By Mike Cantone
FIFI, the world’s only flying Boeing B-29 Superfortress, landed at Orlando Executive Airport yesterday, along with other historic and rare World War II aircraft. FIFI is joined by the only flying SB2C Helldiver in the world, a C-45 Expeditor, a Douglas AD-5 Skyraider, a PT-17 Stearman and pilot Sarah Wilson with her newly restored Stearman Junior Speedmail.
The aircraft, all part of the CAF AirPower History Tour, will be on display and offering rides throughout the stop. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the B-29 and purchase rides on all of the visiting aircraft. The airplanes will be on the ramp Thursday March 20 through Sunday March 23.
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress, first flown in 1942, began active service in 1944 and is perhaps best known as the aircraft whose missions over Japan helped bring about the end of World War II. It was designed as a replacement for the older B-17s and B-24s, with longer range and greater bomb loads. The B-29 was also used in the Korean War in the early 1950s and was a staple of the U.S. Air Force until the late 1950s.
FIFIÂ was acquired by the CAF in the early 1970s when a group of CAF members found her at the U.S. Navy Proving Ground at China Lake, California where she was being used as a missile target. The airplane was rescued and restored and flew for over thirty years until 2006 when the chief pilot made the decision to ground her pending a complete power plant re-fit. What followed was an extensive four year restoration that included replacing all four engines with new custom built hybrid engines. FIFI returned to the sky in 2010 and since that time has traveled coast to coast attracting large crowds at every tour stop.
CAF AirPower History Tour Information:
Where: Orlando Executive Airport, Showalter Flying Services, 400 Herndon Avenue, Orlando
Hours: Friday through Sunday — 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for children age 11 through 17. Children 10 and under free. Admission price includes free B-29 cockpit tour.
Rides: Rides range from $75 to $1595 depending on aircraft and seat selection. Rides can be booked online or purchased at the event.
I was 4 years old when the Enola Gay made history over Hiroshima. Growing up we knew all about the history of the B-29. Sometimes, when I can’t sleep past 2:00 AM I turn on the Military History channel and occasionally there is a program on the history of WWII aircraft, and a rather lengthy program on the B-29. There is also a program on the Soviet Union’s 100% duplication of the plane from three impounded planes forced to land on Russian Territory during the war.