Artifact Friday: Fifi

In preparation for our Air Power History Tour that is taking place next week from August 26-30th, FIFI, a B-29 World War II plane, will be the center of attention. FIFI is a 1945 B-29A Superfortress heavy bomber that flew in the closing days of World War II. Fifi was the largest aircraft flown during WWII and was the most expensive weapons project undertaken by the United States Government. The B-29 had operational and technological state-of-the-art attributes like a pressurized cabin, dual-wheeled, tricycle landing gear, and a remote computer-controlled fire control that directed four machine guns. Fifi was restored in the early 1970’s when she was found in the U.S. Navy Proving Ground in China Lake, California. She was being used as a missile target while stored there. Members of the Confederate Air Force at the time recognized it and restored it to its former glory. Fifi flew for over 30 years until 2006, when she went into a four-year repair period set to be given four new custom-built engines. In 2010, she took flight again and has traveled across the U.S. Fifi will be joining us here at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum, where you will be able to meet the crew, be taken on flights, and given entry into the museum to see some wonderful artifacts and vendors. Come by to see Fifi during this wonderful event!