Warbird Information Exchange

That 3rd. paragraph was not clear to me.Does FIFI require an F/E on board when she flies?

Brad and the others are working on getting their FAA Recip powered Flight Engineer certificate. Right Brad????

That 3rd. paragraph was not clear to me.Does FIFI require an F/E on board when she flies?

The B-29 cannot be flown without a flight engineer; it wasn't made to. Most instruments, warning lights, circuit breakers and switches are not available on the pilots' tiny instrument panels or the center console. I've flown in the cockpit of Fifi three times, attended two ground schools and my Dad was a flight engineer in B-29s in 1950.

Thanks!

The United States Department of Defense has granted B-29 Doc approval to use the non-joint-use runway at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita for final ground testing and eventual first flight operations.

Docs Friends“The approval from the Pentagon is another important milestone along our path to first flight,” said Jim Murphy, Doc’s Friends Restoration Program Manager. “With the airworthiness certificate from the FAA we received a few weeks ago, and now permission from the Pentagon to use the runway at McConnell, first flight for Doc is imminent.”

The authorization signed by officials at the Pentagon means Doc’s flight crew will begin conversations with base leaders to schedule high-speed taxi testing and eventually takeoffs and landings. The restoration team has been performing minor maintenance and systems tests on the ground while awaiting approval from the Pentagon.

“We still have to run medium and high-speed taxi tests, as well as other ground, systems and instrument testing prior to first flight. Those tests will begin soon and we hope to have the plane in the air within the next few weeks. Our restoration volunteers have worked 16 years to get this far and we’re a few final steps away completing the first stage of Doc’s mission to honor those who built, flew and maintained the B-29 warbird,” said Murphy.

The ground testing schedule and scheduling of first flight is weather dependent. Public viewing locations and a timeline for first flight will be released as the event approaches. Information will be provided online at www.b-29doc.com and via releases delivered to the media.

And what are the obscure reason to have different level of rating to operate two planes of the same type ? Both Fifi and Doc are "Experimental" or I'm wrong ?

Many years ago we got approval from the FAA to operate FIFI without a certificated (Licensed) Flight Engineer. The FAA has determined that Doc will fly with a certificated (Licensed) Flight Engineer. It's as simple as that.

So...how's does one go about getting rated as a recip FE, is there a course, syllabus, etc? I read 14 CFR.529 and it lays out the requirements but to obtain those, I'm guessing you just have to be around the aircraft and learning it's systems?

I'm a P-3 FE and as FEs go, I'd say in the modern era, we'd be the closest thing to what a traditional FE used to be (and we're going away as the P-8 comes along). By that I mean; full systems knowledge, takeoff performance and weight and balance is on us, the engines and power settings are ours (from start to shut down and in flight shutdowns and restarts), fuel management is ours, electrical system management, environmental and pressurization is ours (I'm guessing FiFi and Doc aren't pressurized though? I used to have a schematic of the B-29 pressurization system and it was remarkably similar to the P-3s) and of course handing in flight emergencies as well as maintenance on the ground. With just TWO current recip FEs out there, the need for a few more may come along...I think old P-3 FEs would be a good base to start with

I guess I should have taken those orders to the P-3s in Dallas and been in closer proximity to the CAF!