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Title: B-29 "FIFI" A Story of New Engines
Source:
YouTube
URL Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMMvIT8brQc&feature=player_embedded#!
Published: May 3, 2010
Author: CAF
Post Date: 2010-06-03 17:16:39 by X-15
Keywords: None
Views: 365
Comments: 24
Poster Comment: Scheduled to fly later this month!
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#1. To: Cynicom (#0)
You might enjoy this.
__________________________________________________________ Thank you, indeed I did. I read and watched the videos you posted awhile ago. I was all thru FIFI a few years ago, made me cry. It was near sixty years ago, that I volunteered to be a crew member on one of those. When you are young and STUPID you do stupid things. I could not pass the physical for pilot training so they offered me a chance to go along anyway, never figured that out. Flying B-29s was always at the least, an adventure and most times terrifying death cheaters, there was no such thing as "routine flight".
Nice vid. These are why I like watching the Military channel.
So, you DID always know the exact location of the on-board fire extinguishers at all times during every flight and you DID have a planned hasty exit out the nearest escape hatch?? ;-)
__________________________________________________________ I need to stop watching those insane Kaganovich hearings.
Have you stocked-up on fireworks yet? I've got one of those cardboard mortars that shoot 2-inch shells up about 200 feet, they're a hoot!! I also like to toss those 5-minute smoke generators out by the road, it freaks out passing motorists who have to slow down to go through the "fog bank" in the middle of summer!!
__________________________________________________________ You well know the answer to that one. I actually lost more friends to accidents and crashes than were shot down over Korea. The day I volunteered for Combat Crew training was a bad day. As I was walking in to sign in, everyone came running out, so I joined them, and watched a B-29 on fire during a touch and go. She blew in one hell of a ball of fire, that was my first hint that I was indeed stupid.
All of that is a charade, window dressing for the rubes. If she were Mongolian, she would be run out of town on a rail for being so ugly. Being a "brilliant" Jew, her way will be greased onto the court.
Right now we're so dry, I'd be afraid of setting the Hill Country on fire. They keep on about Alex bringing us some rain, but so far, nada.
Back from the grocer (sans list) so now I'll go back and get what I forgot. Dang it.
MIDLAND, TEXAS (July 7, 2010) – On Tues. July 6, 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Airworthiness Certificate allowing the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) B-29 Superfortress crew to begin Phase I flight- testing. Phase I flight-testing will begin in the afternoon on Fri., July 9 and continue through Sat., July 10. During these test flights, the B-29 crewmembers will be required to depart MidlandInternationalAirport for unpopulated areas. Upon returning from the flights, the crew will need to dismantle areas of the aircraft in order to review the aircraft’s performance and safety. On Mon., July 12, the B-29 will be in flight for crew training. This is the perfect opportunity for community members to join the CAF in celebrating FIFI’s return to flight. During these training exercises the B-29 crew will be performing “touch-and-gos” at Midland International Airport. * The CAFAirpowerMuseum will open its doors at 7 a.m. on Mon. July 12 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. Monday will also mark the beginning of the museum’s new summer hours. From Mon., July 12 through Mon., Sept. 6, the CAFAirpowerMuseum will be open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The CAF Airpower Museum is located at 9600 Wright Drive near Midland International Airport. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults age 18-64, $9 for teenagers age 13-17 and seniors age 65 and older, $7 for children age 6-12 and children age 5 and under receive free admission. 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 United States 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. Collecting, restoring and flying vintage historical aircraft for more than half a century, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) ranks as one of the largest private air forces in the world. The CAF is dedicated to Honoring American Military Aviation through flight, exhibition and remembrance. A non-profit educational association, the CAF has approximately 9,000 members and a fleet of 156 airplanes distributed throughout the country to 74 units located in 27 states for care and operation. For more information, visit www.commemorativeairforce.org or call (432) 563-1000.
__________________________________________________________ FIFI Flies Again! August 5, 2010 —It’s been a long, challenging effort, but Thursday morning (August 5) it all paid off for the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) as its Boeing B-29 Superfortress FIFI returned to flight for the first time since 2004. After more than four years of work, FIFI lifted off the runway at Midland, Texas, just before 9 a.m. for a 39-minute flight. “It is an emotional day at the CAF for our volunteer-members and staff,” said 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.” Paul Stojkov, CAF Colonel and one of the B-29 pilots, exclaimed, “She ran like a top. 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.” The CAF Airpower Museum, located near Midland International Airport, will be open to the public at 7 a.m. this Saturday, August 7, as FIFI’s crew makes pre- flight preparations and its first public flight. “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.’ It will be quite a show.” At AirVenture last week, the CAF announced the “Red, White, and Loud Tour,” featuring pilot/entertainer Aaron Tippin and the glamorous warbird at various stops around the country, starting with the Rocky Mountain Fly-In in Denver August 28-29. Also planned is a visit to AirVenture next year - FIFI’s first appearance at Oshkosh in more than a decade.
__________________________________________________________ Never had one that flew like a "top".. Each and every one was an adventure at the least, terrifying too many times. I can recall more friends killed in crashes than were shot down over North Korea. As the first "heavy" aircraft with olde technology, we could not complain too much. Pressurized and heated it was a marvel compared to its forefathers. The military had a bad habit of always exceeding the aircraft limits as set by the manufacturer. Max weight was upped to over 160K, engine time was set so high that few ever made it without failing first. Mag drops were 50, upped to 65, you better never refuse to take one, unless the engine dropped off.
Today I took some pictures to share with you, the CAF came to McKinney, TX:
Obama is the miscegenated bastard of a white communist whore. True story.
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#2. To: X-15, Jethro Till, Lod, All (#1)
You might enjoy this.
#3. To: X-15, Cynicom, all (#2)
#4. To: Cynicom (#2)
(Edited)
Obama is the miscegenated bastard of a white communist whore. True story.
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#5. To: Cynicom, JT, X-15. 4 (#2)
#6. To: Lod (#5)
(Edited)
Obama is the miscegenated bastard of a white communist whore. True story.
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#7. To: X-15 (#4)
So, you DID always know the exact location of the on-board fire extinguishers at all times during every flight and you DID have a planned hasty exit out the nearest escape hatch?? ;-)
#8. To: Lod (#5)
I need to stop watching those insane Kaganovich hearings.
#9. To: X-15 (#6)
#10. To: Cynicom (#8)
#11. To: All (#0)
Update bump
Obama is the miscegenated bastard of a white communist whore. True story.
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#12. To: Cynicom, Jethro Tull, Lod (#7)
"This man is Jesus,” shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. “When will he come to Kenya to save us?"
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#13. To: X-15 (#12)
Paul Stojkov, CAF Colonel and one of the B-29 pilots, exclaimed, “She ran like a top
#14. To: Cynicom (#13)
-Alex Kurtagic
#15. To: Cynicom (#14)
-Alex Kurtagic
#16. To: Cynicom (#15)
-Alex Kurtagic
#17. To: Cynicom (#16)
-Alex Kurtagic
#18. To: Cynicom (#17)
-Alex Kurtagic
#19. To: X-15 (#18)
Thanks.... Brings tears to an olde man. Toured FIFI many years ago. Never any such thing as a "routine" flight.
#20. To: Cynicom (#2)
Cyni, You are dating yourself here. When I worked for the State of Illinois, I knew a guy who was a Korean War veteran. His name was Jesse Perman. I think he was regular Army. He was a part of the Jew Crew my first year working for the State. ;) I was all thru FIFI a few years ago, made me cry. It was near sixty years ago, that I volunteered to be a crew member on one of those. When you are young and STUPID you do stupid things.
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
#21. To: Cynicom (#19) (Edited)
As part of the pre-flight I overheard the aircraft commander/PIC tell the flight engineer that if any emergency arose that the co-pilot would take the wheel and that the A/C and the F/E would deal with the emergency. Incidentally, this was a Father/Daughter pilot/co-pilot, she is the first woman since WWII to become a flight officer on a B-29. I was in the Navigator position. I think it used to be the F/E position behind a bulkhead, but that's been moved to behind the co-pilot position as you can see in the photo above. Never any such thing as a "routine" flight
-Alex Kurtagic
#22. To: BTP Holdings (#20)
Soon be 82. In war time, one finds out the truth, your life is worth nothing to the State. The State is perfectly willing to forfeit your life, so that it may exist and survive. Americans have been brainwashed and programmed to vote because it is patriotic, serve the military because it is patriotic, on and on. The noose around our necks is not a collar, it is the rope they will hang us with if get out of line.
#23. To: X-15 (#21)
Nav was behind AC, FE was behind pilot, riding backwards. Now imagine yourself, full load of 500 pounders, armed, and gas fumes so thick on takeoff you cannot breath. You sweat and the pucker factor becomes 100 per cent. You do know what the pucker factor is????
#24. To: Cynicom (#23) (Edited)
Your ass clenches your underwear in an effort to ward off an impending disaster. P.S. The navigator's table had a map of the Japanese islands under glass with Dutch Van Kirks autograph on it, that's in one of the above pictures. You do know what the pucker factor is????
-Alex Kurtagic
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