B-17 Flying Fortress. The Pacific War demanded unprecedented range, forcing the Army Air Forces to commission an aircraft with a 140-foot wingspan and four massive 2,200 horsepower engines. However, the development of the Boeing B-29 was fraught with danger and financial terror. With fixed-price contracts threatening to bankrupt manufacturers, major aviation companies like Douglas and Lockheed avoided the project. Boei

Source: The US Spent $3 Billion on This Bomber Before It Even Flew