mexicanbobI presume the B-29 would be fully pressurized so would be able to fly at higher altitude…
The pressurization systems on “FIFI” and Doc are inoperative. Using them adds considerably more stress and strain to the airplanes and also adds a lot to the maintenance needs.
mexicanbobTwenty odd years ago a guy I know was contracted to restore a fairly rare helicopter for a museum. All was done properly, bills were paid on time, etc.. Fast forward about fifteen years or so and the restorer happened to be driving near that particular museum and thought he’d stop by and see the helicopter since he’d not laid eyes on it since it left his shop. While looking at the helicopter he noticed that the wooden rotor blades were starting to delaminate due to the environment the museum had kept them in. He mentioned this to a museum volunteer and told him who he was. The volunteer took him across the rope line to get a better look and to see if anything else had gone missing or bad over the years. All this was done from the ground, never entering or climbing on the helicopter. The director of the museum happened by and saw them behind the rope line. My friend was thoroughly cussed out by the director and the volunteer was immediately dismissed. My friend explained who he was, the connection to the helicopter and made an appeal for the volunteer. This all culminated with my friend being escorted out of the museum by the director with a warning to never come back. My friend went right out to the parking lot, got into his truck and left, never to return.
It just so happened that loaded on the trailer behind my friend’s truck that very day, were several sets of new wooden rotor blades for this particular model of helicopter. After seeing the condition of the blades on the museum ship, my friend had decided to donate a brand new set to the museum that very afternoon. The quick run in with the director put a stop to all of that. Over the years the museum has called him two or three times to see about replacement blades. He won’t sell them to them at any price.
mexicanbobThanks Mark, I knew you would have the answer. I’m coming across some interesting stuff in this box of paperwork and records from the late MK297.
mexicanbobOr Mexicanbob could comment on whether the aircraft would be comfortable operating from 1222 metres.
Moggy
Comfortable and capable? Yes indeed. Would we be allowed to? No, in most cases we require 5,000 ft minimum. We have some room for adjustment but not generally that much.
As far as it being a pointless exercise goes: The relevance of the B-29 to the European theater of war is not important if that isn’t the reason behind the trip. A trip like this is done to give people the opportunity to see something that a great number of them would never be able to see. If the details can be worked out it gives the chance for possible ride opportunities in the airplane. If former Washington crews are able to see and enjoy the airplane in the air then we will have accomplished more than we even thought we would. If a child sees or tours the airplane at a stop and it ends up being the moment in life that pushes him towards a career in aviation (much like happened to me) then it is totally worth it. Of course if you’d rather wait for the Mosquitos and A-20 to show up because that is your interest, please support that as much as you can.
mexicanbobThe modified 3350s that we use are obtainable, it just takes vast quantities of cash to make it happen. I wouldn’t even call it a rare engine but each one is built individually, out of parts from two other models, both available in reasonable numbers. The cool thing is a spare engine can actually be carried in the bomb bay of the airplane if it was decided to take one along. I don’t believe a trip would even be considered unless there was a spare engine sitting in a can, paid for and ready for transport.
As I said earlier, plans are always being made and ideas are always being looked at. For everybody in the organization that wants the airplane to make the trip there is at least on that doesn’t want the risk to be taken. If sponsorships and other forms of funding can be found and a plan finally comes together then I have no doubt that this can happen successfully and probably will at some point. Money is the key, options are always being looked at and we’ll just have to see what happens. All that beings said: I believe the CWH Lancaster having a successful tour will go a long way to paving the road for “FIFI” to do it as well.
mexicanbobActually Mike, the CAF was invited by the government of Japan. It was proposed to be a peace mission of sorts and they were paying a lot of the costs. “FIFI” is very popular (I think that is the word) with the Japanese that I’ve met. We had a couple of them that had been bombed during the war ride with us this last year. I think the majority of the ones that come to see the plane and have an interest in it, understand that the B-29 was a necessity at the time. Of course there will always be somebody in the crowd that won’t like it and will try to throw red paint on the airplane or something like that. That actually happened to “FIFI” back in the early 80s in Indiana. Even back in the mid 70s some of the most positive press the CAF received about the B-29 was in Japanese magazines.
As far as the atomic bomb reenactment from Airsho 76 goes, that did start a storm of nonsense. People who were thrilled to see the Tora Tora routine were upset about the Hiroshima display. Had Paul Tibbets not been flying “FIFI” that day I don’t believe anybody would have ever said a word about it. If the announcer hadn’t said that part then it probably wouldn’t have made the news paper. The atom bomb reenactment has been done on a near yearly basis since about two years after that event and hardly a word has been spoken in protest. I believe it was two years ago that the Dayton airshow cancelled that part of our act a few weeks before the show. That was due to political pressure from a small group of locals and it was just easier to cancel it, rather than fight about it. Other than that and the 76 airshow, not much has ever been said about it.
mexicanbobThe CAF has flown the B-24 and the R4D over in the past so it could happen, but nothing is actively being planned. Plans are always being made and it is always being talked about but I certainly wouldn’t start holding my breath. “FIFI” would need considerable work to get her ready for such a trip as all the fuel transfer systems have been disabled. However, if big sponsors were willing then it would certainly be feasible. By the way, contrary to what the writer of the article said, “FIFI” isn’t made up of six different B-29s.
Side story: In the late 70’s/early 80’s there was a very serious plan to take “FIFI” to Japan. In the end it was decided that the security of the airplane on the ground couldn’t be 100% guaranteed. That was the major reason the trip was cancelled. I’ve got the notes from a lot of the planning meetings and it would have been an immense undertaking.
mexicanbobThanks Anon, I assumed that was the answer. Glad to have it confirmed though! It sure would have been nice to know we had this when we assembled the Lightning the first time!
mexicanbobThanks Dave!
mexicanbobI’m willing to bet that they are at least a year out from flying Doc. The work is first rate and it will be a beautiful plane for sure but there is so much left to do. If I didn’t have to spend my spare time working on “FIFI”, I’d love to be able to help them out.
mexicanbobWith a tape measure and set of scales I could easily design a way of having the Typhoon, or any other airplane, transported on any C-17, C-130 or whatever cargo plane you choose. The only question is will it need to be disassembled or not. If it needs to be taken apart, give me the manuals if they exist, my tools and the ability to access or create lifting slings and a crane/forklift. Either way a cradle can easily be designed and constructed to hold the parts. It’s not hard to do at all, it’s just a case of being careful and keeping in mind that what you are hauling is relatively fragile. I once had a flying AT-6 transported to Hawaii and it wasn’t a big deal at all from a rigging perspective. I did all the prep work to move an SBD, SB2C, TBM, FM-2, F4U and F6F in C-17s and C-5s for the centennial of Naval Aviation but the funding was cut before anything got started.
There are already procedures to move all sorts of warbirds and other flying machines in US Military cargo planes, many of which were written by me. If the RAF or RCAF are going to move anything along those lines, it will not be hard to find the information if it is a type that has been moved before. If not, it is well within the capabilities of the loadmaster to design something that will work very well.
Of course the plane could always ditch in the North Atlantic I suppose. I’d make no guarantee on the safety and security of the cargo at that point!
mexicanbobRon Buccarelli was, very recently, looking for parts for an LB-30. He’s had involvement with the Whittington brothers and the plane did belong to them at one time. Maybe it still does. The restoration hangar was Darrel Skurich’s place. I believe he’s retired down on a beach in Mexico now.
mexicanbobThe APU was original B-29 equipment. It had to be installed and had to be running to power the hydraulic motor that runs the brakes. It would have to be running for taxi, take off and landing. Starting the engines can be done with a ground unit but it makes no difference. They would have had to use the APU anyhow. The problem, and where the mistake was made, was the failure of the APU fuel pump. Unable to use the regular APU gas tank, somebody suspended a fuel can over the APU and ran a fuel line down to the APU. Bouncing around on the ice during taxi caused the gas can to fall onto the hot APU (it had to be running, no way around it) and the fire started. The rest is history.
mexicanbobI’ve seen the personal footage that Connie Edwards shot on his Super 8 camera during the filming. It’s pretty interesting stuff to see while he’s telling the story of what was going on.
mexicanbobThanks yall. I was told when I got them that they were out of a C.211 or a HA-1112 but I wasn’t sure. They look similar to a lot of German pedals.
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