Warbird Information Exchange

Gary,

So how much time do they figure it takes to do the overhaul per engine?
And how is the progress going?
Who and where is doing the work?

Typically, you can figure a year per engine. However, we're trying to streamline the process and speed it up a bit. Although admitedly, all of the planets are going to have to be lined up perfectly for everything to work out in the time frame I was told I'd have the airplane flying.....CAF Airsho '09.

The first engine, which should take the longest, is coming along fairly well. No record breaking pace, but decent quantities of work are being accomplished. The first engine is at Abbott Aircraft Services, Okmulgee, OK.

Gary

Dumb question.
If it is going to take approximately a year per engine wont the first one be essentially four years old by the time you get all of them? How will you be protecting the finished engines while waiting for the final. Will you mount them on test stands and run them occasionally or just pickle them and bring them all out at once?

Not a dumb question.

"Typically" I figure a year per engine. However, we plan on running this first engine a substantial amount to insure we don't have any built in gremlins that we hadn't thought about, so that we don't built the other four (one will be a spare) with the same problem(s). The first engine will actually be the spare engine. We'll have at least two shops building the remaining four engines, once this first one is done, to expedite the building process. We're trying to have a "cookie cutter" design in place, much like during the War, so that no matter who builds the engines for us, they'll all be the same. In theory.

Gary

Gary,
Reguarding the engines on Kee-Bird(the new ones that were hung prior to the fire), Bockscar and Enola Gay. Do you know what type they are and how they differ (basically, for us non-mech types) from the engines being prepared FIFI?
Thanks

Those engines are all the same ol' original engines as what's currently on FIFI, with the exception of Kee Bird's engines, they're carbureted. We have the original engines from the Kee Bird and they're junk. The engines remaining from the Kee Bird are lost forever, or at least until the Greenland Govt. allows someone to come in and salvage the airplane, which is HIGHLY unlikely (thanks Darryl ). As far as the Enola Gay and Bockscar, they're US Air Force Museum stuff, so there's no chance of ever getting those engines either, not that we want them. I know you didn't specifically ask that, but I get that question very frequently.

Gary

Couldn't one of the big warbird air forces just overthrow the Greenland government and salvage Kee Bird's remains?

Rich

_________________
Rich Kolasa
www.crystalgraphix.com

Nah, just swoop down and replace it all with some C-130 junk...

HEY!

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

What's with the rumor I've heard of FIFI being sold to a wealthy individual and possibly moving away from Texas? Or is this old news?

I do not mean to stir any pot!!

Mr. Jim Cavanaugh (of Cavanaugh Flight Museum & JaniKing fame) has pledged $1.2 million towards the re-engining programme. After that announcement, a decision was made by the B-29/B-24 squadron that the squadron would move to Addison, Texas, and co-locate with the Cavanaugh Flight Museum thanks to further generosity of Mr. Cavanaugh and the crew at CFM. The B-29 and B-24 will still be CAF aircraft, just displayed and maintained during the "off season" in a location that is a bit easier for many of the squadron members to get to as many live in the DFW area and most of those that don't had to go through Dallas anyway to get to Midland, so the move made sense on multiple levels.

The full announcement of both is on the B-29/B-24 squadron webiste - www.cafb29b24.org

Thanks for the update. Makes a lot of sense. I've been to both the Cavanaugh Museum and Midland. Both great places. I'm glad to see they have joined forces to keep these aircraft alive. I want my children to know what a B-29 sounds like, first hand.

So who is doing the other ones?

Have you talked to Anderson Airmotive?

Patience, Grasshoppa.

Stay tuned.

Gary

What if there are problems with these new engines? Are they going to be covered by a warranty?
I noticed a post on here about the Martin Mars fire bomber, did ya know your favorite place does the engines for it?