Ishthe47guy Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Passing on my good fortune of living in the same area where FiFi is based. AS you can see, maintenance was in progress, so the a/c was chained off, and the back half of it was pretty much impossible to photograph from outside the chains, but these are what I managed to get: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ishthe47guy Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 I did notice that the engines are named: #1 Ingrid #2 Mitzi #3 Rita #4 Betty Some bomb bay door pics because the Monogram 48th kit doors are incorrect: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ishthe47guy Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 For some reason, the clear coat on the prop was peeling off on both #3 and #4, but #1 & #2 didn't have that problem Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ishthe47guy Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 (edited) When I was in school working on my aircraft mech license, I remember one of the instructors saying when it comes to servicing big radials, its check the gas and fill the oil. Edited September 1, 2012 by Ishthe47guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
drhornii Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 she will be in Tulsa Oklahoma later this month, I think on the 22nd of Sept but I do not have my notes with me that has the date. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmk0210 Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Nice detail pictures! Thanks for sharing them. When I was in school working on my aircraft mech license, I remember one of the instructors saying when it comes to servicing big radials, its check the gas and fill the oil. The fact that the engines are individually named probably says something about their temperamental nature. Although the R3350 seemed to be a very reliable engine later in life (such as when it powered the A1 Skyraider), during WWII those engines were a huge problem in the B-29s. Of course, they ran those Superforts very hard with heavy bomb loads, hot weather and high sortie rates. Fifi seems to live the life of pampered luxury in comparison. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_R-3350 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfgun33 Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Very nice pics! I got to see her for the first time last year and twice at that. I'll have to see if she's coming back here this year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spongebob Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 (edited) The engine's in FiFi are quite unique (and probably the reason they're named). The original 3350's for the B-29 were always problematic, so with the latest grounding they (CAF) acquired -95W's (from AC-119's) but the supercharger didn't fit so they replaced the supercharger with one from a -26WD (Skyraider). Much more reliable now and are capable of around 1000 HP more than the originals. (Source is the 8/11 issue of Sport Aviation) HTH Spongebob Edited September 1, 2012 by Spongebob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Nice pics of FiFi - did you get any good shots of the rest of the Cavanaugh collection? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BAM'n'IVM Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 ...never mind, I just found your other posts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ishthe47guy Posted September 2, 2012 Author Share Posted September 2, 2012 Always glad to share. Bam, I've got plenty of photos of their collection I've taken over the last 3-4 years since I upgraded my camera, just need get around to organizing and posting them. Ironically, now that I'm overseas again, I have more time for just that. Almost always way too busy when I'm stateside to post. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimz66 Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 I finally got to see her. It was such a joy to see! I saw her this summer at Bradley Airport in CT... I have waited a LONG TIME to do so... I never thought she would wind up in my neck of the woods. It was great to see her fly... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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