The B-29 Superfortress 'Fifi' is flying overhead at the MAAM's 22nd Anniversary World War II Weekend 'A Gathering of Warbirds'. "Fifi's" History: In 1971 after sitting 17 years in the desert near China Lake, CA the CAF (Confederate Air Force - now Commemorative Air Force) became the owner of B-29 SN44-62070. A CAF maintenance team arrived at China Lake on 31 March 1971. By 3 August 1971 SN44-62070 was ready to fly again. The crew flew non-stop 1,250 miles to CAF headquarters in Harlingen, Texas in a six hour 38 min flight. Late in 1974 the CAF's B-29 was christened 'Fifi' and joined the other of CAF's World War II fighters and bombers. In 2005, following a series of engine failures, the B-29/B-24 Squadron made the decision to ground the aircraft. Jim Cavanaugh pledged US$1.2 million plus donations from CAF members enabled 'Fifi' to be re-engined. The B-29 was originally fitted with the Wright R-3350-57AM engine. 'Fifi' was re-fitted with a custom built combination of the R-3350-95W and R-3350-26WD which required the reworking of engine mounts and some of the engine cowlings. In August 2010 'Fifi' once again returned to the airshow circuit. The CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron has received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to sell flight experiences aboard 'Fifi' (CAF). Flights were given at the 22nd Anniversary World War II Weekend 'A Gathering of Warbirds' at regular intervals. The cost of a 1/2 hour flight (tax-deductible) on 'Fifi' per person is as follows: Bombardier position: $1495 Other cockpit rides: $995 Rear riders: $595 1/2 hour flight means air time, it does not include taxiing to and from the ramp. General Information: The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States in late World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II . A very advanced bomber for this time period, it included features such as a pressurized cabin, an electronic fire-control system, and remote-controlled machine-gun turrets. Though the B-29 was designed as a high-altitude daytime bomber, in practice it actually flew more low-altitude nighttime incendiary bombing missions. It was the primary aircraft in the American firebombing campaign against the Empire of Japan in the final months of World War II, and carried out the atomic bombings that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress first flew on 21 September 1942. It was introduced into service on 8 May 1944 and was retired on 21 June 1960. It was produced between 1943-1946 with a total of 3,970 built at a unit cost of US$ 639,188 ($9.09 million in today's dollars). The primary users were the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Air Force, and the Royal Air Force, where the name 'Washington' was used. General Characteristics: Crew: 10 (bombardier, pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, navigator, radio operator, 2 side gunners, gun commander, tail gunner) Length: 99-ft 0-in (30.18m) Wingspan: 141-ft 3-in (43.06m) Height: 29-ft 7-in (8.5m) Wing area: 1,736 sq ft (161.3 sq m) Empty weight: 74,500lb (33,800kg) Loaded weight: 120,000lb (54,000kg) Max takeoff weight: 133,500lb (60,560kg); 135,000lb plus combat load Power Plant: 4 x Wright R-3350-23 and 23A turbo supercharged radial engines, 2,200hp (1,640kW) each Performance: Maximum speed: 357mph (310kts, 574km/h) Cruise speed: 220mph (190kts, 350km/h) Stall speed: 105mph (91kts, 170km/h) Combat range: 3,250 mi (2,820 nmi, 5,230km) Ferry range: 5,600 mi (4,900nmi, 9,000km) Service ceiling: 31,850ft (10,000m) Rate of climb: 900ft/min (4.6m/s) Armament: 10 x .50-in (12.7mm) caliber Browning M2/ANs in remote-controlled turrets 2 x .50-in BMG and 1 x 20mm M2 cannon in tail position (the cannon was later removed) Bombs: 20,000lb (9,000kg) standard load out (Wikipedia) This picture was taken at Spaatz Field on 1 June 2012, Sig...