Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

[bombadier29]

You guys obviously know much more than I ever will, but there is a reason that the Sanders are now offering R-2800's in their Sea Fury rebuilds, the 3350's just are not as reliable.

The Sanders family will tell you they never had a lot of luck with the 3350 and that is true. But a lot of other operators have had great success with them. Howard Pardue for instance. One of the big draws to the 2800 is that they are cheaper. But you also have to remember that the first R-2800 they put on a Sea Fury had a main bearing failure right off the bat.

[CAPFlyer]

The R2800 can be just as or more unreliable than the R3350. At Air Tahoma, we were sending engines for overhaul after just 150 hours (and sometimes less) because of problems in the quality of the overhaul and the fact the pilots continued to abuse the engines (using over 50" on takeoff, cruise at more than 1100HP, etc) with 100LL avgas. Once certain changes were made by the overhaul shop and the pilots finally started flying the restrictions imposed, the overhaul time went up to well over 500 hours. For aircraft flying in fairly regular service, 150 hours goes fast. Also, remember that Cavanaugh has had serious issues with the R2800 on their Corsair as well and is the main reason it's only flown once in the last couple of years.

Radial engines are complex things. There are only 2 things that you can do to try and keep them "healthy" - run them often (at least once a week) and don't work them any harder than you must. Beyond that, you're dealing with cores that are 60+ years old and parts that aren't much younger, so there are going to be mechanical issues that there's nothing you can do about.

[K5DH]

I'm sure everyone on WIX is a fan of FIFI. We all love to see her fly. Let's do what we can to get her back in the air where she belongs. I'm in for $100. How about you? Please give what you can. Every dollar helps.

Disclaimer: I'm not a member of the B-24/B-29 Squadron. I'm not even a CAF member. I have no connection with FIFI or the CAF. I just care.

[b29flteng]

Thanks k5dh!

[bombadier29]

According to Facebook Fifi is in the air with the repaired engine and heading to Addison.

[b29flteng]

FIFI is home safe in Addison, Texas. Thanks Rick, don and the rest.

[smclinton]

I posted a video of Fifi leaving Midland yesterday for Addison. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOLKbvZeL1c
Great job to the B-29/B-24 squadron getting Fifi back up and flying in short order.

[PlanesOfThePast]

Great news! It's amazing how fast the engine replacement went. It was good see her in the video back in the air!

Ken Freeman
http://www.PlanesOfThePast.com

[bdk]

Nice work! Hope everything holds up in the coming year.

[K5DH]

Congratulations to the B-24/B-29 Squadron from your friends at VFM!

[therealJR]

I learned that FIFI's spare engine was purchased for the Sq. by CAF HQ, and the repairs turned out not nearly as bad as originally thought. However, I have not heard yet what part actually failed and what was the resulting damage? Please advise.

[b29flteng]

The accessory drive shaft broke.

[b29driver]

F1F1 flew over my house today. I was patrolling the perimeter and runway with my Germanic Sheep Herding K-9. We waved and F1F1 waved back

[Prop Dome Polisher]

Hi ya'll. Not sure if I'm posting this in the right place, but oh well I'm a newbie.

Stumbled across this place after googling B-29 Bombers because July 21st when the Air Power History Tour was in Marion, IL me and my gal went for the ride of our lives on FIFI.

I am still speechless, humbled and awed. Since our flight I have read all 68 pages of this thread.
I hope that at least a few of the people that gave their blood, sweat and tears to get this beautiful old gal back in the air read this, because this 55 yr. old son of a WWII vet was grinning from ear to ear.
THANK YOU.

Well.....I'm starting to get tears in my eyes writing this, so THANK YOU again to all of you guys and gals who made this possible. Gary Austin's spirit was with us.

Brian
Carbondale, IL

[Prop Dome Polisher]

A footnote to the above post. In picture #8 we had just landed, standing third from the right is Neils Agather our co-pilot. Before the flight our pilot who's name I don't remember introduced him and told us what the A on the tail stood for and who FIFI was named after.

During our post flight cockpit tour I told the pilot the landing was smoother then most commercial flights I had been on and he said Neils landed the plane and he has only been flying it for 3 months!

Quite a day, that we will never forget.

Brian and Deb