A place where restoration project-type threads can go to avoid falling off the main page in the WIX hangar. Feel free to start threads on Restoration projects and/or warbird maintenance here. Named in memoriam for Gary Austin, a good friend of the site and known as RetroAviation here. He will be sorely missed.
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Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Fri Sep 24, 2010 11:13 pm

High speed pass for the photographers.


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ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM!!!!


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A shot from the chase plane. Thanks to Brad for this one!


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Coming in for a landing after a perfect flight! Great Job Guys!


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All in all a perfect day. If the weather holds for us tomorrow, we should complete the maintenance flights.

Thanks for watching.

Mark

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sat Sep 25, 2010 3:43 am

It sure is nice looking.
Those rubber propellers sure bend back alot. :wink:

Question, in that rubber prop picture, what is that area your flying over, just strange looking ground patterns there.

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sat Sep 25, 2010 6:11 am

GTREAT job guys, she's going to make AIRSHO even better!

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sat Sep 25, 2010 6:37 am

Brad wrote:I was fortunate to get a picture on my phone today!



So, are those C-130J props, or the new E-2/C-2 props? Must save you a boatload of money on fuel costs. Also, do you plan on flying with them during airshows, or just getting to/from them?

hehehehehe. ;)

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sat Sep 25, 2010 8:16 am

engguy wrote:Question, in that rubber prop picture, what is that area your flying over, just strange looking ground patterns there.


The odd patterns are formed by the access roads and pads for oil wells.

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sat Sep 25, 2010 11:28 am

A shot from the chase plane. Thanks to Brad for this one!


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Mark[/quote]
Awesome picture, Brad.

Wings over Houston this year?

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sat Sep 25, 2010 4:50 pm

Three very uneventful flights!!!!!! :drinkers: :D

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sat Sep 25, 2010 6:03 pm

b29flteng wrote:Three very uneventful flights!!!!!! :drinkers: :D

Getting the Phase I maintenance test flights out of the way is huge!

Uneventful flights make the crew chief very happy!!

The best was, I got some more F/E time and becoming more comfortable in that seat. Oh what a feeling, having 8,000 HP at your immeadiate disposal!!!!!

Dave

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sat Sep 25, 2010 6:13 pm

I can feel the happy vibes from here, guys!

Believe me, there are a lot of us out here in the rest of the world who are just thrilled to death for you, the airplane, the CAF, and .... well .... it'll be just wonderful to have FIFI back in the air, that's all!! :D :D :D

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sat Sep 25, 2010 8:12 pm

Dave, Crew Chief, NOW the student engineer.
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Pilot, Charlie Tilghman
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Copilot, Bill Goekin
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Scanner/asst. crew chief, Rick Garvis
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Sorry Shorty, I didn't get a picture of you...

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sat Sep 25, 2010 8:25 pm

Wow, what a classic look Charlie has. Good to see you guys are having all the success you deserve in her test flights!

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sun Sep 26, 2010 3:29 pm

I just received this from Gerald and David Oliver of GoFlyTv. It's only about 30 seconds or so....... but CRANK UP THE VOLUME!


It is now on you tube...... BTW....... Rides for "FIFI will be coming soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTZ1PPjNnsE

Alan Brooks
B-29/B-24 Rides Coordinator

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sun Sep 26, 2010 4:35 pm

Charlie, Dave and the rest of the flight crew of FIFI came down to our High Sky Wing hangar after the flight (the hangar seen at the end of the video clip) for lunch, and Charlie said they were only pulling 25" MP for the photo pass. It seems that the new engines are working out great! Glad to see FIFI back in the skies. Congratulations to all who made it possible over these many years. We are all looking forward to seeing her and the B-24 fly at AIRSHO 2010, October 9 & 10, right here in Midland. You need to start signing up for rides, as this is a unique opportunity. Hope to see you at AIRSHO!

Randy

Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Sun Sep 26, 2010 9:07 pm

You can just barely see me siting in the golfcart by the gate in that video. Gerald and David are super folks and are getting some really good footage.

Here's a couple more pictures from the second flight on Friday evening.

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Re: Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Mon Sep 27, 2010 8:46 am

I just gotta say -- this thread begins to rival the Ol' 927 one for cool pictures! The air shots are awesome, and that's the best "music video" I've seen yet; I can't run it less than three times whenever the link comes back up. Great cockpit close-up too .... the headset mike kinda looks like Skipper's got a very businesslike stogie clamped in his teeth!
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