We got there bright and early to find the crew on FIFI was doing a run-up on #2 engine. They let it warm up and gave it some throttle. The RPM's came up a little and they held it there for a while and let it back down . Then they shut it off. The cowling was opened up around the cylinders. With a half hour until first flight it did not bode well. Inquiries to the crew. It seems the ignition bundle for #2 engine was failing and they couldn't get any RPM's out of the engine. (Bundle manufactured in 1950). More than likely it would be at least 2 days (if not more) to change it out IF they had another. No flying today. One note: The engines each had a name. #1 was Ingrid and #2 was Mitzi, #3 was Betty and #4 I forget. I managed to get inside before the crowds showed up and got some pictures. I entered through the forward bomb bay and stood directly above the forward belly turret for pictures of the Radio station. The cockpit was roped off so I had to zoom from the nose wheel well exit ladder. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Interior shots. Note crucial HULA Girl apparatus. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Some of the other airplanes in attendance. Most belong to the Heritage Flight Museum (John Sessions) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
An R2800 and Rolls Royce Nene Jet engine Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Oh, and there was a massive car show in front of the hangar we didn't know about until getting there. Lots of really high end builds. (As near as I could tell that is a real 1966 GT-40) The little red bus is a 1970 Subaru. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great pics! The view from the cockpit of the B-29 must be incredible. thanks for sharing. Anyone know (dumb question...) what the plane in the last photo is? I think it's the same model as one the Lone Star museum in Galveston has, but their is set us as a trainer for bomber pilots/bombardiers/turret gunners. Not 100% sure but think it's a "Kansas"? Really neat. Image Unavailable, Please Login
It is a Beechcraft 18 modified to be a bombardier trainer but without the little gun turret in the USAAF. Sister was the Beechcraft AT-7 that was used as a navigator trainer. It was also a C-45 light cargo base hack.
It is scheduled to be there for three weeks and it will probably be undergoing the repair of engine No.2 ignition harness most of the time---if one can be located. FiFi is 70 years old and getting a bit cranky and some parts are not plentiful as they used to be.
This is the schedule taken from the CAF website for Everett, Paine Field. CAF AirPower History Tour featuring the B-29 Superfortress FIFI Thursday, June 19 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. * Aircraft arrive at approximatly noon * Aircraft tours available after 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 20 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. * B-29 flys at 9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. * Aircraft tours available starting at 2:00 p.m. * Supporting aircraft available all day  Saturday, June 21 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. * B-29 2 Hour Delay for Flight Today* * B-29 flys at 11:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. * Aircraft tours available after 3:30 p.m. * Supporting aircraft available all day Sunday, June 22 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. * B-29 flys at 9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. * Aircraft tours available after 2:00 p.m. * Supporting aircraft available all day June 23 Through July 6th * Come see FIFI in Maintenance * Tour the Cockpit, talk with crews * Museum Hours and Admission Apply ******************************************* Future dates: Tour Schedule http://www.airpowersquadron.org/#!b29-schedule/c1yws For location, times and admission info click on the city name Seattle, WA (Boeing Field) June 16-18 Everett, WA (Paine Field) June 19 - July 6 Everett, WA (Paine Field) July 5-6 Ceour D'Alene July 7-9 Boise, ID July 10-13 Provo, UT July 15-16 Salt Lake City, UT July 17-20 Grand Junction, CO July 21-23 Fort Collins, CO July 24-27 Pueblo, CO July 29-30 Santa Fe, NM July 31-Aug. 3 Watch for more tour stops coming soon.
I think the lesson learned here is to show up on the FIRST day before something breaks. Also, to clarify the great facility hosting the B-29, It is the Historic Flight Foundation (Kilo 7), not "Heritage Flight" referenced earlier. http://historicflight.org/hf/
There were questions asked in another thread about how the Flight Engineer synchronized all four engines and the response was through the use of tachometers and manifold pressures etc..., the accuracy of the tachometers being in question. - To further refine the synch I believe it was mentioned that visual prop strobe and engine harmonics were used, determined by the experience and skill of the Engineer. - What wasn't mentioned was the little known use of the crucial HULA GIRL Apparatus mounted above and to the right of the Engineer's station. * The Engineer would fine tune and verify synchronization by observation of the HULA GIRL oscillations. See the picture above in the first post.
Well, they always said that the B-29 was the epitome of the high tech bomber and that little wigglometer proves it.
Hey alright, it's coming back to Boise! I saw Fifi a number of years ago (bought a book about her too that I still have somewhere) at either Mountain Home AFB or Gowen Field, can't remember which now. Diamond Lil (B-24) came too.
Video from this weekend. Take-off roll at 4:40 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xiAQEXHfKI]World's Only Flyable Boeing B-29 Departure + Flyover + Landing @ KPAE Paine Field - YouTube[/ame]
From a few days ago Short and sweet. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ7SwEtgpl0]B-29 FIFI Engine Start & Take Off - YouTube[/ame]
FIFI arrives + take off [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsfqMNF9IQM]FIFI Arrives! - YouTube[/ame]
The story of FIFI and how she got her name as told by the pilot Neils Agather, and how his father Victor helped get the airplane and get it flying. Interesting bit about how Barry Goldwater helped get the no-fly clause lifted after acquisition. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qJ6I_kjE7w]An Interview with Neils Agather - Ever wonder where "FIFI" gets her name? - YouTube[/ame]
I spent the entire sunlit morning with the B-29 maintenance crew and got filled in about the new engines and how THEY synchronize the rpm of the 4 engines. They had the cowlings off and showed me everything that had been done to vastly improve the engine installation and it is almost a totally different engine, new case and new jugs. Without the forward exhaust manifold they are running much cooler CHT and the return to a carbureted engine instead of fuel injection has also improved things. The nacelles look like they have been gutted inside, no turbos (one on each side), no front exhaust manifold, new aft flow exhaust manifold for the front bank , turbo after cooler removed, and some other unnecessary equipment. Rick, the crew chief said that they are getting a true 2000HP out of them. Then i asked him what technique they used to sync the rpm and I almost lost it when he said," Eyes, ears and seat of the pants but we start with PROP BLADE SHADOW ---and then mix it with tach and prop governor." Then I had to grin when he said that he does the same thing on the B-17 and B-24 . So my old gourd DID remember the right things but it cracked me up when he said that the B-29 was no different---well, they DO have the HULA GAL