World War II Bomber and Fighter Aircraft Rides at Museum of Flight

Collings Foundation World War II B-17, B-24, B-25 and P-51 and the “Wings of Freedom Tour”

SEATTLE – The steady rumble of World War II bomber flight operations will resonate at The Museum of Flight July 1-4, while a group of four historic aircraft is based here for public rides and tours.

Ground tours and flights will be available in the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator and B-25 Mitchell bombers, and a dual-control P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft. The planes are on the national “Wings of Freedom Tour” sponsored by the non-profit Collings Foundation. This is the only weekend this year scheduled for bomber rides at the Museum.

The Collings’ two-seat TP-51C is only one a few Mustangs with flight controls for the passenger, and the Foundation’s B-24J is the only one of its kind still flying. Collings’ Boeing B-17G is one of only about a dozen still flying, and with the Museum’s B-17F on display nearby, this is about the only place to see two of these Flying Fortresses in the same glance. Ground tours are free for World War II veterans.

The aircraft will be stationed at the Museum’s tarmac on Boeing Field. Tours and rides are available Friday, July 1, from 2 to 5 p.m., and July 2-4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flights are available on each airplane. For information on flight reservations and costs, call 978-562-9182 or visit http://www.collingsfoundation.org/cf_flightexperiences.htm

MEDIA ALERT –
On Friday, July 1 at 2 p.m. there will be media flight in either the B-17 or B-24 bomber (to be determined that day). Please contact Ted Huetter at The Museum of Flight, or Hunter Cheney at the Collings Foundation (978-562-9182) for reservations. Participants are requested to be at the Museum tarmac by about 1:30 p.m.

For Museum information, please call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org