my grandpa was the crew cheif on this plane for a long time with the caf it was so cool being a little kid going to air shows and such and hanging around planes fifi and diamond lil were the two i was around the most!!
I have helped a mechanic maintain #4 engine on FIFI once. I handed him his tools off the ground while he was on the lader! I'll never forget this opportunity!
That runway @ Donaldson is so nice, I touched and go Cesna 152 3 times on 1 pass and than took off in a sharp left turn screaming on the deck. We had a ball that day with instructor!!
If I had served in one of these I probably never would have wanted to see another one again after the war. But I wasn't born until 30 years later so for me this video is awesome! Seeing this machine in modern times gives me a feeling of connection to that time. Not just the Enola Gay etc but those grainy movies of the X1 being dropped from one, etc.
The most expensive war time project of WWII produced these and about 3970 were made. The were ordered right off the drawing board and was the first atom bomber and probably the only airworthy example left.
Thank you for posting this. I saw Fifi once at an airshow in Rockford, Illinois -- almost 30 years ago. It does my heart good to see her still flying.
Hi, no, there was at least one other being restored to flight status that I know of. I don't remember where in the US it is, though. I've been on most of the bombers of this era, including this one. I got to fly on a B17 a few years back. as well. For $5, I got the bum's tour of Fifi about twelve years ago.
@jdoggybizzle there is another B-29 known as "Doc" that was under restoration somewhere in Kansas. However when the recession hit, they ran out of money and last I heard the project is on hold.
FIFI came to asheville nc and was going to do tours but had engine problems so we missed out. But came back every day to match the progress on the engine swap. I watched the new engine being run and adjusted while it folded a stop sign to the ground 100 yards away at idle. There's no sound like really big radial engine. But I flew in a B-17 I will always have that.
My grandpa lived in Gunma prefecture which was in about 100 miles north of Tokyo during WW2. Because it was a rural area, US bombers never dropped bombs there. According to him, he saw B29 bombers flying few times. He told me they had been shiny.
i love the sound of the engines. the b29 has the wright 2200hp r-3350-57 radials. i love this amazing bomber and i am only twelve how did you get to see this ?!
Thank you for this great video. It was filmed at Donaldson Center Summer of 2004. The gentleman being interviewed was my dear husband, Col. Jimmie Stewart. He passed away in the spring of 2006.
I was guessing the year. Thanks for the update. I talked with your husband for a couple seconds, he was very nice and tried to answer everyone's questions very politely. Sorry for your loss, he seemed like a great person with much knowledge.
Thank you...he was a special man. He flew these planes...FIFI, Diamond Lil, Sentimental Journey, 909, Dragon & His Tail & others because he loved meeting people like you & sharing history. We did this work as volunteers for years. Thank you again for such a nice surprise that I just happened up on, our children thank you too.
I'm sorry you lost such a great guy. I volunteer for CollingsFdn, MediaPromotion, then hands-on at 2 CaliforniaTourStops. I had flown in my favorite Dragon&HisTail, again as Witchcraft, a :90 flight. Also a 909 flight. SentimentalJourney this month. PureHeaven. Love the great folks/public. I try to be a good "rep". Lost my dad in the crash of his AJ-1SavageBomber 1955 when I was 9. My way of honoring his memory. All my best to you and family. Greg Bishop. RetiredFireCaptain, OrangeCo. Calif.
"FIFI" is a beautiful aircraft, i get to sit inside of her once every year. She is currently hangared at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Midland, Texas, and is currently inoperable due to lack of funding and the rareness of B29 aircraft parts.
p.w. r-2800 is the best engine in the world better than the w-3350 engine. Some r-2800 testing in p-47 produced 3,600hp thats right 3,600hp for 250hrs before it was trashed. But I love the w-3350 as well.
colindominy, those are actually Wright radial propeller drive engines, R-3350's to be exact. 2,200 horsepower each. Bigger than the Pratt & Whitney's you're thinking of, the R-2800. Both are 18-cylinder engines, though. The number represents cubic inch displacement. But yes, they sound like sex in the air.
What a beautiful sound those great big supercharged Pratt & Whitney propeller-drive engines make .. such a pleasant alternative to that constant, soul-less way-loud shrill-whine of jet engines thee days .....
COOL! Glad to see them still flying.Would love to have been in the Enola Gay when they nuked the japs.My father was WWII veteran and was in pearl harbor just after jap attack.They deserved to be nuked.
My father and I saw "Fifi" in the eighties in Jackson, Mississippi. He was a crewmember on a B-25 Mitchell.
Though My father died of Parkinsons recently, the memory of seeing this plane with him returned. He made sure I got to sit in the pilot's seat and they were working on the engines then. It was very loud with just one engine.
whoaaaa im suprised it went to donaldson center. all there is there is prive airplanes and the runway is tiny. and the donaldson golf course is horrible haha i had to play there and its like playin in a cow pasture
I grew up in Midland myself (though no longer live there). I remember the last time she was being worked on...i was so very disapointed to see her in the state she was in (this was in the late 90s). They were really worried they wouldn't be able to keep her up.
so glad to know that they are still commited to this plane. she's such huge part of my growing up! so is the CAF! love live FiFi!!
just flew over my house
jeboralatuyo 4 months ago
going to see her today--I will be uploading the footage!
allgoraro 4 months ago
It's such a shame about the Kee Bird. It came so close to being another like this
galloway62042009 6 months ago
my grandpa was the crew cheif on this plane for a long time with the caf it was so cool being a little kid going to air shows and such and hanging around planes fifi and diamond lil were the two i was around the most!!
apostolicguy88 8 months ago
My buddy and I were at Bullhead city on 4-10-2011 to see this awesome plane..
IMurderdTheDevil 10 months ago
@IMurderdTheDevil Fifi was supposed to be having her engines rebuilt. So are they done? Must be if you saw her this past April. That is good news
hoss73ford1 8 months ago
@hoss73ford1
Yes the rebuild of the new custom engines is complete.
FiveCentsPlease 8 months ago
These bombers were basically flown by 19 year old kids during WWll. From working on the farm to flying B-29s,,,wow!
jgstargazer 11 months ago
Comment removed
jgstargazer 11 months ago
That is so beautiful such a nice b-29
arabianmetalhead99 1 year ago
so THAT'S the last sound the japs heard before the sun touched the earth.
bulletman100 1 year ago
4:38 WINDURBINE FAIL
eljugadorloco 1 year ago
If I had been driving and just happen to see this B-29 on approach I would never be more surprised again in any time of my life.
Orangebike666 1 year ago
se agradece el poder ver el vuelo de este gigante de la II guerra en la actualidad, es muy emocionante. gracias por subirlo. " grande FI FI ".
maunten66 1 year ago
That is one big bird. I saw the FIFI when she flew in at Municipal Airport in Kansas City many years ago. Me and my Dad went to see it. Just awesome.
mondo78 1 year ago
nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke
daisyduke743 1 year ago
Did the old girl get her new enjines?
BigUnitBeef 1 year ago
I have helped a mechanic maintain #4 engine on FIFI once. I handed him his tools off the ground while he was on the lader! I'll never forget this opportunity!
That runway @ Donaldson is so nice, I touched and go Cesna 152 3 times on 1 pass and than took off in a sharp left turn screaming on the deck. We had a ball that day with instructor!!
hetmanbasza 1 year ago
I remember when FiFI flew into Seattle a few years ago, stopped traffic on I-5 LOL wish it would come back for another visit :)
1966omc 1 year ago
6 people must have been at hiroshima & nagasaki!
crazzydrummer66 1 year ago
I saw FiFi fly in Midland, Texas in the very early 80's at the Midland International Airport.
faronthefiddler 1 year ago
To heck with the modern helocopter blocker the sound.
tonytonytonyargh 1 year ago
yeah, FiFi is the one and only airworthy B-29 in the world.... wish i could see her in person, cus shes one beautiful airplane
wints7 1 year ago
If I had served in one of these I probably never would have wanted to see another one again after the war. But I wasn't born until 30 years later so for me this video is awesome! Seeing this machine in modern times gives me a feeling of connection to that time. Not just the Enola Gay etc but those grainy movies of the X1 being dropped from one, etc.
hogey74 1 year ago
I'll bet it's a real bitch trying to find parts on Craigs List...haha
JimboVids 1 year ago
Great video. My dad was a B-29 bombardier during WWII. There is a video of his plan crashing somewhere on YouTube.
peteytm 1 year ago
Just think if General Patton got his way and got ahold of a number of these planes.
Roadracer987654321 1 year ago
The most expensive war time project of WWII produced these and about 3970 were made. The were ordered right off the drawing board and was the first atom bomber and probably the only airworthy example left.
1vdn992 1 year ago
why is the camera bouncin so much
RUSSSELLLLL 1 year ago
Thank you for posting this. I saw Fifi once at an airshow in Rockford, Illinois -- almost 30 years ago. It does my heart good to see her still flying.
SweepFreq 1 year ago
sounds like a helicoopter
imJealousOfYourPjays 1 year ago
What a gorgeous old bird.
Enricom23 2 years ago
Thank you so much for the info.
jamesjeffreypaul 2 years ago
How can one get in touch with the people who own and fly FiFi? Or find out where "the old girl" is flying next?
jamesjeffreypaul 2 years ago
google
wilatemodel 2 years ago
This is what aviation OUGHT to sound like! :)
Shalinar45 2 years ago
It's so awesome to see these old warbirds still being flown and maintained.
If memory serves me correct Fifi is the only B-29 still flying.
jdoggybizzle 2 years ago 12
You're right Jdog, Fifi is the only B-29 in the world still flying today and being maintained.
Sweetonebroken 2 years ago
@jdoggybizzle,
Hi, no, there was at least one other being restored to flight status that I know of. I don't remember where in the US it is, though. I've been on most of the bombers of this era, including this one. I got to fly on a B17 a few years back. as well. For $5, I got the bum's tour of Fifi about twelve years ago.
neomuttley 1 year ago
@jdoggybizzle there is another B-29 known as "Doc" that was under restoration somewhere in Kansas. However when the recession hit, they ran out of money and last I heard the project is on hold.
hoss73ford1 8 months ago
o thats at donaldson center right down the road from my house i hear every plane or helicopter pass by
blkBOYwhiteBOYswagg9 2 years ago
FIFI came to asheville nc and was going to do tours but had engine problems so we missed out. But came back every day to match the progress on the engine swap. I watched the new engine being run and adjusted while it folded a stop sign to the ground 100 yards away at idle. There's no sound like really big radial engine. But I flew in a B-17 I will always have that.
mreid08 2 years ago
my god what a noise!
ismailturut 2 years ago
Someone should have shot that helicopter down!
Sunclief 2 years ago
My grandpa lived in Gunma prefecture which was in about 100 miles north of Tokyo during WW2. Because it was a rural area, US bombers never dropped bombs there. According to him, he saw B29 bombers flying few times. He told me they had been shiny.
mitsubishi777 2 years ago
i love the sound of the engines. the b29 has the wright 2200hp r-3350-57 radials. i love this amazing bomber and i am only twelve how did you get to see this ?!
MrJesse55555 2 years ago
Thank you for this great video. It was filmed at Donaldson Center Summer of 2004. The gentleman being interviewed was my dear husband, Col. Jimmie Stewart. He passed away in the spring of 2006.
alohatracey 2 years ago
I was guessing the year. Thanks for the update. I talked with your husband for a couple seconds, he was very nice and tried to answer everyone's questions very politely. Sorry for your loss, he seemed like a great person with much knowledge.
artifishal 2 years ago 6
Thank you...he was a special man. He flew these planes...FIFI, Diamond Lil, Sentimental Journey, 909, Dragon & His Tail & others because he loved meeting people like you & sharing history. We did this work as volunteers for years. Thank you again for such a nice surprise that I just happened up on, our children thank you too.
alohatracey 2 years ago
I'm sorry you lost such a great guy. I volunteer for CollingsFdn, MediaPromotion, then hands-on at 2 CaliforniaTourStops. I had flown in my favorite Dragon&HisTail, again as Witchcraft, a :90 flight. Also a 909 flight. SentimentalJourney this month. PureHeaven. Love the great folks/public. I try to be a good "rep". Lost my dad in the crash of his AJ-1SavageBomber 1955 when I was 9. My way of honoring his memory. All my best to you and family. Greg Bishop. RetiredFireCaptain, OrangeCo. Calif.
Konabish 2 years ago
at least the FIFI...is in safer hands than the boneheads who destroyed the KEE-Bird
ffej980 2 years ago
1938dmkdz
saw some of these at the memphis int airport
in the 1970's, they were impressive but looked
small.
1938dmkdz 2 years ago
Thes only one left flying.
deejakway 2 years ago
never knew these things were still flying
bassplaya1549 2 years ago
"FIFI" is a beautiful aircraft, i get to sit inside of her once every year. She is currently hangared at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Midland, Texas, and is currently inoperable due to lack of funding and the rareness of B29 aircraft parts.
witcherdude 2 years ago
Most beautiful plane that ever flew, my dad was a B 29 aircraft commander in WW II & I just love those bad boys !
texasford 2 years ago 3
ah, not a more beautiful sound than those four engines coming up on you....well, i guess i depends if its friendly or not =D
xXMxExGxAxDxExTxHXx 2 years ago 2
back from tokyo lol
phonix032 2 years ago
p.w. r-2800 is the best engine in the world better than the w-3350 engine. Some r-2800 testing in p-47 produced 3,600hp thats right 3,600hp for 250hrs before it was trashed. But I love the w-3350 as well.
gooseneck12 2 years ago
You want to break up a jap bingo game? Yell B29
WingMan5105 2 years ago 2
My daughter and I sat in fi fi in 1985 in Tyler texas at the air show She was only ten years old.
WingMan5105 2 years ago
Its bombers that win wars
jers59 2 years ago
whats the b 52 called I know the B 29 was called the super fortress
philipstephenbird 3 years ago
the b-52 was called strato forttress
yousawthis 3 years ago
colindominy, those are actually Wright radial propeller drive engines, R-3350's to be exact. 2,200 horsepower each. Bigger than the Pratt & Whitney's you're thinking of, the R-2800. Both are 18-cylinder engines, though. The number represents cubic inch displacement. But yes, they sound like sex in the air.
huxypoo 3 years ago
It is nice to know that we all can die with honor.
82abnoff 3 years ago
I know it would take alot of time and money but are any b-29's left that could be restored to fly
5000TRAINS 3 years ago
Goregious aircraft.
CAPJasonG 3 years ago
Can't wait to see Fifi in formation with Doc.
sseeplane 3 years ago
What a beautiful sound those great big supercharged Pratt & Whitney propeller-drive engines make .. such a pleasant alternative to that constant, soul-less way-loud shrill-whine of jet engines thee days .....
colindominy 3 years ago 2
I love the nose down attitude on landing.What a remarkable plane!
groovy67 3 years ago
Love you,FiFi!
bigroy38 3 years ago
the b-29 is an amazing plane nice vid!
marksman148 3 years ago
i think that the b-29 is an amazing plane nice video.
marksman148 3 years ago
COOL! Glad to see them still flying.Would love to have been in the Enola Gay when they nuked the japs.My father was WWII veteran and was in pearl harbor just after jap attack.They deserved to be nuked.
offshore9476 3 years ago 2
what an uninformed, racist and unintelligent comment. Respect to your father however.
tubist2525 3 years ago
There is only ONE B-29 flying today, and FiFi is it! She's kept at the CAF in Midland, Texas. she's a beauty huh?!
77MommaBear96 3 years ago
B-29 were the air monster to japs during 1945.
When Jap soliders saw them they cried, "ten log, ten log, man died, man died, man died."
Of course they walked to their tombs because they sarted the war first !
sgt21692 3 years ago
I Perform At The CAF
And Behind The Stage Is FIFI
i love that plane its the coolest!
kitkatdogproductionz 3 years ago
sounds like medtrans in the background too
Kopihucky 3 years ago
nevermind im an idiot read description while watching
Kopihucky 3 years ago
was this at the donaldson center?
Kopihucky 3 years ago
Very Nice and not hurried
YTM021807 3 years ago
My father and I saw "Fifi" in the eighties in Jackson, Mississippi. He was a crewmember on a B-25 Mitchell.
Though My father died of Parkinsons recently, the memory of seeing this plane with him returned. He made sure I got to sit in the pilot's seat and they were working on the engines then. It was very loud with just one engine.
Thank you for posting this video.
piperfromtn 3 years ago
Awesome - Well done for keeping her flying.
theRealDavidn 3 years ago
whoaaaa im suprised it went to donaldson center. all there is there is prive airplanes and the runway is tiny. and the donaldson golf course is horrible haha i had to play there and its like playin in a cow pasture
blitzkreig4ever 3 years ago
Best long range bomber ever built.
viperq 3 years ago 2
God bless FiFi!
JackFlemingFan 3 years ago 2
BEAUTIFUL!
F22CB7LX 3 years ago
Forget gay marriages, does someone know a preacher who might marry me to this plane???
greenseaships 3 years ago
Comment removed
ctforce0076 1 year ago
too bad that damn helicopter flew over just as she landed....
FiFi is based in my hometown...I went to the CAF hanger about 2 weeks ago and she is still all torn apart!!
markab71 3 years ago
yea, she needs new R-3350's and some other maintenance, and thats in the millions($).
erad5 3 years ago
I just saw on the news the other day that she still will be in midland till 2010, it takes a year for one engine rebuild...
markab71 3 years ago
I grew up in Midland myself (though no longer live there). I remember the last time she was being worked on...i was so very disapointed to see her in the state she was in (this was in the late 90s). They were really worried they wouldn't be able to keep her up.
so glad to know that they are still commited to this plane. she's such huge part of my growing up! so is the CAF! love live FiFi!!
77MommaBear96 3 years ago
wonderfull, thanks for posting
zeker111 4 years ago
Just fantasic!!! Thanks for posting!
Anacinc 4 years ago