A great shot of the recently restored B-29 radio operator’s position in FIFI, the world’s only flying B-29 bomber. During late 2011 and into 2012, a joint Rockwell Collins and CAF team restored and installed the original type of radio equipment that saw service in the B-29 during the last part of WW2. The transmitter is the venerable Collins ART-13 and the receiver is a BC-348R. They also have installed, but have yet to get operational, the companion ARC-5 equipment seen in the picture. They have every intention of having all of this gear operational. As of June 25, 2012, they had commenced airborne radio testing and operations during local Addison, Texas flights and on July 18, 2012, FIFI made the 3 hour flight from Addison to Cedar Rapids, Iowa (the home of Collins Radio Company) for a dedication of the Smith-Erwin Memorial Operators Position aboard FIFI. During this flight, the radio room established many contacts with both members and non-members of the Collins Collectors Association in the course of running a special event flight with the call sign N0A/B29/Aeronautical Mobile. There is another special event planned for July 21, 2012 starting again about 10 AM CDT with an enroute time of about 1 hour. Listen around 7203 kHz on AM. The call on Saturday will be N9A/B29/Aeronautical Mobile. See the FIFI page on this website and look at the many informational links about the CAF, FIFI, the Rockwell Collins Team and the event flights. Lots of good pictures and videos!