B-29 Fifi

When the Commemorative Air Force began searching for a B-29 for their collection of WWII aircraft, the war had been over for 21 years. The aircraft that helped end it had long since yielded to new generations of jet-powered strategic bombers, and vanished. According to the Air Force, no B-29s remained in inventory. In 1971, a pilot reported sighting a number of what might be B-29s on the California desert near China Lake Proving Grounds. The CAF learned the aircraft were indeed Boeing Suprefortresses that had been parked at a Navy weapons center for 17 years, used as gunnery targets. In only nine weeks, with the help of CAF volunteers, they restored all flight control systems, replaced all cockpit instruments, and replaced fuel, oil and hydraulic hoses. They ran the engines, as well as the propellers and landing gear. The complete restoration was a long and expensive project involving more than three years of fund-raising and hard work. Late in 1974, the CAF's B-29 was christened "FIFI" and joined the other WWII fighters and bombers used to preserve the memories and teach of lessons of mankind's greatest war.  Since the initial restoration, “FIFI” has flown thousands of miles bringing history to the entire nation. In 2005, following a series of engine failures, the B-29/B-24 Squadron made the difficult decision to ground the aircraft and replace the unreliable engines with a hybrid Curtiss-Wright 3350.  In August 2010 “FIFI” once again returned to the airshow circuit where she was enthusiastically welcomed.

http://www.cafb29b24.org/

Ride in Fifi B-29

Flight lasts approximately one hour from the time you enter the aircraft until you exit the aircraft, flight time of approximately 30 minutes. Once airborne, riders are able to move around and take pictures or video

For More Information visit

www.cafb29b24.org/rides