Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

[Iclo]

Congratulation to all the peoples involved in this incredible job.
Your success after so much hard labor will be an example to follow

[TimAPNY]

Great news! GREAT JOB EVERYONE INVOLVED!

Tim

[oz rb fan]

congrats to all involved
i think gary is really smiling fifi back in the air and a seafury on her wing

[B29B24crewchief]

There are many things to be said and will be said about this day and shown in video or other media but what I want to say is WOW! This has been a very special day for me and the culmination of a year and a half of work with the dedication of a very small group of volunteers. It has been my honor and priviledge to have been chosen to be the lead in this effort.

Dave

more to come

[bluehawk15]

Another great day for the CAF!

Here's the press release from the special edition of "On The Fly", the E-newsletter that's sent to members:

CAF B-29 FIFI Takes First Flight

MIDLAND, TEXAS (Aug. 5, 2010). –The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is proud to announce the return to flight for FIFI, “the Queen of the Fleet.” The world’s only flyable Boeing B-29 Superfortress returned to the skies early Thursday morning for its first flight since 2004.

“It is an emotional day at the CAF for our volunteer-members and staff,” said CAF President Stephan Brown. “There were more than a few tears of joy shed by those who have worked over these past few years to see FIFI fly again. Today is a new beginning for this historic warbird. Thanks to the dedication of our members and the support of Jim Cavanaugh, the B-29 can once again return to telling the stories of the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.”

Following more than four years of work, FIFI returned to the skies just before 9 a.m. on Thursday morning for a beautiful 39-minute flight. Back on the ground, the crew exited the B-29 with massive smiles and unimaginable excitement.

“She ran like a top,” said CAF Colonel, and one of the pilots for the B-29, Paul Stojkov. “It’s a very special day. A lot of us have been waiting for this for four and a half years. We have to thank everyone involved for their help in getting her to this point.”

“I’m speechless,” said CAF B-29 Crew Chief Dave Miller. “I can’t express in words my appreciation for the opportunity to work with FIFI and for the help of everyone involved in working to get her back in the air. Thank you to the entire CAF family.”

“I am deeply pleased to see FIFI fly again after such a long wait,” said CAF General Staff member, Neils Agather. “Today’s flight is a product of the dedication of many people, Gary Austin, Dave Miller and many more volunteers. We must also thank Jim Cavanaugh for his support. My parents, Vic and Fifi, would be proud.”

The CAF Airpower Museum will open its doors at 7 a.m. on Sat. Aug. 7, for visitors who would like to get a front row seat for FIFI’s pre-flight preparations and flight. Visitors to the museum will be ushered to the main hangar for an up-close view of the crew preparing this massive bomber for flight. Once FIFI begins to head for the runways, visitors will be escorted to a prime viewing area, to witness the B-29’s crew training.

“Saturday is the perfect opportunity for our community to come out to the CAF and see FIFI fly,” said CAF President Stephan Brown. “Throughout the morning, the B-29 crew will be completing the required crew training that includes ‘touch and gos’ at Midland International Airport, it will be quite a show.”

The CAF Airpower Museum is located at 9600 Wright Drive near Midland International Airport. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults ages 18-64, $9 for teenagers ages 13-17 and seniors age 65 and older, $7 for children ages 6-12, and children age 5 and under receive free admission. The CAF would like to encourage visitors to take Interstate 20 or Highway 80 (Business Interstate 20) to FM 1788. This route will avoid additional traffic congestion for Rock the Desert also being held in the area.

The B-29 was originally fitted with the Wright R-3350-57AM engine, which had a less-than-desirable reputation since its inception. True to this reputation, FIFI has experienced numerous problems with her engines in the 30-plus years she has been flying with the CAF. Following the discovery of metal shavings in the engine oil, the B-29/B-24 Squadron held a lengthy series of meetings with CAF personnel and experts in the field of aircraft restoration, and the decision was made to not fly the plane again until it could be fitted with engines that are a custom built combination of the R-3350-95W and R-3350-26WD engines. The refit required reworking the engine mounts and some of the engine cowling, making it a lengthy undertaking.

When the Commemorative Air Force (then Confederate Air Force) began searching for a B-29 for its collection of historical military aircraft, World War II had been over for 21 years. The Superfortresses that helped end it had long since yielded to new generations of jet-powered strategic bombers and vanished. According to the U. S. Air Force, no B-29s remained in inventory, even at storage or disposal depots. But the CAF colonels had faith, and it paid off.

In 1971, a pilot reported sighting a number of what might have been B-29s in the California desert near China Lake. The CAF learned the aircraft were indeed Superfortresses that had been parked at a Navy weapons center for 17 years. They had been used for gunnery targets and abused by heat, sand and vandals. After much negotiation, paperwork and a painstaking process of elimination to find the best survivor, the CAF added B-29 SN44-62070 to its fleet. That was just the beginning of the task. The complete restoration to CAF standards of airworthiness was a long and expensive project involving more than three years of fund-raising and hard work. Late in 1974, the CAF's B-29 was christened FIFI and joined the other World War II fighters and bombers to preserve the memories and teach lessons of mankind's greatest war.

For more pictures and video of the take-off, please click here:http://commemorativeairforce.org/?page=cms/event&eventID=79

[MX304]

Another day, another flight. She just launched again about 15 minutes ago.

[DenverWarbirdFan]

What happened to #2 yesterday?

[Garth]

Question, just for the sake of curiosity (and maybe changing the subject a bit).

Assuming available money, paperwork being able to be in order, everything mechanically good ... would the CAF every consider taking FIFI over to Europe? Or, even with all the above, is the risk still too great and the possibility out of the question?

Would be neat to see (pictures of) her doing flybys in formation with the Vulcan.

[b29driver]

It is within the capability of the airplane. Since I would likely be the pilot to do it, I would have to say that I consider the risk too great for the reward.

The last B-17 that went over paid $22/gal at one fuel stop. That could be as much as $132,000 just for one load of fuel in the B-29.

I vote for the Vulcan to come to the states.

[Dan K]

It is within the capability of the airplane. Since I would likely be the pilot to do it, I would have to say that I consider the risk too great for the reward.

The last B-17 that went over paid $22/gal at one fuel stop. That could be as much as $132,000 just for one load of fuel in the B-29.

I vote for the Vulcan to come to the states.

Hear, hear.

[B29B24crewchief]

My 2 cents! If there is an oil company (one comes to mind that is based in Great Britian) that needs some positive PR and would be willing to pay for fuel or sponsor that trip to Europe, I say lets do it!!
Dave

[bluehawk15]

I can't remember exactly how long ago it was, probably 25 years, give or take 5, that the CAF was talking about getting a bunch of the planes together and take a touring air show around Europe. I can't recall exactly what happened to that idea, but I think it had to do with lack of sponsorship and no firm commitments on shows.

Maybe it's something we should revisit? The Yellow Rose could make it! I'll fly the Biergarten...er....Germany shows!

[Chris]

Overheard FIFI had to pull #2 engine? Rumor or fact? Old news?

[engguy]

http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2 ... 6fifi.html
http://discussions.flightaware.com/view ... ab5b52f441
http://members3.boardhost.com/1941AirMu ... 70368.html

So what happened??? Since this is old school stuff, and no longer are R-3350's on the war departments "Top secret" list, I don't see why such things are kept mum on here? If Gary was here we would have a write up on it.

So one story is there was an ignition system problem, that caused detonation and resultant piston/ cylinder failure.
Another story talks about a bad fuel pump. So whats the real story? The fuel pump story looks like it could void the engine waranty.

http://commemorativeairforce.org/?page= ... _page=1267
So what did the Anderson crew find?

[Lynn Allen]

Ok, since when does a fuel pump cause bad vib's? Rich could you chime in if you can please??