Ridin' FiFi

[JOMiller]

CAF's FiFi is in Mobile headed for Tico and Sun-N-Fun.
They're selling rides and cockpit tours. Today I check-
ed one off the bucket list and took a hop on FiFi. This
was absolutely the most fun I've ever had with my
pants on. Folks, if you ever get the chance don't miss
it. The crew that brought her is the nicest most friendly
group of warbirders I've met, and I've met some nice
ones. They answered the same questions from different
people over and over for hours cheerfully and with great
respect. I spent hours in the plane with the flight engineer
as he taught me all about "his baby".

When we took off I was on the flight deck in the navigator
station. Soon I was in the observer seat just behind the
copilot looking out that classic greenhouse as we flew two
circuits over my battleship where my shipmates were out
on deck waving. Then we flew up the Mobile River Delta
and out to west Mobile where we did figure eights with the
big old billboard to let Mobile know she had arrived. They
asked meif I wanted to crawl back to the waist. I replied I
was very happy where I was. Then it was back east,
another circuit over the ship, the State Docks, and the land-
ing. Best B-29 landing I've ever had!

Again, no kiddin', if you get the chance, take the ride.

Last edited by JOMiller on Sun Feb 26, 2012 7:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[262crew]

Awesome! What was the price and how long was the ride?

[JOMiller]

Good question...........It depends on the seat.
Click on this link and there is a diagram of the
plane with a price list. You can save a bit by
booking ahead of time. Worth every penny!

http://www.cafb29b24.org/index.php?opti ... Itemid=483

[Robbie Stuart]

That's Great Owen!

[PbyCat-Guy]

What does it take to be FiFi pilot? I'm looking to fly this or another bomber on my days off from flying turbo props at my airline. I'd especially like to fly Fifi since I had a relative that was a navigator on B-29s during the war.

[seabee1526]

Happen to know where Fifi will be...say...the 1st weekend in August?

[CAPFlyer]

What does it take to be FiFi pilot? I'm looking to fly this or another bomber on my days off from flying turbo props at my airline. I'd especially like to fly Fifi since I had a relative that was a navigator on B-29s during the war.

Join the CAF, Join the Squadron, become an aircraft sponsor, and then do whatever else they tell you to do.

[p51]

I've been lucky in years past to get several warbird rides and never had to pay for any of them. But for a B-29 ride, I've already told my wife that the next time Fifi is in the area, I'm paying for that ride, now all they have to do is get her back to Boeing Field someday...

[Alan Brooks]

Happen to know where Fifi will be...say...the 1st weekend in August?

I would venture a guess.... somewhere up north around Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota....

[Lynn Allen]

If you ride FiFi, Chuck Gardner will pass you many times flying escort....

[JOMiller]

Here's a link to a cool story about FiFi's visit.

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_n ... n-the-b-29

http://www.local15tv.com/news/local/sto ... E9BWg.cspx

[JOMiller]

I forgot something..........

FIFI has four video cameras monunted. One under the belly
looking forward. Three inside to record the experience. When
they land, they download the material to a laptop and burn
the riders a DVD. It's not Hi-Rez, but it's mighty cool. I've
probably watched mine 100 times.

It bears repeating, if you get the change take it. Ride of a
lifetime!

[bcmj]

I took a ride in her last summer and it was great, and like you said the crew was outstanding! When we got back I had many people asking was it worth? oh yes I replied. The DVD is great to watch and relive the experince. Another thing I found was someone also taped the takeoff of the flight I was on and posted it on youtube, so I get both views to watch, inside veiw and outside view. Now if I only could take control of the yoke for a flight!