5 Interesting Facts About The B-29 FiFi
YouTube / Vintage Aviation News
The legendary FiFi is the most famous B-29 Superfortress in the world. Here are five interesting facts that you need to know about this legendary plane:
1. By the time FiFi came out of the Washington factory in 1945, it was already too late to go to the war
The plane got into various training roles, and it was a fully equipped bomber. It went into storage after the war ended, and got pulled out as a training plane again.
2. Throughout its service life, it underwent several modifications
At one point, it was converted into what they call the TB-29. Some of the turrets were removed and somewhere out back at various times during its life.
CAF Historian Brad Pilgrim also believes that that plane was converted into a systems trainer. He pointed out the little square panel in the plane, and he said no other B-29 he had ever seen had that kind of panel.
Underneath the panel, he says is a jack point where you stick a jack to lift the plane. He was pretty sure that it was done that way to planes that were converted to carry atomic bombs. This is what makes FiFi kind of rare.
3. When its life as a trainer was over, it was sent to China Lake along with the other B-29s intended to be used as targets
The reason was that B-29s could be pressurized on the ground and shoot them with different projectiles. They can also see what kind of damage happened to pressurized planes. These planes were specifically used for these kinds of tests. FiFi, just by pure luck, was never used for that.
4. The plane was named FiFi, in honor of Mrs. Agather, Col. Victor N. Agather’s wife
During the war Agather, a former investment banker in Wall Street was called into active duty and was part of the team that worked on the development of the B-29.
In 1964, Agather joined the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and financed the recovery and restoration of the now-famous B-29.
5. FiFi is one of the two B-29s flying in the world as of 2024
FiFi offers aviation enthusiasts a chance to go on vintage air tours, allowing them to experience an unforgettable flight of their lives with this iconic aircraft.
