Denton airport to host the Wings of Freedom Tour

by PegNews wire

The Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour, featuring WWII Vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator and North American P-51 Mustang, will fly into the Denton Airport on March 30th at 2:00 PM. The aircraft will be on display at Denton Airport until noon on April 1st, and the public will have the opportunity to visit, explore, and learn more about these unique and rare treasures of aviation history.

Visitors are invited to explore the aircraft inside and out - $12 donation for adults and $6 donation for children under 12 is requested for access to up-close viewing and tours through the inside of the aircraft. Visitors may also experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to actually take a 30-minute flight aboard these rare aircraft. Flight experiences are a tax-deductible donation. Flights on either the B-17 or B-24 are $425 per person. Get some “stick time” in the world’s greatest fighter! P-51 flights are $2,200 for a half hour and $3,200 for a full hour. For reservations and information on flight experiences call 800-568-8924.

Hours of ground tours and display are: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM on March 30th; 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM on March 31st; 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM on April 1st. The 30-minute flight experiences are normally scheduled before and after the ground tour times above.

“For several years now the City has worked hard to make improvements to our airport in order to continue to attract more aircraft and businesses, and events such as this Wings of Freedom Tour coming to Denton are a result of that effort,” said Mayor Mark Burroughs. “The Denton Airport continues to be a catalyst for economic development at and around the airport. Continued improvements like the expansion of our runway are a part of this effort.”

The Wings of Freedom Tour travels the nation a flying tribute to the flight crews who flew them, the ground crews who maintained them, the workers who built them, the soldiers, sailors and airmen they helped protect; and the citizens and families that share the freedom that they helped preserve. The B-17 & B-24 were the backbone of the American effort during the war from 1942 to 1945 and were famous for their ability to sustain damage and still accomplish the mission. Despite the risks of anti-aircraft fire, attacking enemy fighters, and the harrowing environment of sub-zero temperatures, many B-17s and B-24s safely brought their crews home. The P-51 Mustang was affectionately known as the bombers “Little Friend” - saving countless crews from attacking axis fighters. After the war, many aircraft were scrapped for their raw aluminum to rebuild a nation in post-war prosperity and therefore very few were spared. The rarity of the B-17, B-24 & P-51 - and their importance to telling the story of WWII is why the Collings Foundation continues to fly and display the aircraft nationwide. At each location we encourage local veterans and their families to visit and share their experiences and stories with the public. For aviation enthusiasts, the tour provides opportunity for the museum to come to the visitor and not the other way around! Visitors can find out more by visiting our website at www.collingsfoundation.org.

Source: City of Denton