Fire in Fifi’s engine called normal – airport fire trucks respond

Tense moments at Wittmann Regional Airport yesterday morning, as reports of flames coming from one of the engines of Fifi, one of only two operating B29 bomber planes, sent airport fire trucks scrambling to the scene.

The fire was also witnessed by attendees of AirVenture who relayed the news to social media.

Upon arrival, fire crews found the fire was out and the engine was shut down.

It was learned that the fire was part of normal operations for the plane. The operators of the plane released a statement to social media that stated “What you saw is called a stack fire, and while it might look dramatic, it’s actually a common and usually harmless occurrence in radial engines like Fifi’s. It happens when a little extra fuel collects in the exhaust and ignites during start-up. It’s over in a flash, and it doesn’t hurt the engine.”

The statement went on to say There was no damage to the aircraft, and FIFI is flying as normal.