Hi everybody, I just found out that FIFI is grounded due to serious corrosion in the wings. Their pulling the wings off and initial inspection indicates the main spar is corroded( not good[V][V][V]). Lets hope its not as bad as initialy thought. She was supposed to be in my town this weekend, which means I won’t be taking hundreds of pics of her and Diamond Lil, DANG[banghead][BH][BH].
bad…
I saw FIFI fly over my apartment once at an extremely low altitude, not aware she was in town that day. So low I could read the “FIFI” painted on her nose. This was back in the early/mid 80s. I’d hate to say this, but perhaps it’s time to retire the old gal? She’s been flying a long time. Either that or have her go through a major re-fit, which would require a considerable amount of time (who carries B-29 spares nowadays?), and costly.
The CAF site says that Diamond Lil, their B-24, is also cancelling scheduled tours due to maintenance. Read about it here: http://www.cafb29b24.org/news.shtml.
I hope to make it to the show in Midland in October, once it cools off around here. If I make it, I’ll be sure to post photos.
NOOO! You where going to give me those pics to >.<
Hey Sarge, I’m heartbroken over this, not only is that grand old gal on the ground where she doesn’t belong, I had my weekend planned around this, including a day off on fri., old friends and old airplanes. I think f4u1d has a point, but goldang it, if youv’e ever heard those 3450’s at full song on a flyby, goosebumps galoore. I’ve got other pics of her taken in the past, I’d be more than happy to send you copies, let me know. I think I’ll weep in a few beers tonight.
I took this at the Wings Over Houston a few years ago. Great memories.[:)]
Eddie
I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But Fifi has been down this whole airshow season.
Well, we got some great pics out of it at least 
Better that than having a wing (or two) come off in flight.
I’ve seen FiFi twice in person over the course of 15 years. I’m glad I did, and I’d hate to see the plane in a million broken pieces.
Regards,
i need to see it someday, i saw the one at Warner-Robins AFB is Gerogia though
I saw “FIFI” in December of 1993 at the B-2A Acceptance Ceremony at Whiteman AFB, MO. I wonder if the high price of Avgas hasn’t played some part in “Diamond Lil’s” cancellations. Average cost now is above $4.00 a gallon.[:(]
Like that B-29 that they dug up at the northpole. They tried to restore it in situ and then fly aways with it. But it didn’t work, the plane broke and ended in a gaint flame ball!!
I have seen pisctures of it, awefull!
Here are a few shots I got of Fifi last year, and a couple of other a/c at the local air show. The gentleman in the B-29 cap flew in 29’s in WW II.
Better on the ground then in piece spread over some field, main spar corrosion may not be repairable
Shame that it is grounded. I got pics of her at an airshow I think last year.
I was a crewmember (gunner, Boom Op.)on a B-29 ,KB-29 in the early 1950’s and I think my main spar is corroded!
Teise
[:(]sorry to hear about the b-29, over here in the uk we don,t have the luxury of seeing one of those incredible planes in the sky, only in a museum. our lanc over here had to have its main wing spar replaced, lets hope the same happens there. long may it fly!
well with the miracle of CNC parts replication a new spar could be built out af the newer composit materials that replaced Aluminum or it could be made out of block aluminum as well.
Remco, you mean the Kee Bird right? Something went wrong on the APU and started a fire. Worst part of it is, the plane was doing taxi tests and about to take off right after… the fire went thru the bomb bay tunnel into the nose.