Training Video Shows You How To Fly a B-26 Marauder

Once called ‘the Widow Maker’, the B-26 Marauder was a notoriously challenging aircraft to fly. The aircraft was especially challenging during approaches and landings due to its undersized wing. The World War II bomber flew approach speeds more like a modern airliner. At the time, approaches of 130+ knots were pretty rare. Add in a malfunction and it was a recipe for some ‘rodeo’-grade flying.

This video includes detailed exchanges on the aircraft systems and a very painfully long pre-flight checklist. It includes excellent acting by Don Porter. He was a fairly well known movie actor from the 1940s and 50s.

You Probably Won’t Be Able To Fly a B-26 Anytime Soon

While this video might prove interesting, its value today is pretty limited. The B-26 is one of the most rare American World War II bombers today. Only a few rare examples remain in museums.

After a crash of a Confederate Air Force’s B-26 in 1995, only one airworthy B-26 Marauder was left. Today, it is owned by Kermit Weeks and displayed at the Fantasy of Flight museum. His example hasn’t flown it in quite a while. Back in 2018, Warbird News mentioned that another partially completed B-26 project was for sale. No word on what happened to it. Platinum Fighter Sales makes no mention of the airplane or the sale on its site.