Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

retroaviation · **Posted:** Thu May 07, 2009 5:18 pm

Ztex wrote:

Great news!!

Did you guys run it today...seeing that it was up to temp already today!
(Was it really 104 out there today?)

It was 104 outside and 183 in my shop. :shock:

According to the weather guessers, it's supposed to be 106 here tomorrow, followed by 77 on Saturday. Go figure.

skydaddy61 wrote:

the330thbg wrote:

from the way things are turning out for Doc.., Kee Bird will be airborne first!!

Sounds almost gleeful. Here and I thought we all wanted to see warbirds fly, regardless of the sponsoring organizations. The CAF *does* have a significant advantage over USAM in PR, manpower, and funding.

Well, as far as I'm concerned, I'd love to see Doc flying. I've given them some parts in the past that I feel have been quite helpful to the project. I just wish that there were fewer misleading statements, videos, etc., from some of the folks associated with it, and more actual progress on it. However, I completely understand the funding, ownership, and hangar issues at the moment though. Tough times for sure. :cry:

Gary

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Thu May 07, 2009 6:49 pm

skydaddy61 wrote:

The last I heard, though, they had fabricated the new spar cap and were preparing to install it. That might be tough, since Boeing put them outside again.

I'm not involved with the DOC restoration, but I believe the wing panels are at a different location (Newton?) than the major portion of the aircraft. I saw a photo recently of an outer wing panel in a shop of some sort.

I thought it was sporting of the Air Force/ANG (or whoever) to give the balance of the airframe a hangar, even if it is a temporary situation. I'm also not clear if Boeing or Spirit was the party who "evicted" the airplane.

Scott

B29B24crewchief · **Joined:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:44 pm **Posts:** 379

Just so we are clear from my point of view. I will always help the "Doc" folks as I am able and as Gary did. I will always look forward to the day that they or any other B-29, would fly together. That would be awesome!! Having said that, I will hold judgement on the Youtube post as I have not seen it, but make no mistake by anyone that this is the engine that will give FIFI new life!! Any other posts that use our engine pics or videos for there own purposes should be regarded as bogus!!
Dave

Michel C-GNCJ · **Posted:** Fri May 08, 2009 7:09 am

Wow ! That is a beautiful engine indeed !!!

Will FiFi get 4 of those beauties ? Can't wait to read that she is ready to fly :wink:

Edward Sheetmetalhands · **Joined:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:44 am **Posts:** 257

retroaviation wrote:

Ztex wrote:

Great news!!

Did you guys run it today...seeing that it was up to temp already today!
(Was it really 104 out there today?)

It was 104 outside and 183 in my shop. :shock:

According to the weather guessers, it's supposed to be 106 here tomorrow, followed by 77 on Saturday. Go figure.

skydaddy61 wrote:

the330thbg wrote:

from the way things are turning out for Doc.., Kee Bird will be airborne first!!

Sounds almost gleeful. Here and I thought we all wanted to see warbirds fly, regardless of the sponsoring organizations. The CAF *does* have a significant advantage over USAM in PR, manpower, and funding.

Well, as far as I'm concerned, I'd love to see Doc flying. I've given them some parts in the past that I feel have been quite helpful to the project. I just wish that there were fewer misleading statements, videos, etc., from some of the folks associated with it, and more actual progress on it. However, I completely understand the funding, ownership, and hangar issues at the moment though. Tough times for sure. :cry:

Gary

Looks like Doc had an engine run up on a stand at the Kansas Aviation Museum. A link to the Wichita Eagle website and video....

http://videos.kansas.com/vmix_hosted_ap ... &sort=NULL[url]

http://videos.kansas.com/vmix_hosted_ap ... &sort=NULL
[/url]

engguy · **Joined:** Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 442

Ya ought to clean and paint the engine cans. It would help them last longer.

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Doc will 'never' fly with props like that.., :shock:

and that is an 'engine run-up'?

kinda sad...

I am pullin for Doc as well.., but looks like we will see T sq. 54 up before Doc.

Then we can have all THREE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :partyman:

retroaviation · **Posted:** Mon May 11, 2009 9:30 am

engguy wrote:

Ya ought to clean and paint the engine cans. It would help them last longer.

*edited*

Gary

Enemy Ace · **Posted:** Fri May 15, 2009 6:11 pm

I have heard of Doc but T-square 54 is a new one....... Could somebody please explain what's up with that airplane? whose is it, who is restoring/etc. for those of us who have been clueless? I take it the intention is to fly it?

retroaviation · **Posted:** Fri May 15, 2009 9:00 pm

T-Square 54 is the one being restored at the Boeing plant in the Seattle area. Although it could be, it will not be a flyer.

Gary

Enemy Ace · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2009 2:48 pm

Another "Boeing Bee" type situation.... how sad. Museum B29's aren't exactly rare but a FLYING one on the other hand.....

spookythecat · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 7:26 pm

Enemy Ace wrote:

I have heard of Doc but T-square 54 is a new one....... Could somebody please explain what's up with that airplane? whose is it, who is restoring/etc. for those of us who have been clueless? I take it the intention is to fly it?

Here is a link to my T Square 54 pics. She's gonna look great

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythec ... tsquare54/

Michel C-GNCJ · **Posted:** Tue May 19, 2009 8:15 pm

Nice set of pictures !

Thanks for posting them.

B29B24crewchief · **Joined:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:44 pm **Posts:** 379

Things are moving along well with the new engine. By the way, the data plate says " 3350-B29" how cool is that?

Once removed from the "can" we put it on the Whiting stand for installing the accessories, Dynafocal mounts and mount ring.

One of the other things I worked on was the carb hood. This sits right on top of the carb and has the pulley setup for the throttle and mixture controls. New cables will be fabricated once we get it set on and know the lenghts we will need.

This is the before!

This is the after!

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2009 2:22 pm

Ohh... purty....

Great work Dave. Cant wait to see the engine on the airplane.

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Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

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