Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Fri Jan 16, 2026 4:37 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 115 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ... 8  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 5:27 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2006 10:21 pm
Posts: 1329
Location: Dallas TX
7-8 years IIRC

_________________
Taylor Stevenson


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 6:01 pm 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club

Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am
Posts: 2309
JDK wrote:
Didn't come to Europe either,


The one at Dx flew in & was promptly anchored to the ramp....

_________________
Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 8:38 pm 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:13 pm
Posts: 5672
Location: Minnesota, USA
Pat Carry wrote:
How many years has it been since FIFI took to the skies? 5?



Pat, Fifi last flew at Airsho 2004.

_________________
It was a good idea, it just didn't work.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 9:35 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:21 am
Posts: 911
Location: NJ
Garth wrote:
Just whatever you do, please DO NOT attempt to taxi FiFi with a hot apu in the back that's being gravity-fed gasoline from a 5-gallon can suspended above it.

Please?


Like anyone would be dumb enough to do that...please!

Rich

_________________
Rich Kolasa
www.crystalgraphix.com


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 9:41 pm 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 11, 2004 5:42 pm
Posts: 6884
Location: The Goldfields, Victoria, Australia
ZRX61 wrote:
JDK wrote:
Didn't come to Europe either,

The one at Dx flew in & was promptly anchored to the ramp....

C'mon ZRX, I know you know better than that. Firstly that B-29 wasn't called Fifi.

Hawg Wild was made 'ferryable' and indeed flew to Duxford from the US. It would've taken a lot more work to make it fully airworthy (see Taigh's account on his website of Hawg's state) and rather than being 'anchored to the ramp' it was 'uplifted' from an uncaring owner to get it onto public display as the only B-29 in Europe.
the330thbg wrote:
i was very excited this morning., for some reason.., then I heard that the flight test is being postponed..,apparently someone released this event to the press without the CAF having an Airworthiness Certificate in their hands for FIFI!

WOW.., I would be out of a job in my line of work if I F'd that one up!

On most restorations there's a schedule for required paperwork to come it, and that's dependant on getting applications in which are dependant on previous workshop actions taking place. Trust me, you don't want to try and be organising that. The failure to get an expected 'vital' chit could be any number of causes, and at best the return of the permission ("your cheque is in the post" style) is always at least in part outside the control of the restorers and operators.

The paperwork sweats happens a lot, and no one is likely to get canned over such a hiccup.

Regards,

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 7:31 am 
Offline

Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:37 am
Posts: 215
Location: Tx
Pat Carry wrote:
How many years has it been since FIFI took to the skies? 5?


FIFI last flew 4/24/2006. I was flying when we got the chip light in the traffic pattern at MAF.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:02 am 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:13 pm
Posts: 5672
Location: Minnesota, USA
b29driver wrote:
Pat Carry wrote:
How many years has it been since FIFI took to the skies? 5?


FIFI last flew 4/24/2006. I was flying when we got the chip light in the traffic pattern at MAF.



Well, I potched that question. I either forgot or didn't realize that Fifi had flown after the cancelled 2005 season. :rolleyes:

b29driver: How much flying did she do in 2006?

_________________
It was a good idea, it just didn't work.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:19 am 
Offline

Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:37 am
Posts: 215
Location: Tx
Less than 8 hours. We had chip lights going off like a pinball machine.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 2:25 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 12:39 pm
Posts: 1817
Location: Irving, Texas
There we were, three of four engine chip lights flashing like a pinball machine. The flight engineer's hands were flying trying to keep her running. The cool, calm pilot called for the emergency checklist. The copilot was on the verge of a panic until the pilot calmly touched his arm to calm him down. The tower sent everything including the kitchen sink out to line the runways. With his last ounce of strength, the last bit of airspeed, the pilot saved the crew and airplane and set her down on the runway, like a feather on water. The tower called to say "welcome home boys". As we taxied in we glimpsed the frown on the crew chief's face, we could tell by the look, he knew he would be spending a long night ahead, tearing into the "inards"of each engine to determine the damage. With luck, the ship would be ready for the "mission" in the morning.... :wink:


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 3:51 pm 
Offline
Been here a long time
Been here a long time

Joined: Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am
Posts: 11330
the330thbg wrote:
...apparently someone released this event to the press without the CAF having an Airworthiness Certificate in their hands for FIFI!
That aircraft has had an Airworthiness Certificate for many years. Can you tell us what happened to it? :shock:


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 4:04 pm 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2009 5:28 am
Posts: 2011
Location: massachusetts
boy i hope she will be cleared and ready for the skies

_________________
" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:54 pm 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club

Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am
Posts: 2309
JDK wrote:
ZRX61 wrote:
JDK wrote:
Didn't come to Europe either,

The one at Dx flew in & was promptly anchored to the ramp....

C'mon ZRX, I know you know better than that. Firstly that B-29 wasn't called Fifi.

Hawg Wild was made 'ferryable' and indeed flew to Duxford from the US. It would've taken a lot more work to make it fully airworthy (see Taigh's account on his website of Hawg's state) and rather than being 'anchored to the ramp' it was 'uplifted' from an uncaring owner to get it onto public display as the only B-29 in Europe.

But it *could* have been done.. especially considering where it's now located.

Could have been the Worlds only flying Washington ;)

Anywho, derail over..

_________________
Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 7:19 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:31 pm
Posts: 1354
Location: Galveston County
b29flteng wrote:
There we were .... :wink:



DANG boy, you should write a book or something........... :mrgreen:

_________________
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 7:28 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 3:40 pm
Posts: 223
Location: State of confusion
Brandon,
The Major modifications associated with the powerplant switch likely necessitated the issue of a new special airworthiness certificate and associated (and appropriately revised) operating limitations. As the aircraft no longer conforms to "approved and applicible military technical orders"...

_________________
Expert:
Ex: Former.
Spurt: A drip under pressure.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: FIFI TO FLY
PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:12 pm 
Offline
Co-MVP - 2006
User avatar

Joined: Sat May 01, 2004 11:21 pm
Posts: 11475
Location: Salem, Oregon
sounds like a DER was involved......... :idea:

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 115 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ... 8  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot] and 94 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group