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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: 469
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".
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?? ;-)
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.
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:
Thanks.... Brings tears to an olde man. Toured FIFI many years ago. Never any such thing as a "routine" flight.
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.
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????
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.
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#2. To: X-15, Jethro Till, Lod, All (#1)
You might enjoy this.
#4. To: Cynicom (#2)
(Edited)
#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?? ;-)
#12. To: Cynicom, Jethro Tull, Lod (#7)
#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)
#15. To: Cynicom (#14)
#16. To: Cynicom (#15)
#17. To: Cynicom (#16)
#18. To: Cynicom (#17)
#19. To: X-15 (#18)
#21. To: Cynicom (#19)
(Edited)
Never any such thing as a "routine" flight
#23. To: X-15 (#21)
#24. To: Cynicom (#23)
(Edited)
You do know what the pucker factor is????
Replies to Comment # 24.