Warbird Information Exchange

Sasnak, thanks for your suggestion regarding FIFI's name and paint scheme. When we were doing the most recent airframe work to FIFI, I made the suggestion that we should perhaps make the markings on the aircraft a little more authentic, and maybe even changing the scheme a bit, while at the same time, retaining the name "FIFI". Well, my idea was vehemently voted off the island.

This is obviously a very touchy subject that is brought up from time to time. I think that there will someday be some willingness from folks to consider some changes in the respects of FIFI's exterior, but with the current struggle just to get her flying again, the paint is really somewhat of a low priority. I'm sure that just getting her back in the air will generate a fair amount of much needed publicity and support. Once that hoopla dies down and the sight of FIFI flying back and forth across the U.S.A. (and possibly Europe and "Down Under" sometime soon ), becomes common to everyone, we may then put a major facelift on the table for discussion.

I'm not personally shooting your idea down. I think it's great to get input from everyone out there. After all, YOU are what keeps our airplanes flying.

Thanks for understanding.

Gary

How bout bringing her up to Canada. (insert begging emoticon here). Boeing Canada in Vancouver use to build B29 fuselage sections back in the good old days.

Brian....

I'll just say this...it's waaaaay too early to seriously discuss our future tour schedule with FIFI, but I can say that along with the obligatory U.S. tour, the following locations have been discussed.....

Canada, Europe, Australia (with a NZ stop or two), and there was even a suggestion of a Japan tour.

However, this was ONLY in non-formal discussion. We know for a fact that the Canada and Europe tours wouldn't be completely out of the question, but there would have to be some big time, major sponsorship for any of the stuff across the big pond. Personally, I think everything should be considered, but like I said, it's just much too early to take anything seriously right now.

Gary

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Hmmmmmmm,

looks like SOMEONE has been flying his Flight Simulator abit of late.

Paul

Yep, in my flight sim world Fifi (as well as other B-29s) fly almost every weekend and it never needs a periodic inspection or engine overhauls.

Eric

Gotta ask, why the name Fifi?

_________________
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FIFI is the name of Vic Agather's wife. Vic was the main reason that FIFI was recovered from China Lake and is with the CAF today.

With the Kiwis' strong anti-nuke stance, Fifi might genearate some protests if she showed up in New Zealand. I remember some protesters staged a sit-in in front of her at the 1977 Selfridge Air Show. Base security was tolerant until one of the protestors tossed some red paint at the plane. At that point, they brought out the crash trucks with water cannons...


SN

I've been toying with saying this. I've been thinking the unthinkable ..... oh well here goes .....

Wouldn't it be awesome to if Doc and Fifi could be swapped. They get a flyable B-29 that they may never fly again and it would not be so detrimental having it sit outside while funds were raised to house it. The CAF get a almost fully restored / airworthy B-29 to hang Garys new engines on. Everybody wins !

Well except me ~ I'll go and stand in the corner and face the wall for a while for even suggesting it

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Peter

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Not a bad idea, Peter. Just fairly unlikely with the way politics and personalities go.

Gary

Did "Fifi" ever drop a nuclear bomb? Was the aircraft ever modified to carry one?

Symbolism, dude. Symbolism.

But people can surprise you. One time several years ago I was doing some research on wartime research into the use of composites in aircraft structures that was supported by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. A guy from MITI came out to help us go through the library at the USAFM. During a break I decided to walk him through the museum. His English was not great, but a lot better than what little Japanese I retained from my 2-semester course in it, but he turned out to be quite the aviation buff so we spoke the same language in a sense. I was apprehensive knowing that we were approaching Bockscar. Finally we came up to it and I said, "So ... this is the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki." He replied, "Yes, B-29, I know. Also Hiroshima bomb." I said, "Uh, yes, but this one dropped the Nagasaki bomb -- THIS one." He said, "Uh-huh, uh-huh .... oooohhhh!" and became so fascinated with the airplane that he had to look all around it, get me to take his picture with it, etc., etc. It was the #2 highlight of his trip to the U.S.

(The #1 highlight was when he saw the Shiden-Kai in 343rd Kokutai markings. He loved the airplane and proceeded to tell me all about the 343rd, how it was the last collection of Japan's surviving elite pilots, and so forth with all the pride that we would take in talking of any of our favorite squadrons.)

Anyway, bottom line, yes there might be some protests but I would expect a much greater amount of appreciation, wherever it tours.

August

Understood, but a protest of Fifi would be a very ignorant response. I just don't see how Fifi could be construed as advocating the use of nuclear weapons, especially as it is privately, not government owned and the CAF's charter appears to be a non-political educational one.

The exception with respect to politics might be Culpepper's Flying Circus though...

Gary,

If this was to come to pass it would be fantastic. It would be great for some of the rest of the world to see the B-29 - a real educational experience for kids and adults. Almost everyone will have heard of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and so they'll have some idea of what a B-29 is. But most of us will never get the chance to see one (I have, at Duxford, but I'm lucky...)

What length of runway is required for the B-29. I doubt it could appear (on the ground) at either of NZ's two biggest airshow venues, Wanaka or Omaka, sadly. But perhaps Auckland and Christchurch will see it someday. Let's hope.

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I agree with you completely about how great it would be if we could somehow afford to get FIFI down to your half of the planet to help educate the youngsters there and to show some of the adults just how cool this ol' airplane is.

We require a minimum of 6000' for runway length. There are also width restrictions for the runways, but the taxiways are where we get into our biggest binds. The inbd prop tips are only about 2-3 ft. off the ground and the outbd. props just slightly higher. We often times have to shut the outboard engines off and "X" the blades when taxiing at airports up in the Northern U.S. since their taxiway lights are higher off the ground due to their annual snowfalls.

We will surely be talking more about this as that time gets nearer. Until then, we'll just keep dreamin' about it.

Gary