Black Dog Technologies: Fifi

I got an opportunity to work on Fifi, and couldn't resist. What do you think of when you hear the name Fifi? A small dog? A frilly plant? Fifi's maximum takeoff weight is 60 Tons... Neither frail, nor dainty Fifi is a Boeing Airplane Co. B-29A-60-BN Superfortress. I'll let that sink in a while, Superfortress...

This aircraft is "prickly", as in heavily armed, with machine guns pointed in every direction. The wartime B-29s had machine gun turrets from stem to stern. Fifi has been refitted to be an exhibition experimental aircraft so the weaponry is inert. Although it seems like it is still there.

I had this opportunity because my brother was doing a certification on Fifi, and I was more than happy to help. The B-29A was built in the middle of a major war, and rushed into service which created a number of problems. Fifi has been extensively upgraded with new engines, and some modern electronics like GPS to make her compliant with modern aviation rules.

This is the view of the cockpit standing where the turret stations were. The Radio Bench is on my right, and the navigation station is to my left. The B-29A has 5 flight crew; Pilot, Co-Pilot, Flight Engineer, Radio Operator, and Navigator. Four people in Fifi's cockpit is crowded...

Fifi was built in 1942, and with extreme secrecy. This is the hatch in the front gear bay that leads to the cockpit. Apparently the ground crew is not allowed in the cockpit. This hatch is right in the middle of the cockpit. The Pilot and Co-Pilot chair are forward a couple feet, and the flight engineers station is directly adjacent to the wheel well hatch.

Naturally I going to start with the engineers station, cause I'm an engineer, and not a pilot. All of the controls and indicators for the four Wright R-3350, 18 cylinder, radial, supercharged engines. The flight engineer had the absolute controls for the engines. The pilot and co-pilot have access to the limit that the flight engineer sets. This is completely a mechanical system. Levers, wires, and pulleys tell the control surfaces what to do. No power assist. Its the pilots muscles against the control surfaces, I guess there are some mechanical advantages.

This is the back of the flight engineers station. Tubes and wires from this station extend to every critical area of the ship. Every control, and indicator from all over the ship go to this station. This is electromechanical control at its finest in 1942, state of the art. I am humbled to be in the presence of such workmanship.

Directly to the right of the back of the flight engineers station is the radio station. In 1942 what they had for communication was what we think of as Ham Radio. On top of this table are several oscillators, and some transmitters to cover the spectrum that was used in the 1940's. Fifi has upgraded to modern Navigational, and Communications Radios.

This is the Pilot's station. Its a bit modified. Noticeably there is a an iPod connector, and mount. To the left of the yoke there is a Garmin GPS. There are a number of indicators mounted on top of the original instrument cluster. I understand that Fifi is trying to fit in to the brave new world.