Unfortunate setback…
The Commemorative Air Force’s struggles to return FIFI, the last flyable Boeing B-29 Superfortress, to airworthiness have taken another hit. During flight testing, a distributor malfunction in the Number Two engine caused pre-ignition, which damaged some cylinders. The engine has been removed and sent out for repairs, and the CAF hopes to have FIFI flying again in time for this year’s CAF Airshow, Oct. 9-10 at Midland (Texas) International Airport. As a result, FIFI has been replaced on tour by the CAF’s Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Ol’ 927, one of only two flying B-24s. Ol’ 927 will understudy FIFI’s role in this month’s Colorado Sport International Air Show and Rocky Mountain Fly-In Aug. 28-29 at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Broomfield, Colorado. The Colorado show is the first stop on the Red, White & Loud Tour, in which country music star and pilot Aaron Tippin will partner with CAF.
From Flying’s e-newsletter.