FIFI ICAS Cut from Hangar Workshop Productions on Vimeo.
That's the only flying B-29 Superfortress in existence right there. That's a piece of history live and direct, in aluminum, steel, and glass. Four engines drive four propellers to get the B-29 airborne and keep her there, and it sported numerous advances taken for granted to day, like pressurized cabins and fire control systems. It's also the model used to deliver the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, adding to the uniqueness of this aircraft - the only bomber to ever deliver a nuclear payload.
Pretty darn cool to see one up in the air.
That is all.
14 comments:
That was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen! It was like all the wonder and awe I get when I hold an M1 Carbine or 1911 that was in WWII, multiplied by a zillion. That was positively moving. Thanks for posting that!
tweaker
I saw it fly at an airshow many moons ago. When it cranked up and taxied out the wing swung over our heads. Way cool...
More info here:
http://www.rideb29.com/
Gave me goosebumps.
I've been aboard Fifi though never in flight. The man giving the tour had been a flight engineer with the first B-29 wing deployed to India. After I photographed the bomb-sight he told me "If this were 1944 I'd of shot you for that." He wasn't smiling.
Like Stretch i took the tour in when she flew into Bowling Green.
I was in the indoor pistol range in town when the B-29 flew in on landing approach. The noise is impressive.
Gerry
The Hanger Workshop also has a fascinating video about the replacing of the aircraft's engines. Apparently, Fifi was grounded for a number of years due to the engines being worn out and no longer serviceable.
Nice post. Thanks.
It surprised me that they changed their name from the 'Confederate' Air Force (as it was when I was younger) to the 'Commemorative' although given PC now I guess it's just disappointing that they felt the need.
Reading Stretch's comment, I see that I'm not the only one here that's been aboard FiFi, at least on the ground.
She was at the airport at Hondo, Texas, for part of her refit. I simply drove up to the hanger, asked if I could look her over, and the ground crew there welcomed me aboard.
I. Was. In. Awe.
Her bomb-bay doors were open, and I got to walk under there and marvel at parts of her engineering which is normally not on view. She's magnificent!
Her nosegear is an hour's study alone, just in terms of sheer elegance of design and execution.
Still, I envy those of you who've seen her fly. That's on my list.
Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX
I get to see history every day I come to work. We use B-29B props for the main drive here at the wind tunnel. When we got one set of replacement blades from the Air Force Museum they told us it came off the Enola Gay! Besides, the entire collection of four sets of blades that we have are aluminum which only the B models of the nuke squadron had. All the rest of the B-29's had steel blades. Neat to come to work to that kind of history.
Got to see Fifi many years ago. Dad was a member of the CAF back when they were the Confederate AF. Was standing on the taxiway directing aircraft to their parking places on the ramp when Fifi made a low level pass before landing. Gave me chills as a 18yo to be that close to history.
Although it was "only" in a B-24, a few years ago I actually was able to fly in one of these amazing War Birds..........
...and you can too.
see http://www.collingsfoundation.org/cf_flightexperiences.htm
Collins is out of Stow MA - although the big birds don't live there ( only the small ones). The planes visit air shows and other locals around the country. The flights don't always go up due to weather and constant mechanical issues. But the flights book up almost immediatly....so If you ever get a chance, book as soon as they have times available.
Yeah, it's expensive ... but it was worth penny.
Love the old planes.
I kind of think I missed out on the golden age of aerospace engineering.
Another cool plane to see is the F104 flown by Starfighters, Inc. The only privately owned F104s in existence!
I'm excited. My father and I go to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's WWII Weekend in Reading, PA every year. Fifi is headlining the show this year, I've never seen her - on the ground, or in the air. I'm hoping for fair weather so that I can witness her fly.
Between cost of insurance, gas to feed those big engines, and parts, things like Fifi, Collings B-24, and really any old warbird aren't going to be flying for too much longer. They say that a P-51 Mustang appreciates in price 5-10k PER DAY. This for a plane that was sold for $750 with a belly full of gas back in the 40's. Also, they already can't run the engines up to spec in most military aircraft of that era, they were designed for something like 114 octane fuel, now they can only get 100LL. Further changes down the road will be seeing more ethanol in the fuel, unleaded fuel, and numerous other green initiatives that will probably contribute to the permanent grounding of these aircraft.
It'll be a sad, sad day when the last WWII Warbird rolls into the hanger for the last time. See them while you can - they are literally a dying part of our history
Cool! Unfortunately, Fifi couldn't be flown at Oshkosh this year due to engine problems.
"Only flying example".. for now. Boeing's restoring one to flight status in Wichita!
http://www.b-29doc.com/
I've had the pleasure of actually climbing around in that plane when it was on tour back in the early 90's. It's simply amazing. In fact, it's flown over at least one graduation ceremony of my old high school http://www.richlandbombers.org/history-of-days-pay
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