After Fifi, the world’s only flying B-29, made a precautionary landing at AIRSHO in Midland last October, the big bomber hasn’t made another flight since. The problem, as most of our readers are aware, is that engine maintenance is expensive for all of us. When you factor in the cost of repairing one of the 2,200 hp double-row Wright R-3350-23 radial engines, well, normal economics go out the window.
The scope of the job was extensive but it could have been worse, following the failure of the accessory drive shaft. David Oliver, head of flight ops for CAF, told Flying that the team had to “not only fix the accessory drive shaft but also many of the internal seals, bearings, and planetary gearing system. We were lucky to not damage any of the cylinders but as you can image there are many spinning parts inside the bowls of the engine.”
