"Fifi" in 1988 - Aircraft of World War II

syscom3 · 07-04-2008, 12:38 AM

Thought you all might want to see these pics I took at Chino in 1988.

Thorlifter · 07-04-2008, 12:59 AM

Thanks for posting syscom. I don't remember when the CAF got Fifi, but I want to say I first saw her in 1976 in Harlingen, Texas, though I may be wrong on the date. What a glorious plane.

Here in Dallas, there is a flight museum called the Cavenaugh Flight Musuem at the Addison airport. Jim Cavenaugh has pledged something like 2 million dollars to the rebuild of the engines on Fifi.

It's just staggering how much it cost to do work on these priceless birds.

wilbur1 · 07-04-2008, 11:16 AM

Thats one BIG bird

Haztoys · 07-04-2008, 11:20 AM

Now the plane "looks" to be painted white ...Why ...And were they painted in the war times ...I know dumb thing to ask...Or is it just the pic...

syscom3 · 07-04-2008, 11:44 AM

It was painted white at the time. I think for protection for the surfaces.

Definitely not wartime colors.

Gnomey · 07-04-2008, 04:44 PM

Great stuff sys!

pbfoot · 07-04-2008, 07:13 PM

Gotta pic of her from 81 and she's silver get it posted as soon as figure out why printer won't turn on

ToughOmbre · 07-04-2008, 07:32 PM

Last time I saw her she was polished aluminum. Also heard that an organization made a contribution to enable all new engines to be installed; hopefully will keep her in the air for some time to come.

TO

Micdrow · 07-14-2008, 05:04 PM

Great bird and pictures syscom3, it was first grounded due to problems on the inside of the main wing if I remember right and now grounded due to shelling out all four engines. At a millon dollars an engine they are trying to raise the money to fix or replace all 4 engines though I have not heard how well things are going lately with her.

Wayne Little · 07-15-2008, 10:15 AM

Great shots Sys! thanks.....

Aggie08 · 07-16-2008, 02:11 AM

I've got pictures of me with FiFi when I was a kid. I don't remember it, but I sure as hell wish I did!

Geedee · 01-12-2009, 01:47 PM

She is one big bird !.

Got the chance to go inside last year at the CAF Airsho in Midland. First impression is 'Blimey, its big ' !.

Heres a load of pics ... not quite a walk around... as I couldn't actually get in the back...the ladder was just too short !

Second impression 'Blimey, its big !.

Cant wait to see het back where she belongs...in the sky. And yes, I did leave some of the folding stuff in the collection box.

syscom3 · 01-12-2009, 03:57 PM

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!

HoHun · 01-12-2009, 04:03 PM

Hi Geedee,

>Heres a load of pics ... not quite a walk around... as I couldn't actually get in the back...the ladder was just too short !

Thanks a lot - trying to research for a simulator model last year, I searched the net wide and far and didn't find anything even approaching the quality of your pictures anywhere! :-)

One question: Do you know if the verticual tubes on the inside of the pilot and copilot dashboard are control locks? They seem to be featured only in pictures of parked aircraft, but I haven't been able to find out for sure.

And one picture request: If you were able to shoot the tail section from the outside, could you please post one showing the tail gunner's position and the underside of the tail? The reason I ask is that I have been trying to find out the position of the tail light - without any success so far.

Big thanks again!

Henning (HoHun)

Geedee · 01-12-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoHun

Hi Geedee,

>
Thanks a lot - trying to research for a simulator model last year, I searched the net wide and far and didn't find anything even approaching the quality of your pictures anywhere!

One question: Do you know if the verticual tubes on the inside of the pilot and copilot dashboard are control locks? They seem to be featured only in pictures of parked aircraft, but I haven't been able to find out for sure.

And one picture request: If you were able to shoot the tail section from the outside, could you please post one showing the tail gunner's position and the underside of the tail? The reason I ask is that I have been trying to find out the position of the tail light - without any success so far.

Big thanks again!

Henning (HoHun)

Hiya.

Do you mean the vertical red tubes ?. They're something to do with the brakes...I've added a blown up segment from one of the cockpit shots that should help. On looking at the handles, it looks like they could be a parking brake ?

Ref external tail pics, I've added the only ones I have (Including a fuzzy one !!). I'm not sure but on the pic of the rearmost under fuselage gun barbette, it looks like there might be a light between the .50's ?

And thanks for the comments guys, much appreciated.

07-04-2008, 12:59 AM	#2
Thorlifter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 4,346	Thanks for posting syscom. I don't remember when the CAF got Fifi, but I want to say I first saw her in 1976 in Harlingen, Texas, though I may be wrong on the date. What a glorious plane. Here in Dallas, there is a flight museum called the Cavenaugh Flight Musuem at the Addison airport. Jim Cavenaugh has pledged something like 2 million dollars to the rebuild of the engines on Fifi. It's just staggering how much it cost to do work on these priceless birds. __________________

07-04-2008, 11:16 AM	#3
wilbur1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Escondido,Ca Posts: 2,206	Thats one BIG bird __________________ Dont shoot him...... It will just make him angry.

07-04-2008, 11:44 AM	#5
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,283	It was painted white at the time. I think for protection for the surfaces. Definitely not wartime colors. __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

07-04-2008, 04:44 PM	#6
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,224	Great stuff sys! __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

07-04-2008, 07:32 PM	#8
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,233	Last time I saw her she was polished aluminum. Also heard that an organization made a contribution to enable all new engines to be installed; hopefully will keep her in the air for some time to come. TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

07-04-2008, 11:20 AM	#4
Haztoys Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Prescott Arizona USA Posts: 507	Now the plane "looks" to be painted white ...Why ...And were they painted in the war times ...I know dumb thing to ask...Or is it just the pic...

07-04-2008, 07:13 PM	#7
pbfoot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: niagara falls Posts: 5,588	Gotta pic of her from 81 and she's silver get it posted as soon as figure out why printer won't turn on

07-14-2008, 05:04 PM	#9
Micdrow “Archive” Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,852	Great bird and pictures syscom3, it was first grounded due to problems on the inside of the main wing if I remember right and now grounded due to shelling out all four engines. At a millon dollars an engine they are trying to raise the money to fix or replace all 4 engines though I have not heard how well things are going lately with her. __________________ "Valor does not mean Hero."

07-15-2008, 10:15 AM	#10
Wayne Little Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Adelaide Sth. Aust. Posts: 12,511	Great shots Sys! thanks..... __________________

07-16-2008, 02:11 AM	#11
Aggie08 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,013	I've got pictures of me with FiFi when I was a kid. I don't remember it, but I sure as hell wish I did! __________________ "I had ten rockets on board, and as I wasn't particularly fond of head-on attacks, I salvoed the whole lot at him. The rockets didn't hit him but but they must have scared the bejesus out of him, for he did a steep turn to starboard... I let him have the full blast, all eight fifty-calibers. I had never seen an aircraft completely disintegrate in the air the way this Me-110 did..." Bill Dunn, 406th Fighter Group Matt

01-12-2009, 03:57 PM	#13
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,283	EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!! __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

01-12-2009, 04:03 PM	#14
HoHun Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,765	Hi Geedee, >Heres a load of pics ... not quite a walk around... as I couldn't actually get in the back...the ladder was just too short ! Thanks a lot - trying to research for a simulator model last year, I searched the net wide and far and didn't find anything even approaching the quality of your pictures anywhere! :-) One question: Do you know if the verticual tubes on the inside of the pilot and copilot dashboard are control locks? They seem to be featured only in pictures of parked aircraft, but I haven't been able to find out for sure. And one picture request: If you were able to shoot the tail section from the outside, could you please post one showing the tail gunner's position and the underside of the tail? The reason I ask is that I have been trying to find out the position of the tail light - without any success so far. Big thanks again! Henning (HoHun)

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