Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

[b29flteng]

Dang...those engines are works of art...seems a shame to have them all closed-up in their nacelles...

AMEN!

[the330thbg]

Luvin every minute of it!!!!

[Iclo]

Hi,

Just a little question about the cockpit: what's the small CRT screen between the HSI and variometer ?
(My personnal B-29 in flight Simulator doesn't have this instrument )

Congrats for the good job, guys

[Django]

That sounds about right. That really made me smile.

I'm pretty sure this little touch was added by Gary.

[RV8er]

Just a little question about the cockpit: what's the small CRT screen between the HSI and variometer ?

Actually, that is the HSI; the gauge on the left is an RMI, Radio Magnetic Indicator. The CRT screen itself looks like a Collins EFIS-84 unit (EHSI) with the small control panel mounted below and left... it's the rectangular box with 6 buttons and 2 big knobs.

[Iclo]

RV8er: Thanks.

Yes, I made an mistake in the translation of the name of the "left instrument" but I have in mind the correct "description"
(It's the trouble when the English training you received is only "business" or "computer-science" orienter )

[Chief]

Reference 6trn4brn's question on opening the engine nacells/cowling at an airshow. We have to remove the propeller to take the cowling off. It is a big job.

However, with the old engines in the past, there were several times at airshows we did just that because of all the engine changes we had.
There were even times when we couldn't split the cowling in just the right place for a cylinder change. Therefore, we had to remove the propeller and then remove the entire cowling just to change a cylinder.

It is possible to open some of the side panels to see a little bit of the engine.

[engguy]

Did the B50 have the same type of deal for cowlings? Sure glad Boeing figured out the proper cowlings to use with the Stratocruiser and KC-97's etc. That would not be a fun deal having to remove the propellers on them, gosh can you do a spark plug change without removing the propeller?

[6trn4brn]

Darn...thanx for the explanation Chief. It will be so wonderful seeing FiFi back in the air...seeing the pix of the works of art here that are gonna help her get along is OK.

[b29flteng]

Did the B50 have the same type of deal for cowlings? Sure glad Boeing figured out the proper cowlings to use with the Stratocruiser and KC-97's etc. That would not be a fun deal having to remove the propellers on them, gosh can you do a spark plug change without removing the propeller?

Boeing did get it right on the B-50. The cowling opened up just like the C/KC-97. Later versions of the B-29 had a nose cowl that you could split so as to not have to remove the propeller. One engine on FIFI is like that.

[Dan K]

Thanks for all of your hard work, gentlemen (and woman). Looking forward to seeing two turnin' at once.

[flyingsailor]

Thanks for all of your hard work, gentlemen (and woman). Looking forward to seeing two turnin' at once.

Dan
Soon we will have two turnin and burnin.... third engine is well into assembly

Chris

[engguy]

Did the B50 have the same type of deal for cowlings? Sure glad Boeing figured out the proper cowlings to use with the Stratocruiser and KC-97's etc. That would not be a fun deal having to remove the propellers on them, gosh can you do a spark plug change without removing the propeller?

Boeing did get it right on the B-50. The cowling opened up just like the C/KC-97. Later versions of the B-29 had a nose cowl that you could split so as to not have to remove the propeller. One engine on FIFI is like that.

Why not make them all like that? The split type.

[B29B24crewchief]

We do have split cowls but they are still a huge pain in the ass! It's almost easier to take the prop off than go thru all that. I'll see as time goes by, what we can do to improve the split cowl design and make it better.
Dave

[Pogo]

How did she come to be named FIFI?