Warbird Information Exchange

More from my inherited collection.

Who else on this forum likes that paint scheme on FIFI? I know I do.

Gary Austin

The black nacelles sure make it easier to keep her looking good.

I saw her in this scheme right after they finished filming the Right Stuff. I thought it looked good and was a welcome change.

1983, that's when I first saw 'FIFI'... 'twas at Niagara Falls. Unfortunately I have no memory of actually seeing her,
so the photos my Dad took will have to suffice.

I'll cast a third vote for this scheme... looks pretty groovy.

Thanks for posting these!


Fade to Black...

Well, lets break out the roller brushes @ Airsho and order a few Pizza's / keg's and git her done.....

Lynn

Lynn- Wouldn't be the first time. Nothing better than a 12 pack paint job on a Interstate the week before airsho. Love the smell of fresh paint in the morning.

Was that done to be less visible in searchlights?

Depends on which plane your talking about, the Interstate or Fifi. Actually the B-29 paint job was to reflect? (right word) THE EFFECTS OF A NUCLEAR BLAST when the B-29s were part of a nuclear deterent force ( actually B-50s but for the movies who knows the difference.)

yes, during the "Korean Police Action" the B29 switched to night time bombing after significant losses were incurred during daylight missions. Hence, dark paint undersides (for searchlight evasion, not radar).

The B29-A It's Hawg Wild (44-61748) at the American Air Museum in Britain (Duxford, UK) carries such a paint scheme. As does the B29-A Command Decision (44-62139) at the NMUSAF (Dayton, OH, USA).

I am not in personally favor of that black underside paint scheme, but I don't care what "color" FiFi is - any color Gary wants is fine by me.

...keep 'em flying...

WOW! Will you be my boss?

Gary

If I could afford you, I would be...

I don't ever recall hearing how Fifi got her name. Is she named after a generous donor? Was there ever a Fifi that served in the war. Just curious...

Also, has any thought been given to giving her a new name and paint scheme from time to time, similar to what the Collings Foundation does with it's B-24?

One of the men instramental in getting Fifi and keeping her flying was Vic Agather. He got the honor of naming the plane for all his hard work and dollars. Fifi is his wifes name. One of his sons is still active with the plane. Re paint and re name? Possible maybe but might start a small war.

Yeah, I have been given a lot of freedom with what I do to our B-29 and B-24, but if I were to take FIFI's name off the B-29 it would be the last you'd hear from me. You should have heard some of the grumbling after I painted her name back in blue, like it was back in 1974. Some of the members thought it had always been black (when Boeing repainted it in '91). There may be a more authentic looking paint scheme in store for her someday though.

Gary

Gary,

I kinda like the idea of seeing FiFi in the color scheme that the photo's show. It is an interesting thought about that particular paint scheme. BUT....since FiFi is the CAF Flagship....I can well understand why some folks in the CAF wants her to stay the way she it.

Paul