Aircraft rides and tours during Seattle visit of B-17 “Liberty Belle” and P-40 Warhawk
SEATTLE – Flying season begins at The Museum of Flight with rides in the Liberty Foundation’s Boeing B-17 bomber and Curtiss P-40 fighter on April 30 and May 1. Both aircraft are part of the Liberty Foundation’s “Salute to the Veterans Tour.”
Bomber rides are in Liberty Belle, a restored World War II B-17 bomber, while fighter rides are in restored World War II Curtiss P-40E modified to accommodate a passenger. The B-17 will arrive Monday, April 25 and be on view at the Museum ramp; the P-40 will arrive on Friday for weekend rides. Rides on both planes will be available April 30 and May 1 hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by ground tours of the planes from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Flight experiences in the bomber last about 45 minutes, with 30 minutes in the air; P-40 flights are about 20 minutes in the air.
For costs, reservations and more information: call the Liberty Foundation at 918-340-0243 or visit www.libertyfoundation.org
Media Alert
Media flights will be on Monday, April 25 beginning at noon. The Liberty Foundation has arranged for three local World War II veterans to fly on the media flights and be available for interviews. One of these veterans is Medal of Honor recipient Pvt. Wilburn K. Ross.
Media requests can be made through The Museum of Flight, or with Scott Maher at the Liberty Foundation: (918) 340-0243 [email protected]
B-17 Liberty Belle
There were over 12,000 B-17s produced between 1935 and 1945, with almost 5,000 lost in combat. The Liberty Foundation’s B-17 Liberty Belle is one of only 14 B-17s that still fly today. The aircraft was built toward the end of the war and was not flown in combat. It is painted in the colors and nose art of the original Liberty Belle B-17 that flew missions with the 390th bomb group of the U.S. 8th Air Force.
P-40 Warhawk
The Warhawk is one of the most recognized fighters of World War II. It was the primary aircraft used by the American Volunteer Group “Flying Tigers.” The Liberty Foundation’s P-40 is painted as a fighter in the Flying Tigers, and is one of less than a dozen Warhawks flying today. Flights are about 20 minutes in length, but longer flights are available upon request.
Image: B-17 Liberty Belle Photo Liberty Foundation.
The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Exit 158 off Interstate 5 on Boeing Field half-way between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $13 for active military, $9 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5. Group rates are available. Admission on the first Thursday of the month is free from 5 to 9 p.m. courtesy of Wells Fargo.
For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org