WHO IS FLYING FIFI?

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Thu Jul 08, 2010 7:32 pm

Flying Fifi will be a big responsibility. Who is the pilot or pilots? How much time do they have in Fifi? What do you use to train for this?
I wish them good luck, seems amazing that she is finally ready to fly, hope it all works out and above all is safe. I have seen her fly, flown with her, but never on board.

flyingsailor · **Posted:** Thu Jul 08, 2010 7:48 pm

Bill
I'm not sure who all are going to get current in "FIFI" this year, but we are not checking out any new pilots this year. All pilots of the squadron are guys who have been around warbirds for a good number of years. Most of our guys are also rated in other bombers. Within the squadron you go from the right seat of Ol' 927 to the right seat of "FIFI" to the left seat of Ol' 927 and finally the left seat of "FIFI".

The guys that I know will be flying this year include Charlie Tilgheman, Paul Stojkov, Mack Deeds, Bill Goekin, Carl Riese, and John Cotter. I am sure that there are others, but those are the ones I can think of off hand.

Chris
CAF B-29/B-24 SQD. PIO

b29driver · **Posted:** Thu Jul 08, 2010 8:30 pm

We fly.

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:03 pm

Let's remember that the B-29 is a three flight-crew aircraft - two drivers, airframe and the important guy who knows how it works and can do it going backwards...

I don't know about Fifi specifically (but input from the B-29 crew wanted!) and I'm sure there's some variation due to the new engine system to the original Flight Engineer's role, but the FE will still be a player - even more so on the early flights given this airframe and engine combination will be, to a degree, 'new'.

Regards,

b29flteng · **Posted:** Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:09 pm

It's a minimum of five crew members. Two scanners in the back are the eyes and ears of the crew up front and are just as important. The FE is still the busiest. The only big difference for us FEs is the addition of torque meters.

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:20 pm

Thanks!

Garth · **Posted:** Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:41 pm

b29flteng wrote:

It's a minimum of five crew members.

But, but, but ... I saw this movie once, "Last Flight of Noah's Ark". It showed that a B-29 could be flown by only one guy. He started the plane from the engineer's station, then flew it from the pilot's position.

Are you saying that wasn't true?!?

:twisted:

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Jul 08, 2010 9:46 pm

Quote:

It's a minimum of five crew members.

glad to hear that!! On the P-3s it was 4. PPC, CO, FE
and a scanner (me

).

JimH · **Posted:** Thu Jul 08, 2010 10:49 pm

I know one...he's one of our 24 drivers...

jim

Steve S · **Posted:** Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:55 am

Garth wrote:

b29flteng wrote:

It's a minimum of five crew members.

But, but, but ... I saw this movie once, "Last Flight of Noah's Ark". It showed that a B-29 could be flown by only one guy. He started the plane from the engineer's station, then flew it from the pilot's position.

Are you saying that wasn't true?!?

:twisted:

We all know that they NEVER EVER show anything on TV or in the Movies that ins't 100% true or plausible- how could you ever doubt Hollywood :wink:

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