B-29 SuperFortress Engine Start / Maintenance Check Flight
2013 ж. 29 Нау.
8 501 204 Рет қаралды
The last operating B-29 in the world under the nickname of "FiFi" This footage was taken at the C.A.F air show, at KBUR March 23 and 24 2013. I was at this airshow with fellow spotter Ryan Bomar. You can see his footage of the B-29 and other classic aviation videos at / ryanbomar
brought my 88 yr old dad to see it in 1999 when he was in the early stages of alzheimer's. he was a propeller mechanic in wwll. he proceeded to strike up a conversation with the crew and told them everything you could ever want or need to know about the plane from the pitch of the props to the loaded max weight! they were quite entertained and proceeded to give him a special tour of the plane and a nice cap. it was one of his greatest last days!
That's so awesome! Sounded like your father was really in his element.
@@LoveJT8D thanks for your kind words and this post-it brought back some good memories!
that is awesome!!
This was great! My father was a flight engineer and crew chief on B-29s. So as a boy I learned all about them also. R-3350s, Master Controls, high pressure direct fuel injection, engine fires, forced landing in Goose Bay- two turning, one burning...if it isn't leaking oil, it's empty...he loved the aircraft.
@@rolandalfonso6954 Funny thing, they say the same thing about the oil on the B-52. One pilot told me that the first thing he looks for is fresh oil under the engines. If the ground was dry the oil tank was empty. I worked on them, most of the time the underside of the wings would be sticky with oil. With all the aircraft I worked on in my time with the USAF, Boeing was the best and easiest to work on from a maintenance view point. Talking to maintenance guys from WWII, they would say the same thing and would add that Boeing built aircraft like Armored Tanks, they could take one hell of a beating and could still make it back home.
Took the tour of this amazing machine, something I'll never forget. The men that flew and maintained the 29 in the war were truly the greatest generation. To the men who fly and preserve this airplane today, we all thank you
2728
Those old warbirds have a sound and beauty All their own hats off to the air crews and ground crews
@@stevenporter6445 NP loop NP loop
As a gun plumber(weapons specialist), I got to load bomb clips in a B-52 once, then got reassigned to a F-100 outfit. What a change that was. Oh well, I was only 18 at the time! Back in the early sixties. Before everyone was prejudiced against the military,any branch, anytime, I felt good about being the US AIR FORCE. After 23 years, I retired I was made to feel ashamed about my career for over 10 years. Only close family and the VA knew of my career. For the last 20+ years, what a turn around, even high school students and college students tell us they thank us for our service. I’m glad, I’m 76 y/o and I’d hate to go out with hard feelings about my fellow Americans. It’s not that I could and you couldn’t, but I DID AND YOU DID NOT! Great vlog, seen many times, thank you for posting!
To see a grand old machine like this so lovingly cared for and revered for her service in war is remarkable. She's a rarity. A museum piece that gives us noobs a chance to see and hear the sounds, and to a limited degree, the vibrations, of "Fifi" as she wakes up and flexes her muscles. A Grand Dame of war machines to be sure. I'm not enough of a plane enthusiast to go to air shows, but damn, I can appreciate the technology of the time in which she was built, and the job she had to do. That's why I'm grateful to those who do go to air shows and share these videos! Thank you so much! My only hope is that her owners and caretakers continue to take every precaution and ensure that she will be around for other generations to see and hear.
It's nice to see people having appreciation for the pure craftmanship of these old birds. If you do have a chance to see FiFi, don't hesitate. She won't dissapoint will make any air show worth it :) Thanks for watching.
Since this video was posted, another B-29 is flying, named Doc. It is based out of KICT, and is housed in a beautiful facility that is open to public tours for a reasonable donation. A group of us was priviliged to tour it just last week. They did a beautiful job on Doc as well.
ZetaByteMe That’s so cool. Glad you had a chance to tour Doc.
I love the sound of those old engines coming to life.
14Adam27 Same! It’s like they have a soul.
Yeah!
That's what I said to your mom last weekend...
@@russellupsumgrub9633 Fist Tina..? I barely know her!
The turbochargers has been taken away
When I saw FIFI taxi in, at Profile Aviation, here in Hickory, NC......I was at the door of the linecrew shack........Speechless, and in tears.......And finally got the opportunity to talk with guys that have crewed these birds!
Regrettably, Didn't have a cam or cellphone, all I have are some pics, and great memories..............
Flynn Jones That’s really cool you had a chance to see FiFi in action! Quite amazing to think of all the history behind this aircraft type and the crews who served on them.
@@LoveJT8D Thank you, my friend! Also, I feel the same way when I see the old WWII tanks in operation........I am a tanker vet myself.......
I was lucky enough to be the CoPilot on the last B-29 to fly across the Atlantic to the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, England.We actually flew up around the Arctic,due to oil consumption.The airplane was named the Hog Wild, and is now housed in the American part of the museum, on static display. We flew it over in 1980.
Don Davis How cool! What an awesome piece of history to be apart of.
The last remaining crew member from Hog Wild is still alive. His name is Art Strilky and he's 93. He's a good friend of mine and an amazing guy. He loves to talk about the story of that plane.
kzhead.info/sun/pLSgqpeIb6NniYU/bejne.html
My Granddad worked for Bell Aircraft building B29s here in Atlanta prior to and during WWII. I got to see Fifi at PDK with my Dad (WWII VET and POW) while he could still move around (Pop passed in 2015). I read that Doc is up and running now...
I saw Hog Wild at the Duxford museum. A very interesting story behind that plane.
Awesome to see such an aircraft still airworthy
Quality
Proudly MADE IN AMERICA 🇺🇸
It’ll still fly I’ll give it that. I wouldn’t wanna stress it too much though.
I toured this plane about 40 years ago at Capital City Airport in Lansing Mi. It was from Texas and one of only a handful left that still fly.
DryooTube, best likely this acft is more airworthy today than it was the day it rolled to the end of it's 1945 MFG assy line.
Can you imagine how proud that pilot is? To be the "Chosen One " to fly such a legend?
Rubens Junior Absolutely...
The pilot is like :D
Absolutely wonderful
I guess, the :D-kind of pride is balanced by the responsibility for the plane. But I am sure he is happy enough to reminiscence of the flight.
Rubens Junior That was an era when results matter more than feelings.
Really love hearing those big, beautiful radials cranking up and running!
My son just happened to be in the pilots seat when they started FiFi one year at RJ Miller Airpark on Toms River NJ around 1994. They replaced an engine and during the tour asked us if we wanted to stay aboard for the test. He took it in stride! I would have been beside myself!
Wayne Duszczak What an awesome experience for your son.
Love the sound of radials!! I was lucky to have toured FiFi when she flew into my hometown airport (KOLM) a few years ago. The sound of WW2 era radials at idle like hers is pure rhythm, in my opinion. Grumpy, a B25, flew in this year and my toes curled she she fired up!
That's awesome you got to tour through FiFi, and surely a memorable experience. I have yet to step inside and tour.
Is this the B-25 you're referring to? kzhead.info/sun/lq6zYdurnJtmh2g/bejne.html
The round sound is the best.
My step dad was the flight engineer on the K31 - B29. Just to here his stories was amazing.
David White That's awesome! I'm sure there's never a dull moment in his stories, especially in an era when flying was all hands on.
Thank you for this video! The size and complexity of a B-29 is staggering!
I was on ground cew at Profile Aviation when FIFI taxi'd in for our air show.......I have had the priviledge of meeting her crew and listening to her sound.........When she taxi'd in, i was tearing up, because I knew what this bird meant to SO MANY PEOPLE! SUCH AN HONOR, to meet the crew, and see this bird, in my eyes, can never be replaced! GREAT MEMORIES!
The real 'Millennium Falcon' .... Such a treat to see this super video thank you.
Neil Vance Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the vid.
I have watched this video at least 10 times. I could watch it at least 100 more. I love to hear those ancient radials come to life. Thanks for preserving the history guys.
Bob Adams Really glad you enjoyed the video!
I've done some sheet metal work on FiFi .. shes an incredible machine well made for the technology of that era and considering the accelerated pace at which they were built. Truly awesome to see her turn up.. run all 4 engines and fly. 🤘
charlie williams Awesome! So cool you had a hand in keeping her flying!
You are a Prince among men !! Thanks so much for the awesome footage. Sound and sight - totally !!
To see this incredible machine still flying is just awesome. Hats off to all that make it possible, it takes some highly skilled people to keep this bird flying. Thank you for all you do!
What a BOMBER of the WWII
I've flown on FIFI several times, once with South West Airlines Check-Ride chief pilot, Charlie Tilghman of Houston, Tx. I have fantastic footage somewhere of landing while seated on bombardier seat, nothing but glass under you as the runway comes up. The sound INSIDE her is incredible. Beyond description.
Boogerdog That’s so awesome you got to fly in the bombardier seat. What an experience! I hope to hop on a flight someday.
I was an A&E mechanic in the Early 50s on B29s in England and we were directed by the CIA to do covert missions I think we were the last ones to use them I flew the Fifi last year out of Mesa and all those memories came back. I’m 84 years old
Sounds just wonderful in my earbuds. Great to watch on Saturday afternoon. Thanks.
Moves me to tears to think about what conflicts this Classic bomber and its Pilots went through ,Great video here ☺
Stephen Powell Thanks! Appreciate you stopping by to watch.
Love the sound of an inertia starter. Very ingenious and simple design to start these massive engines.
Pura basura.en este mundo.
Just imagine those old hand crank inertia starters that were used to fire some giant engines back in the day. 😳
@@franciscomelchorf.5854 llllllilllllllllll😢llll😢lllllillll😮lilllllillpllllll😮llllllllllll😂lll
That sends chills down my back. Love it! God bless those Men that flew in these planes.
I had done some avionics work on this plane back in the day, when the CAF was based in Harlingen, Texas. I worked at a FBO, and we did some radio work for the CAF. It was quite an experience working on some of those pieces of history.
what a beautiful noise
😂😂😂😂😭😭😭
My Dad was a pilot; flew both B17s and B29s in WWII. Many fascinating stories. One of the things that boggles my mind is how young most of the WWII flight crews were. When Dad was discharged in Dec '45 he was only 22 years old. Often crew members were only 18-20 years old. He often remarked that a 25 year old would be 'the old man' of the group.
RTLL Wow, sounds like your father had a remarkable career flying these old birds. Didn’t realize the crews were that young. I would have thought 25 at the youngest, as far as pilots.
My dad was in boot camp at 17 then joined on his 18th birthday. He had 3 months of flight training and was stationed in Europe with the R.A.F. and flew for them. He flew the imfomous Lancaster. Squadren 211
Just beautiful man! Big, heavy, mechanical, simple, just perfect!
Casual car/motorcycle enthusiast with an appreciation for classic aircraft here. No matter how many times I look at the B-29, it still boggles my mind the fact that people back in the day were able to build aircraft this big that could still fly under their own power.
IMPONENTE!..uno de los mejores bombarderos de la SGM!!....
Encontré el comentario en español🤣
I was a mechanic on b29s in the 50s aa and they were used for covert operations in Europe and other parts of the world.
Earl Erickson Awesome! So lucky that you had a chance to work on this aircraft.
It is amazing to see this beast still flying.
Had the privelege of seeing Fifi meet up with the B-25 and P-51 at the airport I used to work at. Have some pretty awesome photos of the three of them flying over!
Absolutely magnificent in every way. Incredible machines nearly 80 years ago. Fantastic!
Doesn't get much better than 4 radial engines going at once.
imagine the B 52 has been at it 69 years and still going!
Amazing to think that these beasts were desighned and produced prior to computer technology. Just a pencil, paper and a slide ruler.
And lots of elbow grease :)
Not to mention a whole army of engineers.
Imagine what it took to "compute" the SR-71. It was said Kelly Johnson started the original design on a napkin - no computers or laptops, just paper, slide rules and lots of draftsmen -
Slide ruler, uauuu, amazing
Mugshot Marley
I had the privilege to ground direct FIFI at Profile Aviation in Hickory, NC at an airshow! WHAT A BLESSING!
Que aeronave fantástica. Que trabalho de restauração primoroso, parabéns!
I spotted B-29 Doc flying over Wichita Ks just yesterday 9/18/2020. It was about 1000’ and about a mile east of me. When I picked up the low heavy rubble of the engines and props I knew immediately it was Doc out and about. If not mistaken Fifi and Doc are only two fully restored flying examples out there.
Sight, Sound, Smell, of these types of classic aircraft ..........I Friggin' LOVE IT!
Flynn Jones Doesn’t get any better 😎
I used to work on that aircraft when it was stationed in Midland, Texas with the CAF. I was lucky enough to fly on her on its 1st test flight after we did a major overhaul. That is a ride I will never forget :)
Phil Dolbow That’s really cool! I’m sure she is just as thunderous on the inside.
I love ancient aircraft with that lovely noise it brings to you relax feeling .thank you publisher
Samer Samer Thank you! Glad to meet others who appreciate the sound of radial engines.
2:48 - one of the most beautiful sounds man has ever created!!
Agreed!
I remember as a kid, being under the flight path to O'Hare Airport in the late 50s, and watching and listening the Connies come in and land. The sound of its engines and props are to me also the most beautiful sound of an airplane.
i cranked the sound system to 10 to listen to a roar for 5 min. the neighbors must think im retarded
Chad Martfeld Every neighborhood needs a little cleansing with radial engine audio now and then. They should be grateful :)
LoveJT8D Good Space Shuttle audio will also cleans the soul!!
Great to see the old plane up & running !!!
Tommy Brown Absolutely!
How majestic does that look taking off!? A thing of beauty!
I have 3 family ties to B-29's. One of my daughters got her private license 22 years ago and was lucky enough to get some FIFI left seat time on a repositioning flight to Detroit as her uncle was a colonel/pilot on FIFI. He will be 100 years young on June 5th and still going strong! He was a flight instructor on B-29's during the war. My father is now almost 94 years old and was an expert on R-4360's, R-3350's and prior was a flight engineer on C-47's (R-1830's) flying the Berlin Airlift. He is a retired minister but still loved his airplanes and kept his FAA A&P licenses current up through his mid 80's helping with annuals, working on PT-6 turbo-props etc. as he volunteered his wrenching skills to the missionary group Agape Flights. He also held a private pilot's license.
Doc was just here at Museum of Flight in Renton. Beautiful plane.
Absolutely AMAZING and awesome that this historic plane still runs!!!!
Mathew McLean Thanks! It was a real treat to watch her firing on all cylinders :)
You're welcome. I always knew that these planes were huge, but to see people standing in front of the engines truly gives me an idea now of how large these planes are. What kind of engines does this plane have?
I was part of the Qantas Ground Engineering Team putting the Engines back together after all parts had been overhauled, Beats Centrelink Ulrich
Ulrich Jackisch Awesome!
I got to climb arround inside this plane when it visited our local airpirt, I was about 14 back in the early 90s, and I had my entire ceiling full of 1/48 model planes mostly ww2 war birds, I had just bought the huge monogram B29 kit about a week earlier. My Dad took me to see FIFI, I must have shot 6 rolls of film inside and out for reference photos. Everytime I see this plane I am reminded of those simpler times, being young, reading books and building models. I cant imagine what the crews of those bombers went through. They were not much older than being teenage kids themselves and they risked everything to end the war. Thank You Veterans for doing what I could never be brave enough to do myself.
A video which is always a pleasure to watch and re-watch repeatedly.
Ted Wagner Thanks Ted! Glad you enjoy it.
amazing sound from the engines
When FIFI visited Henderson Executive, it's flight path took it right over my house several times! It flies a *bit* lower than other aircraft after takeoff and the engines rattled everything as it flew over! That was the coolest thing I'd seen in a long time. Me and my brother went out into the back yard in hopes of filming it flying over, but we heard it take off the wrong direction! Darn wind! Later, it took off the right direction but we thought it had already left! We missed it flying over with a camera 3 times! Doh!
Acerracer202 Hopefully next time the wind will cooperate a bit more. Thanks for watching!
Same. My house is directly under the flight path for the Reading Airshow, you can always tell when Fifi is flying past.
My Dad was a B-29 mechanic and he said that they had a lot of problems with the engines due to so much vibration. They were constantly having to re-torque the heads etc. as so many nuts and bolts would start to come loose! And every time the plane flew a mechanic had to be onboard. He was stationed in England in the 1950's and they'd often have to fly to 'North Africa.'
I was able to set in the pilots seat when it was based in Midland, Texas. Very exciting for this old pilot.
Awesome! I bet that was a memorable experience. What aircraft did you fly?
Was in Midland when Fifi was being refurbished sweet!
Went through this plane in Madison, WI a few years ago. Awesome to see in person!
I saw FIFI at Oshkosh years ago, wonderful.
I live in Oshkosh, so I see it every year!
It was in Michigan on 4th of July 2019 went to see it 3 times
That's awesome! Have you flown on it before?
Just eleven days after I saw FIFI at the Mercer County Airport in New Jersey. I recorded the B-29 taking off on a westerly heading for a flight to Youngstown, Ohio. I bought a commemorative baseball cap to mark the occasion. When FIFI passed overhead the ground shook.
What a sight and sound...FOUR massive radials with runup! Mag checks with no cheesy of crappy music ! Radials need no "enhancement" with music. Great video.
Danielle Dykgraaf Thanks! And glad you appreciate the non-music. Engines need room to speak.
FIFI is a beautiful monster. Greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱.
Brings tears to your eyes.
I remember as a kid growing up in the 60's seeing all of these old (they weren't old back then) flying around our house (we lived close to an air force base) they would have been coming in for a landing or taking off and when they were taking off the sound was an ear shattering roar that you could actually feel in your chest........ Now that's some power!
Jim Brewer That’s really awesome you got to see these when they were still active at Air Force bases. Not many aircraft engines today will give you that wow factor.
LoveJT8D : That's for sure.
I remember as a 3 year old in 1959 on warm summer afternoons laying on my back on the warm driveway concrete while waiting for my dad to arrive home after work. Everyday precisely at 1600 a B-36 from SAC would fly over from west to east at 42 degrees north latitude at about 30,000 ft in keeping nukes in the air 24/7. The engines would set up a harmonic oscillation that had a very distinctive thrummm...thrummm... at a period of about 2-3 seconds. Although I was unaware of the nuclear threat at the time, the sound gave me a sense of security. The sound would put me to sleep until dad arrived home. I later graduated from USAFA (UPT bomber pilot), and now as an old guy am a weapons consultant to the DOE. B-29's were mostly phased out by the time I was old enough to look up and recognize a plane. My connections to the WW2 era flying (dad was armored artillery) are an uncle who was a bombardier on a B-24 466 Bomb Sqdn Crew#56 (later died a horrible death from atomic fallout from the Nevada Test Site, buried in Ft Logan Nat Cem, 1968) and a cousin who served as a B-24 pilot in the same 466 Bomb Sqdn Crew#50 (shot down/killed over France 1944, reinterred 1948 USA). I have tremendous respect for all of the air crews from back in the days when pilots were real pilots (no HUD, fly-by-wire, guided bombs, or retractable cup holders). I still wake up some nights remembering my flying time while thinking from time to time what my cousin felt as his ship was going down. It left an impression.
Me too! I lived near an Army base, and sound of a 4-prop war machine going over was nothing short of thunderous! You couldn't help but look up in awe.
So cool how the propellers play with the cameras shutter speed. Love these beautiful old planes.
Been on the ramp with this lady! OMG, WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!
Such a beautiful sound, even the best surround systems cant reproduce that bass note that you feel through your body, when you experience start up/idle in person, I've been fortunate to experience twice so far.
That's awesome! Glad you got to experience the B-29 in person as well. Like you said, the sound cannot be reproduced.
I rode on FiFi last Sunday at the Thunder over Michigan air show. Thrill of a lifetime. Was a Father's Day present. Anybody wanting to do it, do anything in your power to make it happen.
+dan4466 Sounds like you had an awesome flight! I would love to take a flight on FiFi eventually.
I did too. From the navigator's position. I shot video of the whole thing, on the ground as well as in the air. I'll try to post
And yes, it would have been worth it at 3x the price. Never forget it. Right in front of me was a map of Japan autographed by the Enola Gay crew.
I’ve never been inside FIFI, but I did sit under her right wing in the shade while watching an air show when she was on static display at the Thunder in the valley air show in Columbus, GA some years ago
This aircraft was in my town this past weekend and I was able to see it and take a tour of it>>> Quite a thrill after 75 years >>>
Although I'm Japanese and I know what this plane did to our country, I can't help feeling that it's just beautiful !
I understand. I'm American, and I think the A6M was a beautiful aircraft too. Isn't it great that despite the differences of our peoples not that long ago, their children and grandchildren today live as friends.
@Bill Williams You're an idiot Bill...let me guess, Republican?
@@FrancoisLabelle-yf8tj idiots are idiots and they can be found on any political side. Bringing up politics wont do any good
You know what's really stunning? That the Japanese are willing to be friends with us after that event. To me, that shows an inner quality that many Americans don't have (sad, but true). I've seen all the pictures, read the stories, and while I've never been to Japan, I have tremendous respect for the culture and the people. On behalf of those Americans who "get it", thank you for giving us a second chance. We'll keep trying to get things right.
I think you have got this the wrong way round, the Japanese were the instigators of the war, and the world was very lucky that the Allies had the Bomb not the Axis powers including the Japanese. I dont have any respect for the culture of these people, ask the POW's and the millions of Asian People subjugated by them, treated in the most callous and cruel manner. Read about the rape of Nanking where they murdered 400,000 civilians , Women , Children , Even babies. At least the Germans have faced up to the horrors of Hitler's regime , the Japanese have never really accepted what they did in WW2 , and have never apologised in an unequivocal manner.
History of this aircraft as stated in Wiki - Built by Boeing at the Renton factory in Washington, B-29A serial number 44-62070 was delivered to the USAAF in Kansas in 1945. Modified to a TB-29A standard, it served as an administrative aircraft before being placed in "desert storage". It was returned to active duty in 1953. The airplane was retired in 1958 and placed at the U.S. Navy Naval Weapons Center and bombing range at China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station in California as part of a group of 36 B-29s. The Commemorative Air Force, then known as the Confederate Air Force, acquired it in 1971 and registered it as a civilian aircraft. It was flown to CAF headquarters at Harlingen, Texas on 3 August 1971 and re-registered as N529B in August 1981.
Liam Murphy. L*ipp
Liam Murp Ddo
Liam Mul
WOW! How cool was this! THANKS!
@ 2:59 Wow! 3 PRT's or just 2? These are an earlier model than the ones I worked on in P-2's. More thunder at startup. Loving this.
That I don't know, but if I had to guess I'd say 3. Glad you liked the video!
I saw Fifi flying here in Fayetteville, AR... OMG what a beautiful plane!!!!
I saw Fifi in Little Rock years ago.
I love the sound of those engines
Same here! Power for days!
I had the pleasure on seeing this beautiful bird, in Nashua NH. The Cockpit was amazing, so were the crew.
Love that plane, the B-29. There's one in Cordele, Ga at the Veteran's Memorial park.
A HUGE THANK YOU to my OLDER BROTHERS for keeping the memories of these aircraft, and passing along to us.......The third generation of these birds........We SALUTE ALL OF YOU, and YOU GUYS will never know what these memories, and knowledge you pass on mean to us young folk!
Classic
So nice to see this.
My late Father had this sound effects record from like the 1950's that introduced "stereo" and one of these '29's was one sound effect. It was a "flyover" from the end of a runway upon takeoff.Well, one time, good old Dad blasted it on his stereo through his home made big-ass speakers (he was Naval Aviation; electronics, sub hunters) while I was in my room working on a model car or something. It sounded so authentic, I came flyin' out of my room, hauled ass down the hall way and shot out the front door to look up in the sky. Dad laughed his ass off! This was about 1963. To this day, I still look up at vintage aircraft and all rotary wing aircraft. I served in the United States Army's 14th (former) Combat Battalion at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, 1973/1974. (52B20)
I got to fly in FiFi this summer (2019) absolutely amazing! Great video but, it doesn't do it proper justice on how loud and awesome the engines sound.
You're right. The ultimate experience is to be there in person. What seat or area of the plane did you fly in?
@@LoveJT8D Radio Operator, right behind the navigator in the cockpit.
я в одном документальном фильме 2008 года видел именно этот борт B-29, тот самый с надписью FiFi на борту. там была съёмка предположительно конца 40-х начала 50-х годов где был показан взлёт именно этого самолёта. приятно видеть как самолёт служивший в те далёкие годы, снова поднимается в небо.
самолет может быть и хороший но не красивый
Love that raw , uncultivated , rough sound during start-up . . .
Jack van den Broek The “muscle car” era of aviation 😎
I entered B29 flight engineer training in 1953 at Randolf AFB, San Antonio Texas. My first training flight was in the nose, the bombardier seat. The Korean War ended before my class graduated. We were sent to Forbes in Topeka Kansas to complete our training. Later I changed jobs and went to the Jets. It was a challenge for a 22 year old airman, but I enjoyed it,
If that isn't music to the ears, I don't know what is. I love FiFi!!
Jan Johnson Couldn't agree more!
I was gonna ride FiFi but we had to cancel :( .
Very nostalgic - to me, an early 50s child, this is the sight and sound of a 'proper' aeroplane! Horrendously expensive on fuel today, but back in the day, the cost was probably only 2 or 3c a gallon to the military, so not a consideration. Kudos to the folk who keep this old girl airworthy.
Actually, in the late 30's - early 40's 100LL, the typical fuel that these engines ran on, was $25 a gallon compared to 20¢ for automobile fuel. The process to manufacture the "high-octane" plane fuel was very expensive and wasteful. I don't know exactly how much the military was paying for the airplane fuel during WW2, but I'm sure it was much more than 2 or 3 cents a gallon.
Except they didn’t use 100LL, as that grade hadn’t been invented yet. These big, high-compression engines used 130/145 octane fuel to avoid detonation, plus water injection on takeoff. The Wright R-3350s used in the B-29 were actually some of the most technically advanced and fuel efficient engines of their day, which is the reason why the B-29 was used almost exclusively in the Pacific Theater to attack the Japanese home islands. Earlier bombers such as the B-17 and B-25 did not have the range to make a round trip from American-held island bases to bomb Japan. Regardless, any airplane this size is extraordinarily thirsty and expensive to maintain and operate for private ownership. I’m glad someone can afford to keep this piece of history in operating condition.
I don't know about cost, but it seems to me like a lot of fuel was consumed on the ground, before take off... This directly translates to the range it can cover... Top her off at the end of the runway, right before take off? Or spend less time on the ground?
@@daytona1073 Actually, they do this because they are performing checks to make sure the flaps, engines, controls, e.t.c are funtioning and callibrated properly before takeoff.
I have GOT to hand it to you Americans - you certainly know how to design a beautiful airframe - Fifi is absolutely stunning. I was lucky enough to see Enola Gay at the Udvar-Hasey museum and seeing a Superfortress close-up is something you remember!
That's awesome you saw the Enola Gay up close! These bombers were definitely works of art and built like tanks.
My Father, Lt. Col Jack Breininger flew the B 29 in WWII and also in the Korean War, flew the U-10 in Vietnam, my gosh how I miss him! He passed in 2013 at 94 years young.
Eric Lindsey Wow, he lived a nice long life and I’m sure had an amazing catalog of stories with his time/service in those two aircraft. What a rush it must’ve been to fly those loud, thunderous bombers.
Awesome uszlachetniacze - testy i opinie
Love the sound of the inertial starters spooling up for the first spin-up.
Tachi Tekmo 👍
Music to my ears
Is there any chance you could clarify inertial starters?
There are no inertia starters in this video! The sound you hear probably is the fuel pump (don't no). If you want to listen to an inertia starter, watch a startup of a Bf 109 or An-2.
My dad and I talked only once in depth about his time in the AAC. He was very drunk, and I wasn't far behind, but he told me the engines would explode when they started. That's as much as he would say at.that time, and it never made any sense to me. Until I saw this video. Now I get it. And I am even more appreciative of my dad's time on the interminable flight line on Tinian.
Barbara Anne Neal I’m sure your dad had some amazing stories about this aircraft. There are some other comments on this video that explains why they spin the props prior to starting the engines. Mainly to help remove fuel, oil, and other debris that may have collected in the bottom cylinders. If that stuff is not cleared out then the engines could easily blow a cylinder upon starting. That’s probably what your dad was referring to.
LoveJT8D Absolutely! But I never knew what he was talking about until I saw this. He did, on that occasion, talk about the endless flight line on Tinian, where the last out frequently met the first coming back while taking off. Dad was a radio operator. Since silence was the norm, he had other duties to perform. It is at this point that I have to confess for my father: he lied about his age and misled his parents about his enlistment. So at 17, he was in the bomb bay, doors open, kicking (yes, kicking) hung up incendiaries loose so the plane can land safely. It was while doing this that this boy experienced something that still gives me nightmares.
fabulous piece of history
wow to see an old plane that was in the war
Barry Rosen It’s amazing isn’t it?! And cool to see just how advanced this plane was considering when the first flight was conducted by the Wright Brothers.
I love to hear that ol bird sing! What an amazing fortress. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching! The sound alone is quite a fortress and definitely lives up to that name.
I spent six months on Okinawa in 1978, and six months on the main island in the city of Misawa in 1980. I was 18 years old in 1978 and I thought the people were remarkable. They treated all of us with respect and I have loved Japan ever since. War is hell, and I am sad for what happened. I just think of how awesome it is that our two best allies are Japan, and the United Kingdom.
From JAPAN. 🇯🇵 KAMIKAZE pilot and 🇺🇸 B29 crew. The number of deaths in each battle does not change much. I believe this fact should not be forgotten.
#3 engine is started first as this engine supplies power to the hydraulic services controls the brakes and all other hydraulic systems, then #4 #2 #1 and when shutting down #3 is the last one to be shut down
+Steinwaygrande Awesome! Thanks for the info. Quite fascinating.
LOL... wut? Six 28.5-volt engine-driven generators on the B-29 furnish 300 amperes each for a total of 1800 amperes. These generators are mounted two on each outboard engine and one on each inboard engine. The engines must be turning at least 1375 rpm for the generators to put out rated current. The B-29 hydraulic system has one exclusive function; it transmits force to actuate the brake mechanism. The system is divided into two units-one for normal use and one for emergency use. The emergency system receives pressure from the normal system, but is isolated by a check valve and shut-off valve to prevent reverse flow. A hand pump is provided on the floor at the left of the copilot's seat permits building up the pressure when the electrically driven pump does not operate. The emergency system must be recharged after 5 to 7 applications of the brakes.
Steinwaygrande Thanks for the information
BOOM! drops the mic...........
Steinwaygrande , Pyongyang here we come!
In 2018 it really is now looking so ancient , time has certainly moved on , also in its day it was a very large aircraft and would of been seen as the A380 of its era , but today a small aircraft .
A small aircraft,are you mad, it massive.
It is truly amazing to see such thin props pulling such a heavy plane through the air!
John Waller It really is. It’s quite amazing what aviation technology had evolved into a at that time in history.
+John Waller Prop design was a science all by itself. Prop diameter, blade chord and number of blades were matched to engine hp and operating parameters. For example Navy planes had thin chord props for operating in the thicker air down low.
Beautiful engine start.