My grandpa was an instructer on the B-29. I remember seeing a program that showed men pushing-through the props on a b-29. I hesitated to ask him why. I thought it might be a silly question. So, finally, I asked him why. He explained it to me but then went into his wartime experience. As a 13 yo, I shocked at all the trauma he experienced as a youth. He lost a lot of good friends in that war. He's now passed. (2003) Everytime I see a prop pushed I think of him. I'm glad I asked that question.
I thought I was going to be some kinda fart smeller for pointing out the B-24 in the background. Looks like half of everybody else already did!
I got to climb all around both of these exact planes back in '86. They came to W.C. Byrd Airport for a showing, and for me, that was a memory of a lifetime. They flew over my house at about 1000ft during their approach. Shook everything!
But that was play... I have nothing but respect for the men who WORKED in and on these things.
Went to see Fifi in Minneapolis one summer with my father-in-law who'd been a bombardier on a B-24 during the war. Got a picture of him next the Norden Bombsight in the nose of that plane and he treasured until he died. Glad there are guys who volunteer their time and effort to keep these birds flying.
At the 2001 Van Nuys Airshow FIFI & the B-24 were there, was fun to tour the insides of both Aircraft and watch them take off Monday morning from the Hatheway Building roof top!! =o)
just think, 10 years before this aircraft came out, people were still flying around in cloth-covered biplanes (in some air forces, anyway) - talk about the march of technology, during that era it broke into a sprint :)
@popsnacks2 I don't think it crashed, I never heard anything about it. As far as I know, "FiFi" is the only B-29 left today, that can fly. I think there are a few available in Museums. The Enola Gay is on display at the Smithsonian. I've never seen Enola Gay in person, but I'd love to see it!
I saw "FiFi" in person back in the early 1990s, and I was amazed at it's size! I wasn't even a teenager yet, and I was scared to get near it. LOL
I saw this aircraft in Harlingen Texas back in the eighties. It was in the hangar having some engine maintenance done. It's amazing how tall the tail is on this machine. It's a huge aircraft.
Grandpa had a pal who worked in a maintenance hangar. Sometimes I'd lie under the fence at the end of one of the runways. I could not get enough of the sound of those big piston engines.
I got to see Fifi at Rogers, AR sometime in the early 90s. It was an amazing sight to see a living, functioning piece of history. Many thanks to the people who did the hard work of restoring her to airworthiness, as well as the maintenance and logistics needed to fly her around the country. I'm sure it's a labor of love.
1)-On a radial oil sometimes collects on the bottom 3 cylinders. So they rotate by hand to make sure the engine does not hydro lock and cause damage with the more powerful starter. If it does stop, then they open the engine and drain the bottom 3 cylinders on both rows of cylinders. Then once clear they button up and retry.
2) Any sequence they want. But since the pilot is giving the order to the engineer to do the starting, usually, the same sequence is used for convenience.
@jbdoggy On a KC-135 we always start 3,4,1,2. It's done that way so we can access the side of an engine being started without having to walk infront of one that is already running. Just a little factoid. :)
I got to see FiFi in 86 while in the AF. Standing in front of that monster when starting up is nothing short of amazing. Video doesns't come close to capturing the moment it's that awesome.
cool!!!! i live in elkhart!!!!! we just had sentimental journey fly in and stay for a couple of days. i was just a couple of years old when this was taken, but i remember going through this plane
An amazing aircraft, hopefully I'll get to see her in person sometime. Sad there's only one left flying, though.
jonesmbones 2 days ago
I saw "her" in Kalamazoo, MI a few years ago. Great plane.
chrisnzella 5 days ago
My grandpa was an instructer on the B-29. I remember seeing a program that showed men pushing-through the props on a b-29. I hesitated to ask him why. I thought it might be a silly question. So, finally, I asked him why. He explained it to me but then went into his wartime experience. As a 13 yo, I shocked at all the trauma he experienced as a youth. He lost a lot of good friends in that war. He's now passed. (2003) Everytime I see a prop pushed I think of him. I'm glad I asked that question.
mindeloman 5 days ago
At 40 sec,. it's make me happy like a child :)
GringoMuchachos 1 week ago
That looks like Diamond Lil' , the B-24 Liberator, just behind FiFi..........
SchwartzeBaron 4 weeks ago
They're gonna have to go a bit quicker if they want to swing those props by hand.
AndreiTupolev 4 weeks ago
I thought I was going to be some kinda fart smeller for pointing out the B-24 in the background. Looks like half of everybody else already did!
I got to climb all around both of these exact planes back in '86. They came to W.C. Byrd Airport for a showing, and for me, that was a memory of a lifetime. They flew over my house at about 1000ft during their approach. Shook everything!
But that was play... I have nothing but respect for the men who WORKED in and on these things.
Jafromobile 1 month ago
There is nothing so relaxing and soothing as the sound of military aircraft!
PcolaSteve4234 1 month ago
I just jizzed my pants at 0:42
PhatFarm60 2 months ago
What a great sound.
Nothing like a B-29.
My dad would be proud.
George Vreeland Hill
GeorgeVreelandHill 2 months ago
Went to see Fifi in Minneapolis one summer with my father-in-law who'd been a bombardier on a B-24 during the war. Got a picture of him next the Norden Bombsight in the nose of that plane and he treasured until he died. Glad there are guys who volunteer their time and effort to keep these birds flying.
Thanks for the post.
hibob418 2 months ago
It smell...like... victory....
nachjagger33 3 months ago
so that's what happened to the ozone layer.
don417 3 months ago
i live right by the Addison municipal airport in Dallas where she is exposed (cavanaugh flight museum) and yeah she is doing just fine!!!!!
TheOtangani 3 months ago
At the 2001 Van Nuys Airshow FIFI & the B-24 were there, was fun to tour the insides of both Aircraft and watch them take off Monday morning from the Hatheway Building roof top!! =o)
macross25 3 months ago
At 0:23, Bless you.
WyvernFalken 4 months ago
B-24 liberator in the Background.
Jazzdrummerperson 4 months ago
How many HP and at what rpm are each engine?
Skater300XS 4 months ago
KICK IT , BABY!!!
hiddenhalo1 5 months ago
just think, 10 years before this aircraft came out, people were still flying around in cloth-covered biplanes (in some air forces, anyway) - talk about the march of technology, during that era it broke into a sprint :)
SupernalOne 5 months ago 2
I saw it land at stillwater, ok and took a tour of it earlier this week pretty sweet airplane
stuntmanmike5 5 months ago
"FiFi" is the one & only restored & flying B-29. She is just fine, in fact was at Oshkosh just last month.
lghollyonTwitter1 5 months ago 7
@lghollyonTwitter1 im goning there and wen does it start
rchangey 10 hours ago
how many are left in the world? i heard this crashed. please say this is not true!
popsnacks2 5 months ago
@popsnacks2 I don't think it crashed, I never heard anything about it. As far as I know, "FiFi" is the only B-29 left today, that can fly. I think there are a few available in Museums. The Enola Gay is on display at the Smithsonian. I've never seen Enola Gay in person, but I'd love to see it!
I saw "FiFi" in person back in the early 1990s, and I was amazed at it's size! I wasn't even a teenager yet, and I was scared to get near it. LOL
MrEcm51 5 months ago
@popsnacks2 nope she is still flying
apostolicguy88 4 months ago
I saw this aircraft in Harlingen Texas back in the eighties. It was in the hangar having some engine maintenance done. It's amazing how tall the tail is on this machine. It's a huge aircraft.
localcrew 6 months ago
Grandpa had a pal who worked in a maintenance hangar. Sometimes I'd lie under the fence at the end of one of the runways. I could not get enough of the sound of those big piston engines.
vladdrac88 8 months ago
Nothing short of amazing.
dieselducy 9 months ago
b 24 in the background :)
united966 9 months ago
She will be in Oshkosh,Wi for the EAA Show this summer...cannot wait!!!
mcbm1966 11 months ago
Idk anything about aircraft... but are the fist pair of men spinning the prop in order to prime the engine?
Orangebike666 11 months ago
@Orangebike666 its to clear the oil out of the bottom cyclinders so it wont hydrolock
pitmitch910 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
where is the take of I wanna see it .. plz
jorasave 11 months ago
I got to see Fifi at Rogers, AR sometime in the early 90s. It was an amazing sight to see a living, functioning piece of history. Many thanks to the people who did the hard work of restoring her to airworthiness, as well as the maintenance and logistics needed to fly her around the country. I'm sure it's a labor of love.
usafvet100 11 months ago
1)-On a radial oil sometimes collects on the bottom 3 cylinders. So they rotate by hand to make sure the engine does not hydro lock and cause damage with the more powerful starter. If it does stop, then they open the engine and drain the bottom 3 cylinders on both rows of cylinders. Then once clear they button up and retry.
2) Any sequence they want. But since the pilot is giving the order to the engineer to do the starting, usually, the same sequence is used for convenience.
donnactrc 1 year ago 5
Can anyone enlighten me?
1) Why the need to spin the propeller a few rounds before starting the engine?
2) Why is the starting sequence 1,2,3,4 & not 1,4,2,3 or 2,3,1,4? Wouldnt 1,2,3,4 cause a force imbalance on 1 wing initially?
jbdoggy 1 year ago
@jbdoggy On a KC-135 we always start 3,4,1,2. It's done that way so we can access the side of an engine being started without having to walk infront of one that is already running. Just a little factoid. :)
stuntmanmike37 11 months ago
The only thing sounding better than a radial is four radials!
kristenburnout1 1 year ago 45
I got to see FiFi in 86 while in the AF. Standing in front of that monster when starting up is nothing short of amazing. Video doesns't come close to capturing the moment it's that awesome.
rjjr1963 1 year ago
guess they didn't have efi and catalytic converters in those days haha. what a gorgeous bird, makes my eyes water
devja71 1 year ago
@devja71
Want your eyes water
Look up the Kee Bird story.
24preacherboy 1 year ago
:-)
93team93 1 year ago
Fifi and Doc... I dream about this stuff...
TV843 1 year ago
The R-3350 is a monster of an engine :-)!!
1977niek 1 year ago
B-29's arn't so environmental friendly, and that's how it should be.
TravisModel92 1 year ago
cool!!!! i live in elkhart!!!!! we just had sentimental journey fly in and stay for a couple of days. i was just a couple of years old when this was taken, but i remember going through this plane
taterfamine 1 year ago
What an awesome chunk of old iron! Cool!
Buffalosharps 1 year ago
ive pulled a c-47 i thought that was tough to do but a b-29 wow
SgtGrant23 1 year ago
@SgtGrant23 A B-29 shouldn't be so bad. more cylinders, the easier.
TravisModel92 1 year ago