Warbird Information Exchange

To echo the congrats of "FiFi" return to the air first, I also had a question concerning the upper forward turret. It is normally "caged" in the forward facing station, with the barrels pointed forward, zero degree elevation. "FiFi" has had her's that way for years as well. Is there a temporary reason why the turret is spun 180 degrees rearward, or is that the way she will be from now on?

Just curious. Again, congrats to all for returning america's sweetheart to the air!

Thanks for the kind words! She is going to be a site to behold for many years to come!!

The turrets are or have been moved to this position for several reasons.
First is, the gun barrels swallow less bugs this way.
It causes less drag this way. Not a problem anymore though!!!

Not sure why else???

Maybe we will change it!!!

???
Dave

Change it when you make it operational....

Turn the guns around when you go to Yankee land for sure...and maybe Oklahoma too.

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Careful, Zane! Our Sooners are headed your way tomorrow... and after the Longhorns' fantastic efforts at home against UCLA, and the Aggie's lackluster performance last night against the Pokes, I would think Texans are in a poor position to be threatening us Okies...

kevin

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FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!

Actually, the reason the guns are all pointed aft now is that with the engines changed out the plane is so fast that there are only trailers to hit now.

Yes that may be true. She is fast and we have all been amazed at the performance numbers. The best she has flown, faster acceleration, quicker climb, cooler running, faster in straight and level, everything we had hoped for and expected!!

"FIFI" is HAPPY!!
Dave

Any chance we might see her at Wings Over Houston ?

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Just a short note from an exhausted crew of "FIFI"...

"FIFI" flew her first airshow this weekend in a LONG time, and loved it! "FIFI" performed extremely well. Crew chiefs Dave Miller and Rick Garvis deserve a HUGE pat on the back for making sure this would happen.

I may be a bit prejudice however I believe "FIFI" taking to the air on Saturday stole the show. In addition to the two airshow flights, "FIFI" was almost in constant motion, we were only able to open her for tours about two hours total, because we flew at least nine revenue rides and a photo mission over the weekend (I lost track of all the flights).

At the end of the weekend a number of crew were standing on the ramp having the first beer of the evening at sunset with huge smiles on our faces.

I will steal a line from Neils Agather and wrap up by saying "FIFI" IS BACK!

NOPE! you not being prejudice, i told my wife when we left home [at 4;30 sat morn] that i was going to the show to see FIFI fly, all else would be icing on the cake. well i saw her fly, and it was GREAT. she did steal the show. Dave was kind enough to spend a few minutes talking with me, which was another BIG thrill for me, because he's my new hero [along with all we the other good folks that made this happen]. now don't get me wrong, the WHOLE show was absouletly a dream come true for me. if anyone ask me about the AIRSHO the best thing i can say about it is. they FLY the planes. CONGRATULATIONS to the CAF for pulling off the greatest air show i've ever been to.

A couple of photos from Airsho...

Getting her ready for the first flight of the day





Flying past the sun





She flew flawlessly. The engines are breaking in well. This Airsho was a tribute to her maintenace crew, her flight crew and all of those in the years past. On one flight I had the honor to be the "flight attendant" for a WWII B29 pilot who flew 35 missions. If there is any danger from grinning too much, this man could have been in real trouble! This is why we do it ladies and gents!!!

Mark

Jeff Lee of LiveAirshowTV put together a brief teaser from this weekend. Though not a substitute it will give you a feel of the weekend. Jeff said he would be putting together a longer version down the road. In the meantime http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1448594732004


I cannot tell you how cool it was on Saturday during the AIRSHO to be standing between the two ladies with all eight engines running!

Great video in the clip. Too bad they couldn't just let us hear the engines and leave the music in the can. IMHO.

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It's what you learn after you think you know it all, that counts.

Dave Miller is now a fully qualified B-29 flight engineer! Congratulations Dave!!!

Thanks a million to John and Shorty, for there work with me. It was there guidance, knowledge and patience, that got me qual'd so quickly. I can now join the small group of qualified B-29 flight engineers that are in exsitence. We have many pilots but very few F/E's.

In case you are not aware, this is an engineers airplane, the pilots just drive it!!
Dave