Did you know that the Millennium Falcon's cockpit was inspired by the WWII B-29 Superfortress bomber

The Aviationist ^ | December 15, 2015 | David Cenciotti

[EveningStar]

Did you know that the Millennium Falcon's cockpit was inspired by the WWII B-29 Superfortress bomber?

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Did you know that the Star Wars saga most famous spacecraft featured a cockpit clearly inspired to a World War II heavy bomber?

Well, the iconic greenhouse-style window of the Millennium Falcon was designed with the style of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, a strategic bomber flying 30 years before Han Solo and Chewbacca first appeared driving the iconic spacecraft into the hyperspace, in mind.

[Riley]

I don’t know, I’ll have to give it a watch again. It’s been a long time.

[grobdriver]

a deliberate and acknowledged homage to the climactic sequence of The Dam Busters

I rather think it resembles the attack sequences in 633 Squadron.

British Mosquitoes attacking a fuel factory by bombing the overhanging cliff, and their only approach was through a fiord, at wave height (in order for the bombs to undercut the cliff), taking flak from the defending Germans.

Dam Busters had a semi-similar attack sequence, but without the "trench/fiord" aspect and the defenders were only at the objective; there was no gauntlet to get through.

[SkyPilot]

Lucas ripped off The Dambusters and other films in Star Wars. He also lied about having the entire trilogy written before the first film was made. All the garbage about Lucas having the plan all along that Vader was Luke's father is pure bunk. Oh well, he is a Billionaire.

[Moonman62]

Oh well, he is a Billionaire.

...

For the first film Lucas accepted a cut in his director’s fee in exchange for merchandising and other rights. Best. Decision. Ever.

[GreyFriar]

Thanks for the tip E-S, I did not know that. And the photo in post 13 definitely gives credence to it.

[GreyFriar]

Grego, thank you for posting the photograph.

[hattend]

I have a non-PC copy of the movie.

[uglybiker]

Some of us got to see her before she flew. ;-)

[jaydubya2]

"Doc" is expected to be flying soon:

[TruthWillWin]

B-29 Cockpit:

Millennium Falcon Cockpit:

[zot]

Thanks for the ping. I had noticed the similarity. Also, the gun turret was definitely WW-II.

[CaliGirlGodHelpMe]

Yes I did kind of notice that, subconsciously.

[freepertoo]

The Falcon has always looked like a tick to me! Sorry.

[CaliGirlGodHelpMe]

Ha ha, hey you’re right!

[MarkL]

I believe I was able to see Fifi shortly after she became airworthy. She flew into Municipal Airport in Kansas City for an overnight stay. It wasn’t quite an “air show,” but as I recall, there were a few other planes there along with her, and they did allow the public to see them as a “static display.”

I did notice that there were quite a few puddles of fluid underneath the plane.

Some years later I did get to see her in an air show, but didn’t get to take the tour.

Mark

[gridlock]

I saw Fifi flying at Dayton a couple of years back, and then on the ground, before things went bad and the rest of the show was cancelled. I was driving up to the show and looked out the window, and damn if a B-29 was not flying by. My wife practically had to grab the wheel because I was leaning out the car window.

Amazing!