I Was In a Vehicle Today That Burns More Fuel Than DJ's Boat

[MrPeabody]

I drove down to Napa today with my son-in-law to see Fifi, the only flying B29 in the world today. There were also several other warbirds there, all from the Commemorative Air Force in Texas. We watched it land around noon, and what a mgnificent machine she is.

They will be taking people for rides tomorrow (sold out online before she even arrived, some seats costing more than a grand). They wanted $1895 to go for a ride in a P51 Mustang.

I talked to one of the crew and he said she burns around 400 gallons an hour in fuel at cruising speed and consumes around ten gallons of oil an hour.

We did a walk-through of the flight deck for $10 and it's huge compared to a B17 or a B24.

[JRD77VET]

yAf6GScjiHo

:cool1:

[MrPeabody]

2200 horsepower X four. No mufflers.:seasix:

[Bill]

Well, that's great, OP, but were there scantily clad hot babes there, chipping in for fuel?

[MrPeabody]

Well, that's great, OP, but were there scantily clad hot babes there, chipping in for fuel?

Nope, just a bunch of old, broke retired guys like me and some wine country ballers willing to throw down a grand for a ride on the plane.

Them - ride on the plane.
Me - T-shirt that helps me remember I saw it.:lol:

[1911fool]

How many B-17s are flying? Are there any more B-29s restorable?

[MrPeabody]

How many B-17s are flying? Are there any more B-29s restorable?

I'm not sure about the B17s. Just a few, I think. Same with the B24s. I think only two of those. There are four B29s currently undergoing restoration for flight, there are 22 of them in various museums, but not flyable. They spent three million on the one I saw today. 1.2 million on the engines alone. They are custom-built Wright Cyclones.

A really cool modification the flight engineer pointed out was how they turned the center fuel tank into an oil reservoir. It has lines running to the tanks on all four engines so oil can be pumped to them with an electric pump. This is only done while on the ground. It's a lot easier on the crew than climbing up on the wings, dipsticking the tanks on each engine then pouring oil from five gallon jugs, which was exactly what they were doing on the B17 when I saw it last summer.

Another thing I found interesting is the group who owns these planes used to be called the Confederate Air Force. I've been aware of them for a long time. They are now called the Commemorative Air Force. They changed the name around 2000. I wonder what, if anything, is the story behind that.

[1911fool]

I'm not sure about the B17s. Just a few, I think. Same with the B24s. I think only two of those. There are four B29s currently undergoing restoration for flight, there are 22 of them in various museums, but not flyable. They spent three million on the one I saw today. 1.2 million on the engines alone. They are custom-built Wright Cyclones.

A really cool modification the flight engineer pointed out was how they turned the center fuel tank into an oil reservoir. It has lines running to the tanks on all four engines so oil can be pumped to them with an electric pump. This is only done while on the ground. It's a lot easier on the crew than climbing up on the wings, dipsticking the tanks on each engine then pouring oil from five gallon jugs, which was exactly what they were doing on the B17 when I saw it last summer.

Another thing I found interesting is the group who owns these planes used to be called the Confederate Air Force. I've been aware of them for a long time. They are now called the Commemorative Air Force. They changed the name around 2000. I wonder what, if anything, is the story behind that.

Cool info. Thanks.

I noticed the "Commemorative" and thought it was Confederate at one time. Probably the PC crowd got bent out of shape.

[1911fool]

From Wiki...

The original name, Confederate Air Force, started as a simple tongue in cheek joke, poking fun at the organization's ragtag beginnings. As the collection of warbirds at Central Valley Airport in Mercedes, Texas started to grow, someone painted the name on the side of the original P-51 Mustang Red Nose. The name stuck, and it grew to the point where the airport was renamed Rebel Field, all members were called "Colonels" (a tradition which still remains), and it led to the creation of a fictitious leader named Colonel Jethro E. Culpepper. There was even a humorous CAF twist put to the old AVG Flying Tigers WWII "blood chit" that read, "This foreign person has come to China to help in the war effort. Soldiers and civilians, one and all, should rescue, protect, and provide him medical care." The CAF version seen on the backs of flight suits and flight jackets stated, "This is a CAF aviator. If found lost or unconscious, please hide him from Yankees, revive with mint julep and assist him in returning to friendly territory. CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE".

In 2002 it changed its name to Commemorative Air Force after a vote of the membership. Many felt the name Confederate Air Force was confusing, did not accurately reflect the purpose of the organization, and was detrimental to fundraising efforts.[5] This name change was deemed by some fans to be a move of political correctness. The reason for the name change as stated by the organization was "Because the word 'Confederate' is offensive to some."[

[MrPeabody]

From Wiki...

Thanks. I thought it might be something like that.:yesnod:

[Kevin_73]

Fifi was at Addison airport for almost a year having work some kind of work done on it.
My office is right next to the airport, so I drive by there almost every day. About 6 months ago I managed to get iphone video of it taking off.
It is uploaded to photobucket, but will no longer play. If I get time later today I will upload it to youtube. :cert:

[1911fool]

After watching the video and seeing the amount of smoke and reading Mr. P's post about oil consumption. What keeps them from fouling the spark plugs? Obviously I am comparing this to a car engine. So I may be way out in left field.

[Kevin_73]

About a year ago taking off from Addison airport. :seasix:
IMG 0403 - YouTube

[C5SilverBullet]

I see a B29 and P51 fly over all the time here, I assume they are out of Ellington AFB.

[MrPeabody]

After watching the video and seeing the amount of smoke and reading Mr. P's post about oil consumption. What keeps them from fouling the spark plugs? Obviously I am comparing this to a car engine. So I may be way out in left field.

I really don't know. I wish my dad was still alive. At the end of the war, after a year or so in Europe, he was in Florida being trained as a line maintenance chief on B29s. I'm sure he would have known the answer.:yesnod:

[Bill]

I see a B29 and P51 fly over all the time here, I assume they are out of Ellington AFB.

Probably just the Mexican Air Force probing for our weaknesses......

:hide: