Jim Cavanaugh to Sponsor CAF B-29 Bomber – FIFI
The Cavanaugh Flight Museum (ìCFMî) and the Commemorative Air Force (ìCAFî) announced today a Cooperative Agreement that will put the worldís only airworthy B-29 back in the air. Jim Cavanaugh has pledged $1.2 million sponsorship for the re-engine project of FIFI, the CAFís world famous B-29.† ìThis sponsorship, together with additional donations from CAF members, should go a long way towards completing the project of putting FIFI back in the air again,î said Stephan Brown, President / CEO of the CAF. ìFundraising for FIFI by the CAF will continue, as we still have other restoration maintenance to perform, but Jim Cavanaughís generosity will get us a long way down that track,î Brown continued. Cavanaugh is the main financial support for the CFM and has been a long time benefactor of warbird projects and the CAF. ìThe B-29 played such a significant role in history that it is important that this airplane be preserved. Because of my close relationship with the CAF, I felt the need to get FIFI flying again,î said Cavanaugh.
Additionally, the B-29/B-24 Squadron Staff of the CAF, which has been assigned with the responsibility of operating the B-29 and the B-24A, voted unanimously to base these two airplanes at the CFM. According to Lyn Fite, CAF B-29 / B-24 Squadron Leader, ìUp to now, these aircraft were based out of Midland, but this unit move will be beneficial to the Squadron in many ways,î said Fite. ìWe will reside in Addison Texas, at the CFM, for six months, while we perform annual maintenance and we will tour on behalf of the CAF, by our crews, for the other six months.î Steve Sheridan Director of Maintenance of CFM exclaimed, ìWe have the facilities and resources to assist the volunteers of the B-29/B24 and look forward to helping in any way we can.î According to Doug Jeanes, Director of the CFM, visitors of the museum will be able to view this spectacular aircraft during its annual maintenance, at no additional cost.
The Cavanaugh Flight Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to promoting aviation studies and to perpetuating America’s aviation heritage; the museum fulfills its mission by restoring, operating, maintaining and displaying historically-significant, vintage aircraft, and by collecting materials related to the history of aviation.
The Commemorative Air Force is a nonprofit aviation association dedicated to Honoring American Military Aviation, through Flight, Exhibition and Remembrance. The CAF has more than 8,000 members within 75 units worldwide, flying and restoring 171 vintage Warbirds.
For more information of the Commemorative Air Force or the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, go to www.commemorativeairforce.org†or www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com.
