Motorists in Los Angeles were stunned after a Second World War-era bomber flew low over the highway as it approached Van Nuys airport in California . The B-29 Superfortress is the same type of aircraft which bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki to force Japan into surrendering , . The aircraft , which was built in 1945 , did not take part in the war , and despite the B-29 seeing service in Korea , the aircraft , dubbed Fifi , was not involved in that conflict either . Scroll down for video . The B-29 bomber was photographed as it approached Van Nuys airport in Los Angeles as port of a nationwide tour . Extremely low and incredibly close : The aircraft was rescued in 1971 by a group of enthusiasts who returned it to flying condition . The B-29 was the bomber which delivered the first atomic bombs to HIroshima and Nakasaki and remained in service until September 1960 . The historic aircraft was discovered in 1971 and underwent a full restoration , returning it to a flying condition . The aircraft flew into Los Angeles as part of a publicity tour where fans have the ability to gent onboard the historic aircraft and even buy tickets for a short spin . A seat in the cockpit costs $ 1,045 while guests pay $ 575 for a seat further back in the aircraft . The bombadier 's seat in the nose of the aircraft is the most expensive at $ 1,595 . The aircraft is owned by the Commemorative Air Force after their members found it at the US Navy 's proving ground in Chine Lake , California . The plan was being used as a target for naval gunnery . Amazingly it was not destroyed . For more than 30 years the aircraft was powered by its original engines , but they required replacing in 2006 . The owners commissioned a specialist company to supply and fit some custom built engines allowing the aircraft to remain in the air . Boeing began developing the B-29 in 1939 as a long-range heavy bomber with four engines . The B-29 was the first bomber to have a pressurised cabin and it was also equipped with remote control guns . The aircraft was revolutionary as it was pressurised , meaning the crew did not have to use oxygen masks while on a mission . It was also the heaviest production aircraft at the time . According to Boeing , the aircraft also had remote control guns . Most of the B-29 fleet was involved in the war against Japan , with 1,000 bomber raids targeting Tokyo . However , the Enola Gay delivered the first atomic bomb to Hiroshima , while the Bockscar bombed Nagasaki three days later . After the Japanese surrender , the B-29 saw service in Korea and was used for anti-submarine patrols , weather reconnaissance and rescue duty . It was eventually retired in 1960 . Meanwhile , the Imperial War Museum in Duxford has built a scale model of the B-29 as part of its American Air Museum . The model was constructed by local schoolchildren .
The historic bomber was purchased by Boeing in 1945 and was restored to flying condition after it was purchased in 1971 . A group of enthusiasts completed a full restoration on the four - engined bomber for authorities to allow it to fly . The aircraft flew to Los harbor as part of a nationwide program where people pay up to $ 1,595 for a flight experience .