[ARC5] Command set installation

[Lenox Carruth]

Having spent some time in FIFI, I will have to agree with Dave here.  There
are a lot of factors involved in operating 70+ year old aircraft that were
not originally FAA certified.  Not only is the radio operator's position not
authentic but one might notice that the interior portions of the gun turrets
are not present.  Much of this was done to make the aircraft "accessible" to
"ordinary" people.  In their original configuration, B-29s were not "people
friendly."  Much has been done to improve this including some hand grips
that are not original.

In particular, some of the original aircraft equipment has been moved into a
part of the original radio operators position in FIFI thus preventing the
accurate restoration of the area.  

The antenna tuner had to be added to load the available antenna.  There is
also considerable resistance from pilots and other crew members to the radio
installation.  Much had to be done to prevent interference with the current
radios.  Last time I flew in FIFI, the pilots were still complaining that
the "Ham radio" was interfering with VHF comm.  Whether it actually did or
not is another matter.

If you really want to be picky, the engines are not original.  Comm and Nav
radios are not original.  They carry a totally unoriginal ladder in the bomb
bay.  There is a super fire suppression system now around the "putt, putt"
(now called APU).  This stands out like a red flag but is necessary.  Many
of you might remember the B-29 that was destroyed in Greenland because of
problems with the APU.

To sum up, it is not possible to fly a totally original World War II
aircraft in today's world.  It is even less possible in the larger aircraft
if you want people to be able to tour them.  As Dave pointed out, people
touring the aircraft means money to keep the aircraft flying.  The vast
majority of people who tour any of the CAF aircraft (or any other for that
matter) have no idea what they are looking at and an operating radio
position with WW-II era radios looks great to them.  An operating radio
position also impresses news media and we need them to advertise the
availability of the aircraft.

As far as the display of the call sign, that is fine by me.  Those guys
spend a lot of time, sweat, money, and tears to just to get permission to do
the installation.  Not to mention the work of finding and installing that
equipment.  

Lenox
WA5OVG



-----Original Message----- 
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Command set installation


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Morrow" <kk5f at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Command set installation


> I don't understand going to all the trouble to install 
> apparently working gear like this to make a ham-configured 
> station (complete with display plaque and large call-sign on 
> the T-47A) as opposed to a military-configured station.  With 
> little more effort, an operable and historically-accurate 
> representation could be made.
---------------

Because ultimately,  FiFi is not first a museum;
she is first a business.  A "ham configured," military-
equipped station on-the-air at least makes a nod
to history, unlike the plastic, "Barbie" compu-radios
commonly seen on "museum ships."
The ham-operable station on FiFi brings more riders
and gives "free" publicity.

Please let me be clear: I do not condemn what they
have done.  I believe the people who dedicate
so much work to FiFi sincerely care about the
history and want to "get things right," but flying
this magnificent machine is monumentaly expensive.
They must do what they can to increase cash flow
to keep the bills paid.  Some compromises are
necessary.  At least they've got the ART-13 running
instead of shoe-horning in some plastic Icom junk.
"Better half-a-loaf..."

73 Dave S.



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