The Wings of Freedom Tour of the World War II Vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator and North American P-51 Mustang will be on display in Lexington at the Davidson County Airport from Friday through Monday.
The B-17 is one of only nine in flying condition in the United States. The B-24J and Dual Control P-51C Mustang are the sole remaining examples of their type flying in the world.
Visitors are invited to explore the aircraft inside and out. A $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 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.
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.
The Davidson County Airport is at 1673 Aviation Way.
The tour will arrive around 2 p.m. Friday and remain on display until noon Monday.
Hours of ground tours and display are 2-5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; and 9 a.m.-noon on Monday.
The 30-minute flight experiences are normally scheduled before and after the ground tour times above.
The tour is sponsored by The Collings Foundation, a non-profit educational foundation devoted to organizing “living history” events through direct participation.
The Wings of Freedom Tour travels the nation as 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.
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 and very few were spared.
Visitors can find out more by visiting the Web site at www.collingsfoundation.org.