CAF AirPower History Tour Announces Summer Stops

CAF AirPower History Tour Announces Summer Stops

The Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) famous Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber FIFI – the only remaining flying example of the aircraft in the world – will be the feature World War II airplane in their summer tour that includes more than 20 stops starting May 15 in Birmingham, Ala. The CAF AirPower History Tour continues through October and will feature a different combination of historic World War II aircraft at each of its stops across the Eastern and Midwest U.S.

Other historic military aircraft joining FIFI at different tour stops will include the Consolidated B-24 Liberator “Diamond Lil,” the famous combat veteran North American P-51 Mustang “The Brat III” and other WWII fighters and trainers.

The B-29 Superfortress, first flown in 1942, began active service in 1944 and is perhaps best known as the aircraft whose missions over Japan helped bring about the end of World War II. It was designed as a replacement for the older Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24s, with longer range and greater bomb loads. The B-29 also was used in the Korean War in the early 1950s and was a staple of the U.S. Air Force until the late 1950s.

The tour is excited to announce the addition of another significant historic airplane. Pilot Sarah Wilson and her Jimmie Allen Flying Club Speedmail will be traveling with the tour for many of the stops. This 1929 airplane is the oldest surviving Stearman Model 4 Speedmail and is a real-life celebrity vehicle. Originally delivered to the Richfield Oil Co. on Oct. 28, 1929, this plane was the flagship for the Jimmie Allen Flying Club based on the popular radio program The Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen. The radio series and flying club were important tools and greatly influenced the generation that would fly in WWII.

Events are open to the public and will allow attendees to get up close to these famous aircraft. Cockpit tours of the B-29 and others will be available when the aircraft are not in motion. There will be opportunities for attendees to purchase a ride in many of the airplanes at all of the stops. Ride reservations are recommended.

Tour stops confirmed are:

Birmingham, Ala., May 16-19, Birmingham International Airport

Atlanta, Ga., May 20-22, DeKalb-Peachtree Airport

Charlotte, N.C., May 23-27, Concord Regional Airport

Manassas, Va., May 29-June 2, Manassas Regional Airport

Baltimore, Md., June 3-5, Martin State Airport

Reading, Pa., June 7-9, WW II Weekend, Atlantic Air Museum

Hamilton, Ont., Canada, June 15-16, B-24 only at Hamilton Air Show

Pittsburg, Pa., June 12-16, Allegheny County Airport

Akron, Ohio, June 17-19, Akron Airport

Dayton (Ohio) Air Show, June 21-23, Dayton International Airport

Cincinnati, Ohio, June 26-30, Cincinnati Lunken Airport

Nashville, Tenn., July 3-7, Smyrna Airport

Marion, Ill., July 20-21, Marion Airport

Madison, Wis., July 26-28, Dane County Regional Airport

Oshkosh, Wis., July 29-Aug. 4, Whitman Regional Airport

Denver, Colo., Aug. 15-18, Denver Airport (Broomfield, Colo.)

Kansas City, Kans., Sept. 13-16, B-24 only at New Century AirCenter

Fayetteville, Ark., Sept. 20-22, Arkansas Military Air Museum

Dallas (Texas) Air Expo, Oct. 3-6, Collin County Airport, McKinney, Texas

CAF AirSho, Oct. 11-13, Midland (Texas) International Airport

For more information about the CAF, click here. For more information about the tour schedule and to make ride reservations, click here.

Updated: April 25, 2013 — 11:57 AM
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