Weather, FAA Are The Culprits

The Commemorative Air Force has been frustrated again in its attempt to fly FIFI, the last remaining flying example of a B-29 bomber.

The CAF had planned to fly the re-engined historic warbird on Monday, but television station KOSA reports that they ran into a couple of problems along the way. First, the weather didn't cooperate, but perhaps a bigger obstacle is that the FAA has determined that the test flights crews would be limited to four, and the CAF has always flown with a crew of six, the number mandated by the FAA for the past 30+ years.

Christopher Trobridge, Public Information Officer for the Commemorative Air Force B-29 / B-24 Squadron, tells ANN that the CAF is currently refusing to fly the test missions with only four on board.

File Photo

Those who came out to see the airplane's first flight with more reliable engines ... part of a $1.5 million restoration on the WWII era bomber ... were given free tours of the airplane including its cockpit.

The CAF still hopes to fly FIFI this week.

FMI: www.commemorativeairforce.org