Warbird Information Exchange

No joke- I had a dream last night that I saw video of FIFI flying this weekend. Let's hope that my dream comes true!

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Scott Greenfield

Wish I dreamed like that.

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

According to the CAF's website this afternoon, sounds like no FIFI for AirVenture this year... thanks to our FAA friends What certifications are left?



http://www.commemorativeairforce.org/?p ... eventID=79

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Scott Greenfield

WTF!!

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

And still true to their motto.

Today's FAA: We're not happy until you're not happy.

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

And this is the same goverment that's going to run our health care...

So, did Lubbock not agree with the regional office or they just don't even have time to look at it for another two weeks? I've been hoping to see FIFI at AirVenture for quite some time. Would've been the highlight of the airshow season for sure.

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Scott Greenfield

As disapointing as this is, and it is very disapointing, the bright side is it gives Dave and crew some much needed time off. We have all worked are butts off, long hours, 7 days a week, to make the Oshkosh show and will take a few days off to recoop. I told all that are here, to go home and by Saturday they will all be home with there families and friends!
The FAA has been under tremendous strain in the Lubbuck office and I, in no way am trying to be on there side but the amount of recent accidents in this region is remarkable and they are a small office. They have seemingly done there best to work with us and have given us our airworthyness certificate. This latest issue, regarding minimum crew requirements for the test flight remains open only because the people needed to approve this are out working in the field with the accident investigations. That would always take priority over just about anything. I have to be understanding of that as we all do and we will get where we are going when the time comes, period. We are at there mercy and there schedule, at this point.
"FIFI" will fly. It's just a matter of time. We are on the verge of a whole new era for this airplane and we can't wait!!


Dave

I am so proud to have been a part of this restoration! The character of this group is amazing.

This is not the first set back that we have had... there have been many. We have collectively had to learn a lot about this airplane. No one had ever done this retrofit before. But no one at any time ever gave up. So what if we had to do the same task three times just to get it perfect? By the time we got to engine 4, we had each procedure down cold.

At the end of a long hard day in the hanger, when oil would full up you shoes and then run out, and there were days like those, we would often times gather around the shop desk and push the Staples Easy button, just to hear the voice say, "That was easy." Then of course we would all laugh.

We could have taken the news from the FAA on the chin, and just let that ruin our day, but that is not who we are.

Many praises to Dave who is a wonderful teacher, and leader. Thanks to Rick, who is a very tallented warbird mechanic, who works tirelessly. And of course to my fellow volunteers, wow! This group has given thousands of hours doing everything from bead blasting, or mopping oily foot prints, to putting the proper torque on the last bolt. What an honor to have been associated with them! Of course to the leadership of the squadron... Job well done boys!

She is all dressed and ready to go. To stand beside her and feel the roar of those four 3350s as they reach full throttle is awesome!

Eventually she will be given clearance and she will fly. I look forward to that day.

Thanks to all who let me play a small part. It has been wonderful.

Mark

Please don't fly her till the FAA inspects, as they are experts on the retrofit and know way more than you guys ever will. Just be sure and show them where the front of the airplane is when they show up.

It's a BEE-29!

Yesterday afternoon about this time a number of bees were seen going into the tail gunner's compartment of FIFI and by about 4 p.m. the number was increasing. We called a local beekeeper who had helped with bee swarms around CAF HQ before and he came right out and did some light dusting both outside and inside, as can be seen below.



While he was working I was visiting with him, and he commented that he would really like to see the cockpit, as his father was on B-29s in WWII. I asked what position and he said "Left seat". Rick was there and we both looked at each other and said, this man needs a FIFI hat, so we got one and gave it to him. He was a very happy beekeeper and will be getting his cockpit tour on his next trip back. As for the bees, there were a few around the tail when I left HQ about 2 p.m. today but we closed the hangar doors and will see what happens. Hopefully, she won't be a BEE-29 for long!

Randy

Nothing like a few extra stingers back there to keep the enemy away!

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Wish I had a plane to put here... anyone got any leads on a (prewar) J3 Cub?

1952 Ford F6 Howe Fire Truck
1951 Ford F5
1949 Ford F6 Dump Truck
1978 Ford Mustang II
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle
1949 Ford 8N; 1948, 1949 & 1950 Baird Beavers

Gives a whole new meaning to the term "tail stinger."

It's not unprecedented, though..many WWII aircraft had WASPs in the cockpits!

Thanks..I'm here all week! Don't forget to tip your waitress!

SN

Well, it looks like the bees have decided to leave FIFI alone, so that is good news.

This morning I was out at our High Sky Wing hangar at CAF HQ and then stopped by the main hangar to visit with Dave Miller. There I was introduced to Mark and Angela with OnBoard Images (http://www.OnBoardImages.com), who are outfitting FIFI with a number of onboard cameras, recorders and monitors. Basically, there will be a camera mounted looking out the nose, like a pilot's view, one at the rear of the cockpit looking forward at the flight crew, one under the tail looking forward and one in the back compartment where the gunner/scanners sit. In this back compartment are four fold-down seats for passengers plus a fifth seat, for those who can get into it, where the master gunner used to sit on a pedestal. The plan, as I understand, is that the passengers will have two video monitors overhead in the back section where they can view the video out the front of the plane or perhaps some mix of the views (not quite sure on that now), plus at the end of their flight, they will get a DVD with video from all of the cameras, including themselves in the passenger section. Here are some first pictures as the work began.

Below, Angela and Dave are drilling holes to mount a camera underneath the tail, just in front of the lower rear turret.


Below, Dave has made the first try for a mount for one of the two monitors for the passengers and is checking for general fit. This will allow the passengers to see the pilot's view from the front cockpit.


Below, Dave and Angela are discussing the viewing angles from the side passenger seats. By tomorrow, there should be a working monitor to check out the angles, etc. The master gunner's elevated seat, which is the fifth passenger position, can be seen just above the bright square light at the front of the compartment. This looks out the top gunner's bubble, complete with the turret controls.


Below, Mark and Angela in their mobile shop, parked on the ramp outside the main CAF hangar.


Below, Angela working on what is needed to attach the monitors in the passenger section to their new mounts.


Angela and Mark will be working on this project for a few more days and I will try and post updates. Frankly, this looks like a great idea to help market rides on FIFI when she is again flying. If you have any questions, ask away, and I'll do my best to get answers.

Randy

That looks like a toilet seat next to Angela's head in the last photo